Two young women are standing on a platform at a train station. They are facing each other (with one woman’s back facing toward the camera), and have their arms open ready to embrace each other. The woman with her face towards the camera has a big smile, and looks extremely happy.

What Does お久しぶり (Ohisashiburi) in Japanese Mean?

“お久しぶり! (ohisashiburi!)” or “久しぶり! (hisashiburi!)” is a common Japanese greeting that is said whenever you haven’t seen someone in a long time. This short but convenient phrase is equivalent to English phrases like “long time no see!” or “it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.”  Let’s take a look at how to … Read more

An image of two human silhouettes climbing up a hill. The person at the top is extending their hand to the outstretched hand of the person below. The shining sun is in the background, peering through space between the two people’s outstretched hands.

What Does 助けて (Tasukete) Mean in Japanese?

If you are in serious trouble, you can ask for help using the phrase 助けて (tasukete). 助けて (tasukete) means “help!” or “save (me)!” in Japanese.  Example:  誰か、助けて!(Dare ka, tasukete!)Somebody help me! However, you need to be careful when you use this word, as it might not be appropriate in some situations. 助けて (Tasukete): The Basics 助けて(tasukete) … Read more

An illustration of a man inside of a building that has tall bookshelves on both sides of him. These bookshelves are filled with books, and pieces of white paper are seen falling from above, collecting into a pile on the floor.

The 10 Best New Manga in 2022

Every year, the level and quality of manga seem to be improving: The art is getting better. The stories are ever-changing and unique. There is an abundance of available titles. We have scoured countless titles that have been newly released in the past year or so and are still going strong in 2022. So let’s … Read more

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The 14 Best Shoujo Manga You’ll Fall in Love With

Since shoujo is such a feminine genre, some people avoid reading anything from it. Don’t let the romance put you off; shoujo manga has some amazing storylines that will draw you right in. We created this list to help you decide which shoujo manga to start with if you’re new to the genre. Now, let’s … Read more

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The 20 Best Seinen Manga To Blow Your Mind

Seinen is an age demographic for people between the ages of 18-40. The western world separates Young Adult (around age 15-19) and Adult (around age 20 and up) demographics. If the age group seems too broad, that’s because the labels are more in place for parental guidance rather than finding a specific genre. For something more … Read more

The True Japan Merch

I Love Sushi Have a little fun with this Japanese “お寿司大好き!” (Osushi daisuki!) design that means “I love sushi!” These cute characters are a fun way to express your love of sushi. Design available in: Unisex premium tee, long sleeve tee, tank top, pullover hoodie, and mug $21.99 JAPAN, I LOVE YOU… Show you love … Read more

A dark background with smoke and a director's "cut" take board with two rolls of film on the ground. The text reads,"The 20 Best Japanese Movies of All Time"

20 of the Best Japanese Movies of All Time

  Japan, a forerunner in world cinema, has one of the most acclaimed film industries in the world. Their contribution to world cinema has not gone unnoticed with Japan winning—not once, but four times—the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (the record high for any Asian nation). This list will chronicle some of the … Read more

An illustration of a young boy and girl smiling, with Japanese characters all around them. The text on this illustration reads, "An Introduction to Japanese Particles."

An Introduction to Japanese Particles: (は, が, に, へ, で, を)

Japanese particles are among the most fascinating and important to your understanding of the language. Particles are suffixes – they attach themselves right after words (nouns, verbs, and adjectives) and phrases in the sentence. Think of a Japanese sentence as being built out of separate blocks of information. Particles work as the glue and the … Read more

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The 30 Best Manga of All Time

  Manga has been a worldwide phenomenon for decades. In Japan, manga is considered an art form. The beautiful stories have inspired generations of young people. Thousands of manga exist, but only a handful stand out from the rest. These are the best of the best. They move readers, entertain fans, and keep you on … Read more

An illustration of four young anime women chracters standing in a row and smiling.

The 10 Best Anime Movies Of All Time

  Anime has been a part of Japanese culture for much of its modern existence. There’s a good reason: anime teaches values (and let’s be honest…many anime are just fricken awesome). Many of these values are essential to the Japanese culture. With anime movies, you can enjoy tales of friendship… frolic in the whimsy of … Read more

An anime young girl with long, red hair wearing a dark blue and gray outfit. To the left of the character, the title "The 10 Best Action Anime of All Time" is displayed.

The 10 Best Action Anime of All Time

  What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the phrase “action anime?” Personally, I think of exhilarating fight scenes and heart-wrenching moments. I also expect well-designed characters, epic music, and deep reflections on what’s important in life. In this article, we cover the top 10 action anime series of all time. If … Read more

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The Complete Japan Travel Guide

Whether you visit Japan for a short stay or a long vacation, this complete Japan travel guide will help you to prepare. Japan’s customs, culture, and weather is probably completely different from your home country. In fact, it’s probably different from any other country in the world. Don’t be put off – it may take … Read more

An illustration of four young boys standing next to each other wearing different color shirts (black, orange, red, green). They are looking slightly angry or trying to be "tough."

The 20 Best Anime of All Time

  Japanese anime has become a worldwide cultural phenomenon. It has been translated into most major languages and has captured the hearts of thousands, if not millions of fans around the world. Through its beautiful storytelling, exquisite artistry, and captivating plots, anime has rightfully earned its place as one of the most entertaining mediums in … Read more

An illustration of a young anime girl characters with long red hair listening to music on headphones.

The Top 10 Harem Anime of All Time

  Girls, Girls and More Girls! The harem genre is one of the most developed and widely used themes in anime.  Having a legion of different women (or men in reverse-harem) attracted or even falling in love with the story’s main character has a “fantasy” appeal that anime fans dream about. Harem anime took off … Read more