Essay

Using Japanese Drama to Learn Japanese

Learn how to use Japanese dramas to effectively study and improve Japanese comprehension, listening, and speaking skills.

“Of Arcs and Circles” Contemplates Gardens, Nature, and Life Itself

"When people no longer need things, or if they hate them, they destroy them... If people love things however, they care for them and make them last." (Of Arcs and Circles, p. 46)

Kyushu’s Samurai Vaccinators: The Fight Against Smallpox in Late Edo Japan

Faced with an epidemic, a forward-thinking group of doctors and samurai leaders launched a successful vaccination campaign in late Edo Japan.

Read Japanese Books with the Listening-Reading Method

Want to read Japanese books and novels? We outline a method to help get you started - and build your Japanese listening skills along the way.

Osechi Ryori: History, Meanings, and How to Prepare

Osechi ryori is Japan's traditional New Year's cuisine. How did this tradition begin, and what do all the different foods symbolize?

Five Japanese Cocktails That’ll Make You Feel Like You’re in Ginza

Got a hankering for some luxurious Japanese cocktails, but can't get to Ginza? These recipes should do the trick.

Review: “Tokyo Cocktails” is Fascinating Top-Shelf Reading

Tokyo is truly a cuisine capital, admired worldwide. Now, the cocktail and bartending styling of Japan gets its own in-depth treatment in this new book.

Is James Clavell’s Shogun Accurate History – Or Pure Fiction?

UJ staff writer Dr. Nyri Bakkalian reads and critiques James Clavell's epically long-winded 1975 novel "Shogun" so you don't have to.

The Snow Monkeys of Japan: A Fascinating History

They were a part of Japanese folklore for centuries before they enjoyed international fame. Learn more about Japan's snow monkeys.

Essay

Before You Go...