Dallen Nakamura 
あなた (anata) means “you” in Japanese. While we use “you” all the time in English, it is not quite the case for the Japanese language. It is better to avoid using あなた (anata) in most situations as it could come across as strange, distant, or even rude. Why is this, you ask? Let’s see why. … Read more
Have you ever been in a situation you couldn’t control, and the only thing you could do was accept it? Or how about a situation where you wanted something very badly? I bet you probably experienced both of these situations in your lifetime. In these situations, the phrase しょうがない (shōganai) might really come in handy. … Read more
If you spend any time in a kitchen, you already know that a quality knife is essential. It will make cooking easier and more enjoyable. A high-quality knife should not only be sharp and durable but it should be balanced with a secure grip. In this review, I’ll take an in-depth look at the Sakai … Read more
Japanese has many different words which have the same meaning but a completely different nuance. For example, Japanese uses a lot of keigo or honorific language. Knowing the right word to say for every situation can be difficult, especially if you need to apologize to someone. If you need to say sorry to someone in … Read more
For those of you who have a pretty good understanding of Japanese, these lessons and help you with more advanced material. Also be sure to check out our intermediate level lessons, as there are lots of details in those lessons that even advanced learners never learn. Or you can check out all of our lessons … Read more
If you already mastered the basics of Japanese, these intermediate level lessons are for you. These lessons can help you master the difficult, but useful grammar and vocabulary you will encounter at this level. When you finish all of these lessons, be sure to check out our advanced material or feel free to browse through … Read more
Whether you know a little bit of Japanese or none at all, these beginner Japanese lessons are for you. I’ll also list the best resources you can use to help you improve your Japanese. When you master these lessons, be sure to check out our intermediate level and advanced lessons too! Or you can check … Read more
The books in this list are for someone who is at a beginner level of Japanese. A beginner level of Japanese means that you should know: How to read and write hiragana Basic numbers, days of the week, months of the year, etc. Simple adjectives like colors, sizes (big, small), etc. and how to … Read more
Beginning your journey to learn Japanese can be overwhelming. Japanese seems like such a difficult language, that you wonder if it’s even possible to master it. There are tons of resources out there, but this actually makes it difficult to know where to even start. I’ve been there. I’ve literally tried hundreds of books, … Read more
At this level of Japanese, you are on your way to attain complete fluency in both speaking and reading Japanese, and you can write a fair share of kanji too. At this level you should already know how to: Read at least 2,000 kanji Hold conversations with native speakers in difficult topics Have no … Read more
If you made it to this level of Japanese, congratulations! It only gets better from here! At this level, you should be able to: Read a minimum of 800 kanji characters Are comfortable reading simple books, blogs, and/or flyers in Japanese Hold conversations in Japan about a wide range of topics Can improvise (ex. … Read more
Low-intermediate students of Japanese are just beginning to master the basics, and are ready to dive head first into more complex skills. This is where you’ll spend a lot of time adding to your foundation in all areas of Japanese. There’s a lot to learn, but the material at this level is very useful. … Read more
Your goals as a high-intermediate student should be to increase your skill in all areas of Japanese, but put an emphasis on reading and speaking more naturally. A high-intermediate level means that you have: An excellent foundation in all areas of Japanese (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) Can read at least 300 kanji characters … Read more
Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase something, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) to help support this site. Learn more Learning Japanese is both fun and frustrating. It’s fun to learn new words and grammar, but it’s frustrating when you get “stuck.” Sometimes … Read more
Here is a list of cool Japanese gift ideas for people who love Japan. I included a lot of different types of items to make sure there is something for everyone. You’ll find unique, beautiful, and delicious gifts that will surely make anyone who loves Japanese smile. Cool Japanese Gifts: For People Who Have Everything … Read more
Teaching English is one of the most common jobs available to foreigners in Japan. Most native English speaking foreigners I know have taught English to some degree while living in Japan. It is also one of the easiest ways to move to Japan and get a visa. Teaching English in Japan may seem like a … Read more
Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. This means that if you click and purchase something, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) to help support this site. Learn more Back in 2005, I went on a vacation to Japan for the first time. I took basic Japanese classes before, but I … Read more
Is the JET Program worth it? In my opinion, it is 100% worth it. If you have the chance, you should definitely do it. HOWEVER… working in Japan is not all sunshine and rainbows. Many JETs get sick of the job, or even Japan itself, after just a year or two. So how can I … Read more
This complete guide to learning Japanese will go into detail of how and what to study. Most traditional ways to learn Japanese are not efficient and is just a waste of your time. I’ve always wanted to know how to study and master Japanese. After years of studying Japanese, getting advice from native speakers, and … Read more
Japanesepod101 is the best program I have used to learn natural Japanese. Not only is there a ton of material for all levels (absolute beginner to advanced), but the price is one of the best deals out there for learning Japanese. You can check out my detailed Japanesepod101 review to why I think it’s … Read more
If you need to visit a doctor in Japan, you might run into some difficulties when communicating. While there are English speaking doctors or staff at some clinics and hospitals in Japan, the majority of places only understand Japanese. Even if you can find an English-speaking doctor, they might not be completely fluent and might … Read more
We already know that Japan has an amazing, innovative culture. The East Asian nation is known worldwide for its famous sushi, Japanese gardens, intricate tea ceremonies, anime, video games, and hospitality. But did you also know that some of the best candy in the world is Japanese? In this article, we take a look … Read more
Shinto, which means “the way of the Gods” or “Kami” (spirits), as they are referred to, is the oldest religion of the Japanese indigenous people. Shintoism dates back to around the sixth century B.C.E. Despite this lengthy history, Shinto is commonly understood to have become popular around the sixth century C.E. to distinguish between Buddhism, … Read more
Buddhism is an exercise in spiritual development. The ultimate aim is achieving enlightenment through the practices of meditation and mindful living. Practitioners also strive to develop qualities such as compassion, wisdom, and awareness. Enlightened beings experience life without rose-colored glasses, understanding that life—with all its beauty, trials, and tribulations—can be glorious. Buddhism teaches that by … Read more
Mastering Japanese verbs is probably one of the most important skills you need to become fluent in Japanese. Knowing how to conjugate Japanese verbs will allow you to describe actions, desires, situations and a lot more. Most people think that learning Japanese verbs is very difficult. This is NOT true! Learning Japanese verbs is easy. … Read more
Are you planning to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) but don’t know which level you should take? The JLPT test offers five levels, ranging from the N5 level (easiest) to the N1 (most difficult). Imagine this… You have four months before the next JLPT test. You feel that you are at an N3 … Read more
Everyone who studies Japanese always wants to know how long it will take for them to become fluent, or at least be able to communicate effectively. In this guide, we’ll show you how long it will take to reach fluency as well as how long it will take to master different levels of Japanese. Most … Read more
Do want to know how to learn Japanese fast? How about becoming fluent in 3 months? Or maybe you want to know the secrets to learn Japanese without effort? If this is you, then I apologize. You’ve come to the WRONG place. While there are ways to learn Japanese much faster than traditional methods, there … Read more
How to Learn Japanese for Beginners In this guide, you’ll find all of the resources you need to go from a beginner to a low-intermediate level of Japanese. While this guide is for beginners, it assumes you already know the basic fundamentals of Japanese. If this is your first time learning Japanese, check out our … Read more
Why Can’t I Learn Japanese? Have you been studying Japanese for months or years and feel like you’re not improving at all? Or do you feel like studying is pointless because you don’t really learn anything useful? If this is you (and I’m sure most of us have felt this way studying Japanese), there is … Read more