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...

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...

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...

Disasters in Japan Japan is one of the worst-hit countries for disasters in the world. There are earthquakes and typhoons regularly, and during the rainy season torrential rain and flooding. What should we do to avoid the disasters in Japan and where should we evacuate to in the event of a disaster in our areas? This is one of the themes tackled here in this week's blog by Japanese teacher Izumi...

Wild Birds in Japan There are about 700 bird species in Japan.17 species are endemic to Japan meaning that they can only be found in Japan. There are also many migratory species and some species that were introduced to the country by man. In recent history, though many species have disappeared due to human activity, including hunting and environmental degradation. But there are concerted efforts...

Yoga in Japan Yoga in Japan is a huge multi-billion dollar industry with a primary market aimed towards ladies in their 30s and 40s.There are many franchise stores, and individual studios all over the cities – many in prime locations to catch business people coming home from work. In this blog by Japanese teacher Midori Miyake, she looks at the benefits of this pose and teaches some useful...

The month of June in Japan is usually seen as the rainy season or the beginning of summer. It can be an uncomfortable month which is humid and rainy. The temperatures do not climb up to the highs of mid-summer months like August, but the humidity can be tough for many people to handle. Japanese teacher Ayako Suzuki does not like this month at all. But in this blog for Beginner...

Coffee in Japan Did you know that Japan is the 4th ranking country in coffee consumption? There are coffee shops and cafes everywhere and also vending machines selling coffee in cans. Recently, convenience stores also serve freshly ground coffee for a very reasonable price as well. In this blog for Japanese learners by Japanese teacher Yukiko Takane, she looks into the different ways that the...