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Japanese culture

Learn about Japanese culture from this Japanese language blog by the JOI's professional Japanese teachers.


Heat packs or ‘warmers’ in Japan Heat packs or ‘warmers’ as they are known in Japan, are a great way to stay warm in winter. They are disposable and can keep you warm for over 8 hours. Some are sticky and you can stick them on your undergarments to keep your back or belly warm, and some can be put inside your shoes to keep your toes warm. But there is something that not many people know about th...
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Kimono in Japan The traditional dress of Japan is the kimono (着物). In the past, it was worn as everyday wear by women but recently Japanese people wear it for special occasions such as weddings, funerals and some traditional events. The style and color of the kimono can depend on the occasion and also the person's age and whether a woman is married or not. Many students wear kimonos and hakama f...
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Traditional Japanese New Year The New Year is one of the most celebrated season in Japan. Japanese people decorate the fronts of their houses and businesses and sometimes even cars with New Year decorations. There are many TV specials and special food to mark the different days. People also visit shrines and pray for the coming year. In this blog for Japanese learners, explains one of the last c...
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The Japanese political system The Japanese political system is a democratic system that was originally based on the German Diet system. There are two houses - the lower house or the House of Representatives and the upper house or the House of Councilors. There are a number of general elections held periodically to elect the members. The House of Representatives elections are held every four year...
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Coffee in Japan The coffee industry in Japan has a long and interesting history. Introduced to the country by Dutch and Portuguese traders in the 16th Century, it grew in popularity, especially after the second world war. Nowadays, large firms like Starbucks dominate the café style coffee drinking, and canned coffee is still also a uniquely Japanese product. This blog for Japanese learners...
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