Traditional Culture & FestivalsJapanese Fireworks (花火): History, Culture, and a Seattle Connection
The Beauty and Tradition of Japanese FireworksSummer in Japan and FireworksSummer in Japan is hot and humid. Fireworks a...
Traditional Culture & Festivals
Seal LegacyThe Story Behind the Seal Carving in My Website Header
The Seal Carving by My Ancestor in My Website HeaderEncounter with a Seal Engraving WorkI use a seal engraving work as t...
Japanese wordsWhat Does “Okagesama (おかげさま) ” Mean?
Understanding “Okagesama”: A Unique Japanese Word of GratitudeWhat Makes “Okagesama” a Unique Word?Japanese has many wor...
Japan & CultureTaisho Era（大正時代） Values in Demon Slayer: Inheritance and Tradition
Exploring Family Bonds and Tradition with Demon SlayerFamily, Gratitude, and What We InheritI grew up in Japan.For me, w...
Learn JapaneseDo I Really Have to Learn Kanji?
Do You Really Need to Learn Kanji?Friendly, Fluent, and Frustrated with KanjiWhen I was teaching a particular internatio...
Learn JapaneseWhat Is This in Japanese?
Ask naturally: “What is 〇〇 in Japanese?”Summer Means “Sunflower”When we think of summer, sunflowers come to mind as a sy...
Learn Japanese“How to Ask ‘What is this?’ in Japanese — Basic Sentence Pattern 〜は〜です”
Using the Basic Sentence Pattern 〜は〜ですWhat is this? – これはなんですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka?)When you're traveling in Japan, yo...
Japan & CultureChopstick(はし) Etiquette in Japan: Simple Rules to Dine with Respect
Understand Japanese Table Etiquette Through Chopstick UseWhy Proper Chopstick Use MattersIn Japan, children learn how to...
Travel & SightseeingKyū Kaichi School (旧開智学校) : Historic Meiji-Era School
Kyū Kaichi School Near Matsumoto Castle: One of Japan’s Oldest Meiji-Era School BuildingsJust a short walk from Matsumot...