Learning Japanese can be a hard journey. But along the way there are often moments when you feel it was worth the struggle and enjoy the experience it brings. One such moment has to be the learning of double words. These are fun way to communicate and interestingly, they create an immediate bond with the speakers. Don't believe me? Give it try next time. And read this blog...

Winter festivities in Japan All around Japan in the cities and towns, winter illuminations have become a popular attraction around Christmas and New Year. Many are romantic which runs according to the theme of Christmas season (especially Christmas Eve) as being a time for couples and lovers. Oosawa sensei is a Japanese teacher at Japonin(JOI) online school and she introduces this topic in this...

NHK TV Japan's national public broadcasting organization is called the NHK, which stands for Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai. NHK has two TV channels on the terrestrial TV and 2 satellite television services as well as several radio programs. One of the best known shows by the broadcasting organization is the 'Kōhaku Uta Gassen' or the Red and White Show. And in this blog by Sakude sensei, she shares her's...

in Asian cuisine Rice is the staple food of most Asian countries. In fact 90% of rice is grown in Asia. China, India and Pakistan make up over 70% of the cultivating amount, and the remaining 30% is grown in Thailand, Japan and Indonesia. In this blog by Yatabe sensei, she gives us a general introduction to rice in Japan. Read this blog for Japanese learners, and listen to the video which...

Sweet sake One of the oldest known drinks in Japanese history is Amazake. It was mentioned in The Chronicles of Japan which date back to the year 720. It is made of fermented rice and koji which is a used throughout Asia to make alcoholic beverages and various cuisine recipes. In this blog, Inamoto sensei finds herself with a large amount of it ! How does she use it ? Read more and find out ! 甘酒...

In Japan, there are many dance classes and hobby circles. Many Japanese people study how to dance the island dances of Tahiti and also Hawaiian Hula. There are several groups and classes all over the country and they often put on shows and exhibitions. One of the Japonin(JOI) Japanese language teachers, Murahara sensei takes classes in Tahitian dance. It is a graceful dance and...

Japanese Origami Japanese origami is a pastime that began in the 17th Century during the Edo period in Japanese history. It generally involves folding square paper into various intricate designs. Perhaps the best known of these is the Japanese paper crane, which plays a significant role in various areas of Japanese life. Kinoi sensei, is a Japanese teacher at Japonin(JOI) online school. She...

Learning Japanese from reading and listening When learning the Japanese language, or any language for that matter, reading and listening is indispensable. There are many recommended methods of doing this, and here in this blog, veteran Japanese language teacher, Itaya sensei explains how best to do some in her opinion. Read this blog (preferably out loud) and listen to Itaya sensei read the...

New exercising ideas for adults There have been a growing number of unique exercising systems for a new generation of adults, like the clubbercise sensation hitting the UK. But there is actually some science to the concept of doing exercise in the dark. In this Japanese language blog for beginners, Mizuno sensei introduces an interesting trend spreading around Japan. And she has an idea for some...

Foreign country theme parks There are many theme parks in Japan. Some that focus on fun and family outings, some that feature thrilling rides and others that dabble in historical depictions of bygone eras. Although in recent times many have closed due to the recession, there are some that have survived and even thrived. In this blog by Japanese teacher Kamiyama sensei introduces one of the most...