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Everyone starts as a beginner when studying Japanese. But once you are in the advanced bracket, using casual apps or the usual textbooks on beginner lists doesn’t cut it anymore. But, whether your goal is to excel at business Japanese, read Japanese literature or get the coveted N2 or N1 for your next promotion, we all need a little help on our study journeys. When you’ve reached the precipice, it’s time to move on to Japanese textbooks for advanced learners. The list below are books, some very technical and dry and some fun and colorful, that can help you level up your study of advanced Japan...
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Studying Japanese doesn’t have to be overwhelming, expensive or time-consuming. With free apps to jumpstart your Japanese learning journey, you can easily fit reviewing kanji (Chinese characters with Japanese meaning) and vocabulary seamlessly into your daily routine. Incorporating apps to help supplement your Japanese textbooks can help reinforce what you know and what you need to review. Like studying any other language, you can start by knowing the basics by heart. From memorizing each hiragana and katakana character to understanding the nuance of different grammar points, there’s an app ou...
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The most simple and effective way to learn Japanese is to study. That means textbooks, fumbling through Japanese grammar, memorizing hiragana, katakana and kanji, mountains of flashcards and apps, learning the nuances of keigo (honorific speech) and, most importantly, perhaps even most challengingly, a whole ‘lotta self-discipline. Unfortunately, learning Japanese can feel like a drag if you’re anything like me and absolutely hate studying. But I do like video games. I can focus on RPGs like Persona 5 and Elden Ring and devote over 100 hours of memorizing characters, backstories, weapon sets a...
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My favorite season in Japan is definitely spring. You’ve got cherry blossoms, fair weather, and the official end of winter. The only problem is that with spring comes hay fever. You know the deal, constant sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes that that can only come from an overabundance of pollen. So with hay fever hell just around the corner, it’s time to stay ahead of the curve with some potent hay fever medicine. The only problem? Navigating through all those labels. After all, drugstores literally have entire sections dedicated to fighting off that pesky pollen. Know the basic language ...
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Living and studying in Tokyo is a dream come true for people who love Japan— where do you start? What’s the best course for your career? The typical route is to pursue a visa through English teaching at an eikawa (English conversation school) or as an assistant language teacher (ALT). Unfortunately, English teaching often doesn’t support a resume outside of, well, anything but teaching English. It can result in wasted time if your dream job is outside education. Another option is coming to Japan under a student visa—but which school is right for your career, lifestyle and study goals? Which sc...
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Living in Japan, you soon notice that Japanese Christmas differs from its Western equivalent. From eating Christmas cakes that are made with whipped cream and strawberries galore to enjoying a romantic date instead of visiting your family at Yule time, Christmas in Japan remains fascinatingly different. Nowhere is this difference clearer than in how Christmas has been incorporated into the Japanese language. As Japanese Christmas is unique, it has created new words associated with the season that illustrate how the holiday has become part of the culture. 1. Wine for the whole familyWhen you ra...
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Throughout history, spoken Japanese has evolved in hundreds of different ways, creating dialects in each region. The two most spoken were the Edo and the Kinai dialect. Once Meiji was restored to the Imperial throne, sweeping political and educational reforms took place. Many dialects were suppressed in favor of the Edo dialect to promote cultural unity and cohesiveness. Remains of the distinct dialects can still be found across Japan, most notable in the famous successor of the Kinai dialect, the Kansai dialect. Here are five key slang differences between Japanese spoken in Tokyo and the Japa...
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Hiyashi chuka is my go-to dish as soon as it’s warm enough to stop wearing long sleeves. The cool noodles and the refreshing tang of the vinegar really hit the spot on a hot summer night, and it helps that there’s not a lot of cooking to do, so I’m not sweating buckets by the time I sit down to eat. Hiyashi chuka is a customizable cold noodle dish using the same egg noodles often used in ramen, called “chuka men” (Chinese noodles). Although there are tons of variations (and you’re welcome to try your own), for this Japanese Recipe Adventure, we’ll take a look at the style you’ll most commonly ...
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Pets in rich countries are increasingly pampered and treated as prized family members. On the streets of Japan, this contemporary phenomenon manifests daily in the form of people pushing a stroller occupied by one or more furry family members wearing warm sweaters and perhaps even diapers. This almost human treatment has progressed so far that pets are being afforded funeral rites previously limited to human beings within the last couple of decades. Is there not something within the doctrines of the native religion Shinto, or else the imported but more dominant religion Buddhism, that might ex...
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You probably already know about udon, thick and springy noodles made from wheat flour. You also likely know gyoza, dumplings usually filled with ground meat and vegetables. But have you heard of udon gyoza? In today’s Japanese Recipe Adventure, I’ll show you how to combine both for udon gyoza— crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and incredibly addictive. They’re a delicacy in Takatsuki, Osaka, and after our easy recipe, you’ll be whipping them up in a snap. IngredientsThis makes about 20 udon gyoza. When choosing your udon, it’s easiest to buy refrigerated. If buying frozen, defrost befo...
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