Japanese children's songs When learning a new language, one great source of learning can be children's learning materials. Japanese children's songs can help you to learn Japanese vocabulary and also are a great insight into Japanese culture. There are thousands of children's songs that you can use, and many sites online that introduce a number of these. When you find yourself a little stuck in ...

Japanese Bento The story of Washoku or Japanese cuisine would not be complete without the Japanese bento or lunchboxes. It is a food culture that everyday people come across daily. Since traditional Japanese food is served individually on many small plates, inside a Japanese bento box you tend to find each food organized separately in holders or cups. You can buy cheap bento at convenience store...

Japanese coins There are 6 types of coins currently minted in Japan. The 500 yen coin, the 100 yen coin, the 50 yen coin, the 10 yen coin, the 5 yen coin, and the 1 yen coin. The name 'Yen' actually means 'round object' and the modern version of the monetary system was part of the Meiji government national reforms. In this very interesting blog from Japanese teacher Noriko Yokozuka tells the am...

Japanese Calendar The Japanese calendar official dating system has been in use since the late 7th century. The separate eras mark the regin of a particular emperor, but in ancient times, some new eras were named after specific major events. If you live in Japan, it is very useful to remember your birth year using the Japanese Calendar system, because you need to know it for many official documen...

Japanese fruits You can buy and eat a wide variety of fruits in Japan. Some of these fruits have been introduced from abroad and are recognizable to foreigners while others are native to Japan and not as well known outside of East Asia. In the different seasons, the types of fruits available are varied and some have traditional uses in Japanese cuisine or seasonal events. In this blog for Japan...