Many imagine that the main way to say goodbye in Japanese is sayonara. This is a big mistake! Japanese people do not use sayonara on a daily basis! In this article, we will understand the true meaning ...

For many travelers, Japan is a place that draws people back again and again. It's a country known not just for its stunning scenery and rich culture, but also for the warmth and politeness of its ...

In the autumn of 2020, Ikezawa Mari (Uchida Rio) returns as a reporter of a television programme to the town of Hida Furukawa in Gifu Prefecture for the first time in almost 10 years. Her father Seiji ...

On a serene spring morning, amid the falling cherry blossom petals, an 85-year-old woman named Etsuko Hayasaka–also my grandmother–departed her home with her customary “ittekimasu!” (“I’m off!”). On ...

When you step out of the house in Japan, there's a little phrase that carries a world of meaning: 'いってきます' (ittekimasu). This simple yet profound expression translates to 'I’m leaving' in English, but ...

The cover of the picture book "Donguri Mura no Dongurien." (Mainichi/Risa Koshiba) This column introduces recommended Japanese picture books, along with related terms and culture that foreigners ...

In this article, we are going to learn some greetings, and goodbyes in Japanese. Knowing this will help you increase your beginner's vocabulary in the language and start conversations with Japanese.

Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume No Tojimari movie collaborated with KDDI’s mobile brand au and released a new commercial. The collaboration took place due to au’s “Traveling with Suzume in Japan” project ...

Makoto Shinkai’s newest film, Suzume no Tojimari, was first announced in December 2021 and is expected to have a 2022 release date. Living up to expectations, the movie has released its first official ...