Customs, history, food, holidays and etiquette explained for learners.
1,392 pages
Video collection of aikido instruction and demonstrations, including the Nishio Aikido curriculum and Daito-ryu Aikijiujitsu courses.
Guide to Japanese wordplay (kotoba asobi) covering homophones, puns, palindromes, and riddles with examples.
Article explaining the Japanese communication concept of "hear one understand ten" and how it differs from American direct communication styles, with practical advice for learners doing business with Japanese people.
Guide to Japanese pop culture subcultures including otaku, cosplay, idol fandom, and gacha culture, with vocabulary for anime archetypes and cultural phenomena.
A living record of things I have written.
Fascinating people tell fascinating stories. Read our interviews with some of Japan's most unique individuals.
Why Japan Is the Ultimate Solo Travel Destination
Guide to major types of Japanese yokai with origin stories, meanings, and cultural context. Suitable for learners interested in Japanese folklore and cultural traditions.
Guide to how Japan celebrates Halloween as an adult costume season and commercial event, covering history, Shibuya crowds, parades, theme parks and shopping.
Article introducing ten types of traditional Japanese masks used in theater, festivals, and ceremonial contexts. Suitable for learners interested in Japanese culture and art history.
Guide to Japanese festivals for foreigners covering major matsuri by season, cultural significance, etiquette, what to wear and eat, and how to find festivals.
Guide to learning Japanese through anime, with explanations of benefits and recommendations for beginner, intermediate and advanced learners. Includes anime titles sorted by difficulty level and tips for effective study.
Website for Masa Kokoro Aikido Dojo in Calgary offering information about aikido, a Japanese martial art based on blending with attackers and redirecting force.
Explains Japanese communication styles including high-context culture, honne versus tatemae, reading the air, and workplace dynamics like nemawashi and keigo.
Discover the meaning of the Japanese bow in Aikido. Learn why bowing represents respect, gratitude and etiquette—not worship or religion.
Historical overview of Shinshin Toitsu Aikido and its founder Koichi Tohei, tracing the development of aikido practice emphasizing mind-body unification from 1920 to 2011.
Article listing English loanwords of Japanese origin, organized by category including food, entertainment, sports and martial arts.
Explains why Japanese people avoid direct refusal and how they express disagreement indirectly, with examples of common phrases and cultural concepts.
Guide to traditional Japanese hairstyles for kimono wear, covering historical styles like shimada mage and marumage with cultural significance and modern adaptations for travelers visiting Kyoto.
An article about using aiseki izakaya restaurants as opportunities to practice speaking Japanese with native speakers in a real social setting, featuring accounts from learners of various levels.
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