language

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Japan Prepares Official Hepburn Romanization Switch, Changing 70-Year Tradition

Japan will likely abandon its Kunrei-shiki romanization system that even most of its government doesn't use.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Giccho?! Here Are Some Dead Japanese Words That Only Old Folks Use

You may still hear these words or see them in print - but you won't hear them come from the mouth of…

CULTURE

Here’s Why Kyoto Schools Are No Longer Bossing Students Around at Exam Time

Kyoto schools have made a change to hallroom announcements, acknowledging that "please" and "thank you" are indeed the magic words

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

“Employee-San”: Why Japan’s Managers Are Shifting to Honorifics for Their Staff

Gone are the days of "chan" and "kun" in Japanese business. Recent research finds bosses are striking a more respectful tone.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Review: Native Camp – Take Unlimited, On Demand Japanese Lessons

Need more Japanese practice? This service offers on-demand access to native Japanese speakers - but it'll cost ya.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

I Tried AI for Japanese Speaking Practice – Here’s What I Learned

People keep telling me AI chatbots are the future of Japanese language learning. So I tried a few. Here's why they're wrong.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

McDonald’s Japan Runs Ad in Forged Edo-Era Script of the Gods

McDonald's Japan's latest social media ad campaign harkens back to claims that Japan had a pre-Chinese writing system.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE

Is That Japanese Town a “Chou” or a “Machi”?

The character 町 - pronounced either "chou" or "machi" - is common in Japanese town and neighborhood names. But how do you…