Learn Japanese vocabulary, Kanji and phrases with this free blog with a YouTube video for audio learning, vocabulary lists and English Translation !
Every week, a professional Japanese teacher posts a new blog .
Pilgrimages in Japan
Pilgrimages are an important part of Japanese religious experience and have been practiced since Buddhism was first brought to the islands by the monk Kuukai. They are typically centered on holy mountains or famous Buddhist sites and sometimes to Shinto shrines as well.
This blog by Japanese teacher Megumi Ogura explores one of the most famous pilgrimages in Japan. The pilgr...
Rail transport in Japan
There are a very large number of train companies in Japan. The rail system in Japan was privatized in 1987 and the Japan Railways (JR Group) was established as a result.
There are 6 regional JR railway companies, JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR West, JR Shikoku, and JR Kyushu, and also a freight railway company. And then there are many private rail companies that run...
Giant trees in Japan
In Japan, you can find a lot of ancient nature and especially some very ancient trees. They can be found dotted around the country and often in and around Shinto shrine grounds.
Many of them are designated as holy sites and you can often see huge ropes tied around them to indicate that they are sacred trees. Many modern Japanese people refer to these trees as 'power spots' a...
Enjoying Tokyo
Tokyo has some impressive urban tourist spots that attract a lot of visitors every year. But there are also some green pockets of beauty and nature that can be enjoyed within the metropolis too.
In this interesting blog by Japanese teacher Izumi Yanaka, she explores one of these beautiful locations. You can listen to Yanaka sensei read the blog herself, and learn how to pronounce ...
Japanese traditional fermentation
Traditional Japanese food and drink culture is considered one of the healthiest in the world, and the process of fermentation has a heavy influence on this from sake to soy sauce.
These processes, although they have some overlap, are very individual crafts that create tastes and flavours that are distinct to each area and each maker.
The history of these proces...
