Prefectural customs in Japan There are 47 prefectures in Japan. Actually to be precise, 43 prefectures, two urban prefectures, one metropolis and one territory. The Japanese are very proud of their prefectures and especially the differences between the customs, habits, cuisine and personalities of each area. There are many TV programs that focus on these differences and many Japanese people...

Japanese class reunions Class reunions are a standard occasion in any country. And Japan is no exception.The organisation of the reunions is left to an alumni group that attempts to keep in contact with all members and send newsletters or invitations. Seno sensei, who teaches almost every level from Introductory to Advanced at Japonin(JOI) online Japanese school, writes about her experience with...

Japanese summer food Japan has four quite distinct seasons, although some claim that the rainy season would actually make it five, and Japanese people tend to eat different food during the different seasons. It is one of the favorite discussions in Japanese small talk to discuss the various foods available each season. In the convenience stores and supermarkets, you see the change of the seasons...

From China to Japan : Green Tea Green tea is originally from China and was introduced to Japan by monks who also introduced Zen Buddhism to the country. There are many famous tea growing areas in Japan, including Yame tea in Fukuoka prefecture and Uji tea in Kyoto. In this Japanese language learning blog, Oogi sensei introduces Shizuoka tea and her experience with it. You can read this blog and...

Soy beans and Japanese cuisine Japanese cuisine has many condiments and seasoning. Many of these are made from Soy Beans including Miso paste and Soy Sauce. They are staples of Japanese dishes and there are many many types and flavors depending on the area of Japan and the families. In this blog by Japanese teacher, Oosawa Miki sensei, talks about one of these standard Japanese condiments. Read...

Sushi, the quintessential Japanese cuisine Sushi is the quintessential Japanese cuisine and is ubiquitous in Japanese supermarkets, convenience stores, and in restaurants around the country. There are many kinds of Sushi, but the typical dish referred to as 'Sushi' is in fact just one type, called Nigirizushi, which literally means hand-pressed Sushi. In this Japonin(JOI) teachers' blog, Sakude...

Blood types in East Asia Japan, Taiwan and South Korea seem to have an obsession with Blood types as a way to gauge personalities. In women's magazines, they are frequently quoted as a way to gauge whether a person is compatible. On morning TV shows, they are often Blood Type daily fortunes rather in the same way that we find Zodiac signs in Western media. The science behind the phenomenon is...

Getting lost in Japan Getting lost in Japan is actually very easy to do. If you are in Tokyo, the subway system is a complicated maze that requires some level of experience to master. The road networks in cities often feature one way streets which make navigating your route a tricky endeavour. But luckily, there are numerous detailed maps, GPS systems and map applications for cars and...

Japanese schools The Japanese education system has a compulsory elementary and junior high school. There are numerous mandatory academic subjects similar to most school systems around the world, which include mathematics, social studies, and science as well as the Japanese language. There are also non-academic classes, like art, P.E and music classes as well as traditional Japanese teaching...

Japanese Historical dramas On Japanese TV there has been an ongoing popularity of historical dramas. The biggest producer of these historical dramas is the national public broadcasting organization or NHK. NHK has been producing an annual, year-long historical drama called the Taiga Drama. Each year they choose a figure from Japanese history and weave fiction with real historical events to...