Words always reflect the people that use them, and vice-versa. In American English our notions about individualism and not going ...
One concept that's always interested me is joshiki (JOH-sh'kee) the Japanese "universal common sense" or knowledge that all reasonable people ...
There's a minor hullabaloo going on between Japan and Australia right now after the publication of a controversial book on ...
I was making up some Japanese business cards for one of my employees yesterday, trying different layouts and fonts to ...
I've written before about how Japan is a very safe place -- so safe it might just kill you with ...
It was Thomas Paine -- a possible ancestor of mine, although I somehow doubt it -- who uttered the words, ...
One thing I've heard from foreigners who have recently come to Japan -- and which I've probably uttered myself a ...
The fermented soybeans known as natto (NAT-toh) are one of the most famous foods in Japan, enjoyed throughout the country, ...
I'll never forget the moment. In my first year of SDSU, my family got a Japanese homestay student who stayed ...
Today is a holiday in Japan, Seijin-no-hi, or Coming of Age Day. Venture into any Japanese city right now and ...
Now that Christmas is past, Japan is getting ready for its own big season, Oshogatsu or New Year's Day, by ...
The warmest Christmas Greetings from J-List! We hope that everyone is having an great holiday wherever you are, surrounded by ...
As an expat American living away from my home country, it's sometimes interesting to ask the Japanese people around me ...
Somewhere between the staid features of futsu (normal) Japanese and the dizzying varieties of face, hair and body types seen ...
Sunday was my father's meinichi, the anniversary of the day he died nine years ago (although Japanese are always puzzled ...
There are a lot of good things about living in Japan. Good food, from sushi to sashimi to Indian curry. ...
You know you've been in Japan too long when your mother sends you a bottle of nutmeg spice for Christmas, ...
Japan is a very rail-centric place compared to the U.S., and trains are a much larger part of society than ...
By and large, an American expat living in Japan has two choices when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving: completely forget ...
Coming to Japan meant adjusting to many new things, from vending machines that accept the equivalent of $100 bills then ...
Pets are a part of our household in Japan, and currently we've got a dog (faithful old Sakura) and two ...
No matter how long a person lives in Japan, there are always things that can bring on what expats here ...
A recent commercial featured a voice saying, nihon-jin wa urusai! which means that Japanese are loud and obnoxious and fussy. ...
When you come to a place like Japan, it's always best to check your cultural preconceptions at the door and ...
