Blogs edited and submitted by Chiho Kamioka

Canoeing in Hokkaido, Japan There are many places where you can go to enjoy nature in Japan. And for those of you looking for outdoor adventures, there are also very good facilities for travelers and tourists to enjoy the local nature. Hokkaido is the northern-most island of Japan and is one of the most blessed places with nature in the country. It offers rivers, lakes and spectacular coastlines...

Disasters in Japan Japan with its floods, landslides, typhoons, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is one of the countries most affected by natural disasters. There are many innovative designs and ideas to prevent devastation and loss of life in the country, yet there are always some casualties in this nation whenever nature strikes. In this thoughtful blog by Japanese teacher Murahara sensei, w...

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Japanese Origami The word Origami (折り紙) comes from the Japanese word ori meaning folding, and kami meaning paper. This pastime became popular during the Edo period, and in modern times the term Origami has come to include styles from a lot of different countries other than Japan. In this Japanese language blog, Ueno sensei introduces her favorite Origami. See if you can make it ! Watch the vid...

Japanese old sayings and proverbs There are countless Japanese proverbs. Some come originally from Chinese ancient texts, and others are translations of universal proverbs that have origins in Europe or Shakesperean wisdom. Yet, some other Japanese proverbs are derived from the unique Japanese culture, Zen Buddhism and just old adages that ring true even over the stretch of time. Many Japanese ...