Tokyo moves fast. Teens in Harajuku invent a word at lunch and it shows up on TV by dinner. If you rely only on textbook Japanese, normal chats can feel like decoding a secret stream. I learned this the awkward…
Let’s face it—swords are cool. Even if you’ve never picked up a blade in your life (plastic lightsabers don’t count, Todd), there’s just something about a beautifully crafted sword with an ancient name that makes you want to stand dramatically…
(And Why I Once Ended Up with a Whole Chicken…) Have you ever tried to order food in another country and ended up with something completely different from what you wanted? Yeah… same here. Japan is magical—from bullet trains to…
Okay, listen. I didn’t think I’d ever write a love letter to mayonnaise. But here we are. Specifically, Japanese mayo — also known as Kewpie, aka that cute little bottle with the creepy-cute naked baby on it. If you’ve ever…
Ever tried to write in Japanese and ended up with something that looked like a toddler’s first attempt at drawing a spider? Yeah, me too. Japanese calligraphy, or shodō (書道), is one of those arts that looks effortlessly elegant—until you…
Have you ever wondered what Mario Kart sounds like in Japanese? Or maybe, like me, you impulsively bought a Japanese version of the game and now find yourself staring at the screen, completely lost? Don’t worry—I’ve been there, and I’m…
Ah, New Year’s Eve. The night of questionable resolutions, countdown chaos, and that one relative who insists on singing “Auld Lang Syne” off-key. But in Japan? Totally different story. New Year’s (or Oshōgatsu, as it’s called) isn’t just another wild…
So, you’ve decided to learn Japanese? Sugoi! (That means “amazing!” in case you didn’t know.) Whether you’re trying to impress your friends, prep for your dream Japan trip, or just add another skill to your ever-growing list of hobbies (because…