Dallen Nakamura

Dallen was born and raised in Hawaii and never had a passport until he was 24. His first trip outside of the US was to Japan. He loved it so much that when he got back home, he immediately quit his job and moved to Japan without a plan. While he loves the people and culture of Japan, his true love is food. He is convinced that Japan has the best food in the world and is slowly eating his way around the world to prove it.
A young man with glasses has two open books on top of his head. He is looking up at them and screamign with both of his hands up.

Top 5 Mistakes Everyone Makes Learning Japanese

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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

A laptop on a desk that is displaying a flag of Japan with a blue enter button at the bottom and a the text, "Learn Japanese" at the top. A coffee cup, notebook, notes, and a plant can also be seen on the desk.

Rosetta Stone Japanese Review: Does it Work?

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Name:  Rosetta Stone Japanese Website:  http://www.rosettastone.com/learn-japanese/ Price:  Online Subscription:  $59 for 3 months, $84 for 6 months, $129 for 12 months, $179 for 24 months.   CD-ROM:  $144 for levels 1-3    Instant Download:  $89 for level 1 Japanese Level:  Beginners to Low-Intermediate Materials:  Vocabulary and Grammar Lessons, Japanese Language Games, Speaking and Listening Activities JLPT Materials:  Not Recommended … Read more

Two stacks of notebooks and folders with a bunch of color mini Post-It notes scattered all around. The the center is a white flashcard with the word, "apple" written on it in red. There is also a hand-drawn picture of an apple and Japanese characters on the same flashcard, also in red. Someone's hand can be seen holding a red pen.

The Best Way to Learn Japanese: 15 Ways To Supercharge Your Learning

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What is the best way to learn Japanese?  If you want to know how to learn Japanese fast and efficiently, this list of 15 tips will show you exactly how to do that.  The methods covered in this guide are a collection of advice from Japanese teachers, people who have gained fluency in a second … Read more

A woman's hands are holding a book open. Inside the book is a flag of Japan with a blue "enter" button and the text, "Learn Japanese" written at the top. In the background is a desk with other notebooks, pens, rulers, and a tablet on it.

Where to Start Learning Japanese

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Chapter II:  Where to Start Learning Japanese In this chapter, we’ll show you what you should study for each level.  If you don’t know where to start learning Japanese, this guide will help you. Absolute Beginners If you have never studied Japanese before, you’re in for a treat. The beginning of your journey to learn … Read more

A young woman with long brown hair is carrying a laptop/note in her hands in front of her. She looks scared or shy.

How to Speak to People in Japanese if You’re Shy

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How to Practice Speaking Japanese if You’re Shy What if I’m too afraid or shy to speak Japanese with anyone?  This is an issue that many people have.  It can be difficult speaking to someone in a totally different language, especially if you’re a beginner.  You don’t know many words and grammar patterns, so you … Read more

A young woman with dirty blonde hair is sitting down at a desk with an open book. She is hold a sign in front of her face that reads, "HELP."

Trouble Learning Japanese: Answers to Common Problems and Concerns

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Chapter IV:  Common Questions and Frustrations About Studying Japanese You’ll probably have lots of questions about learning Japanese.  How long does it take to learn Japanese?  Can I become fluent in Japanese in 3 months?  What if I’m too shy to speak to anyone? In chapter 4 of the best way to learn Japanese guide, … Read more

A close-up of a woman's open mouth with her right hand cupped in front of it to "amplify" her voice.

How to Practice Speaking Japanese Alone

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5 Ways to Practice Speaking Japanese on Your Own If you have already read our “best way to learn Japanese” guide, then you know that I highly recommend you practice speaking Japanese with a teacher or tutor. There are so many great Japanese teachers online now that it’s easy to find someone who you can … Read more

A green blackboard with a light brown wooden from with the words "LEARN JAPANESE" on it. There are various chalk drawings of computers, notebooks, pens, etc. around the words.

How to Learn Japanese: A Guide for Absolute Beginners

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If you want to learn Japanese but have no idea where to start or what to study, this guide is for you. So let’s get started! 7 Steps to Start Mastering the Japanese Language If you are beginning your journey to learn Japanese, an exciting world awaits you. With Japanese, you’ll be able to live and … Read more

An older Asian man wearing a cooks uniform is writing something down on a restaurant order sheet inside of a restaurant.

How to Order Food in Japanese

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Dining Out in Japan:  How to Order Food in Japanese like a Pro Japan has some of the best food in the world.  I’m talking about finger-licking, lip-smacking, and spine-shivering deliciousness.  However, many restaurants in Japan don’t have an English speaking staff.  Sure, you could use gestures and very simple English to your point across.  … Read more

Japanese High School Students in uniforms standing in a line and posing for a picture.

Working for The JET Program – A Typical Day

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If you got accepted to the JET Program as an ALT, congratulations!  All of your hard work and patience has paid off.Now you’re probably excited and anxious to find out all about your school, and what working for the JET Program will be like.  Here’s a general guideline about what you’ll be doing on a … Read more

6 pieces of nigiri Sushi displayed in a line. (Fish, imitation crab, cucumber, salmon, shrimp, and unagi sushi).

The Best Sushi in Japan

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The Best Sushi in the World…Is Not Where You Think It Is If you have seen the documentary, “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” then you already know that he has the best sushi in the world.  Sukiyabashi, Jiro’s Michelin three-star restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo is where you’ll find him preparing his world famous sushi. I unfortunately … Read more

Jigokudani Monkey Park Japan: A bunch of monkeys bathing in the hot spring.

Jigokudani Monkey Park Japan

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If you have ever seen a picture of a monkey bathing in an outdoor hot spring surrounded by snow in Japan, it was probably taken at the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Japan.  This park  is located in Yamanouchi city, in Nagano prefecture. Jigokudani means, “hell valley,” because of the many streams of steam that comes … Read more

3 pieces of Pitan, or Chinese Century Eggs. On is unshelled, one is in its shell, and the other is covered in some kind of brown material.

Chinese Century Eggs – Don’t Do It!

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  I have tried many weird and crazy foods in Japan.  Some of them were absolutely delicious, while others made me want to gag.  By far the worst thing I ever ate is something called “pidan” or “pitan.”  If you don’t know what this is, consider yourself lucky.  They are Chinese preserved eggs that you … Read more

A woman with black hair is soaking in a Japanese Rotenburo (open air bath) while looking at the snow and trees all around her.

Japanese Onsen Etiquette

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In addition to the amazing food, wonderful culture, and helpful people, onsen, or hot spring baths, are another reason why Japan is so awesome.  Japanese onsen etiquette is pretty straightforward once you know the basic rules.  Don’t let this intimidate you.  If you are in Japan, you should definitely try soaking in an onsen. The … Read more

Japanese Counting System Kanji Chart (numbers 1 - 10)

How to Count in Japanese – Numbers You’ll Actually Use

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Normal Counting – Sino-Japanese Number Japanese – Romaji Kanji Hiragana Katakana 0 rei, zero 零 れい、ぜろ レイ、ゼロ 1 ichi 一 いち イチ 2 ni 二 に ニ 3 san 三 さん サン 4 yon, shi 四 よん、し ヨン、シ 5 go 五 ご ゴ 6 roku 六 ろく ロク 7 nana, shichi 七 なな、しち ナナ、シチ 8 … Read more

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