Nature in Japan Japan often gets mislabeled as a major urban sprawl due to the spectacular metropoles of Tokyo and Osaka. But actually, over two thirds of the islands of Japan are covered by forests and mountains. Shiomi sensei who is from Kobe, shows in this week's blog that there is much more to Japan than big cities. Read this fun and easy blog to learn more Japanese for free. And listen to...

Japanese Idol groups There are numerous “idol groups” in Japan which are manufactured pop groups usually made up of young girls that are chosen for their cute looks and personalities. The recent trend has been to relate these groups to local areas, and Igarashi sensei introduces a quick look at this trend with a surprising twist ! Read these blogs to learn Japanese and listen to the video to...

Japanese culture has, as most do, many songs that are taught to children. Some of these are nursery rhymes, but some have a cultural background. In this blog, Murahara sensei reflects on one such song that is particular to hometown of Kagoshima in southern Japan. Please read this amusing blog, and learn some Japanese vocabulary. Listen to the video to practice some...

Japanese summer noodles Noodles are a staple Japanese cuisine and are especially popular in the hot and humid summer months. It is a season when a lot of people lose their appetite due to the heat. But noodles are suitable for this season. They can also be cooled down which is great for those with a lack of appetite. Ueno sensei finds that these Washoku staples are actually more than just a...

Japanese summers In the summertime, over most of Japan the humidity is high and the temperatures are soaring. For many people, it is an uncomfortable season. There are high numbers of heat stroke sufferers and there are many methods to keep cool, bit traditional and modern. In this Japanese learner's blog by Japonin(JOI) teacher Takase sensei, she shares some of the ways she uses to stay cool in...

Japanese river crab Japanese river crab are usually served an appetizer in some Japanese restaurants. But in this language learner's blog, Someya sensei is not trying to eat these little crustaceans but to pet them ! Read this Japanese teacher's blog and watch the video for listening practice too. 沢蟹 Sawagani freshwater crab １か月ほど前、我が家に沢蟹がやってきました。沢蟹とは、水のきれいな山の 谷川 や 小川 に住む小さな蟹です。 魚売り場 で買い物中に、 食用...

Local Star festivals The Tanabata festival is also known as the Star Festival is celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. It originally came from the Chinese Qixi Festival and celebrates the story of two star-crossed lovers that can only meet once a year on this day. It is believed that if that evening is cloudy, the lovers cannot meet that year and have to wait another year to...

Japanese flowers Japan is a country obsessed with flowers. From sakura cherry blossoms and Ume plum blossoms in the spring, to a host of summer and autumn blooms, Japanese gardens can offer some wonderful day-trips for the nature lover. In this Japanese language learning blog, Hachiyama sensei has written about a trip she took during the Golden week holiday with Japonin(JOI) Managing Director...

Buddhism in Japan Buddhism is one of the two official religions of Japan (Shintoism being the other) and has been practiced in Japan since 552 AD. Buddhist temples can be found all over Japan, and there is a high concentration of these religious sites in the cities of Kyoto and Nara. In this Japanese learner's blog by Oosawa sensei, she introduces a central feature of many temples; the 5 storied...

Rainy season in Japan The rainy season starts from the beginning of June until the middle of July in Japan. It's wet and humid and therefore not one of the seasons that is loved by many people here, but there are a few pleasures to be found including hot springs and mountain walks. However, most people just bear it until it ends, and then the full-blown summer heat takes over. In this blog from...