Japanese Origami The word Origami (折り紙) comes from the Japanese word ori meaning folding, and kami meaning paper. This pastime became popular during the Edo period, and in modern times the term Origami has come to include styles from a lot of different countries other than Japan. In this Japanese language blog, Ueno sensei introduces her favorite Origami. See if you can make it ! Watch the vid...

Japanese old sayings and proverbs There are countless Japanese proverbs. Some come originally from Chinese ancient texts, and others are translations of universal proverbs that have origins in Europe or Shakesperean wisdom. Yet, some other Japanese proverbs are derived from the unique Japanese culture, Zen Buddhism and just old adages that ring true even over the stretch of time. Many Japanese ...

Japanese stationary Japanese design and innovation is well known in various fields from vehicles to robotics. But you can also enjoy some cute and interesting designs closer to home. Stationary is another area in which there are some unique products and advanced technology. The mechanical pencil is one such innovation but in this blog for Japanese learners, we explore the world of erasers. Youn...

Japanese manga and anime dialogue Manga and Anime originate from a distinctly Japanese style of art. This art form has grown and expanded abroad, sprouting many homage styles and events. One of the most loved parts of Manga and Anime is not just the art but the characters and in particular, the dialogues spoken by each character. In this useful Japanese learning blog by the Japanese teachers at...

Flower Parks in Japan In Japan, with its four distinct seasons, offers a wide variety of flowers which bloom at different times during the seasons. All over Japan, you can find many beautiful and popular flower gardens which are often filled with local tourists as well as foreign visitors. The flowers that can be seen are often native Japanese blossoms, but there are some parks that plant importe...