Fireworks in Japan In Japan, fireworks are an integral part of the summer festivities. There are official fireworks festivals held by local cities and municipalities as well as local summer festivals that often conclude with a small fireworks display. In this blog for learners of Japanese, Rie Kinoi a Japanese teacher at Japonin(JOI) introduces some of the different types of handheld fireworks t...

Hokkaido's tourist spots If you are looking to take photographs on your travels, then one of the most photogenic places to visit in Japan is Hokkaido. The flora is incredible in some places, and depending on the season, there many places well known for blooming flowers or seasonal landscapes. But in this blog by a Japanese language teacher who lives in Hokkaido, Itaya sensei, she introduces one ...

Homemade food in Japan Much of Japanese cuisine can be made in the home without many special pieces of cooking equipment. Many Japanese families eat homemade food daily and although the culture of ordering in or pre-cooked meals is well-established, most housewives rely on simple and easy to use ingredients to prepare meals at home. In this blog by Japanese teacher Chie Eguchi, she explains part...

Eating eels as food. In Japan freshwater eels or unagi and marine eels or anago are commonly used in Washoku or Japanese cuisine. It is a popular dish all over east Asia, and are also very popular in Chinese cuisine, in Hong Kong and in Korean cuisine. It is often names as a source of stamina and minerals and vitamins. In this blog for learning Japanese, Japanese teacher Yuki Kamiyama explores t...

Wearing masks in Japan Japan has long been associated with mask-wearing and it was not strange to see people wearing masks before the pandemic. One reason is due to allergies and the pollen season. Allergy sufferers found comfort in wearing masks to reduce the symptoms. Masks also became fashionable. Many celebrities were caught by paparazzi trying to cover their faces with masks and wearing sun...