In this short video I have fun with Japanese homophones that all sound almost the same but use different kanji and meanings.

Why it matters: Polite greetings and essential phrases help travelers connect with locals, avoid misunderstandings, and navigate Japan more smoothly. What to learn: Start with greetings like ohayō ...

As a native Japanese speaker, I get annoyed when I come across English articles that tout Japanese buzzwords like ikigai. They’re not commonly used in our day-to-day conversations. Ikigai is more like ...

Yoshikai Akira promotes yasashii Nihongo (simple Japanese) as head of the Yasashii Nihongo Promotion Network. In this article ...

In this digital age, we’re exposed to news coverage of heartbreaking incidents from all over the world. It feels obligatory to stay informed, yet we also have to carry on with our busy daily lives, ...