Tamaki SAITO（西東たまき）

Japanese shares Chinese letters (Kanji) in writing. But unlike Chinese, we use them mixing with two sets of our own alphabet. One is called ‘Hiragana’ the other is called ‘Katakana’. Each set has 48 letters out of which two are obsolete. Both of them are phonetic letters. So they can express almost any kind of sound, which is especially convenient to describe foreign words. However, the context of usage makes a distinction between those two. Hiragana is basically used for writing words and expressions of Japanese origin, while Katakana is used for expressing those of foreign origins. Since words and ...

Japanese traditional houses normally have sliding doors for the entrance and rooms. But in modern housing, swing doors are dominant and the sliding doors are only to be seen for Japanese style rooms which most of the modern house still contains one or two within. In western countries, the doors open inwardly. On the contrary, they open outwardly in Japan. The reason could be that since Japanese has a custom of taking the shoes off when stepped inside the entrance door, a certain space to take off the shoes and keep them must be secured there. Besides, the movement of ...

If you walk through a Japanese suburb on a sunny weekend, you might spot a patch of soil surrounded by neat fences — rows of tomatoes, cucumbers, and shiso leaves quietly basking in the light. This is a kitchen garden, or katei saibai in Japanese. It’s one of the most popular hobbies in Japan, blending the calm of nature with the satisfaction of harvest.   🌱 A Little Farm in the City Many people don’t have a backyard, so they rent a small plot from a local landowner or community garden. The space is modest — often just a few ...

Beauty salon for women is not only the place for hair treatment but also a place to feel relaxed. Just within an hour or two what a salon can offer the customers is where competition for elaboration thrives. Open the door and step into the salon, you will be cheerfully greeted by the staff. Your bag and coat will be collected to store in the closet. Then you will be gently questioned your requests for the day.   Discussion Once you are lead to the seat set in front of the mirror, the hair stylist and the assistant will take ...

Fruit picking in Japan isn’t just about eating fruit — it’s a seasonal tradition that connects people with nature, family, and food. From juicy strawberries in spring to crisp apples in autumn, every season brings a new flavor to discover.   Agritourism in Japan Across Japan, farms open their gates to visitors for hands-on fruit-picking experiences. This form of agritourism has quietly existed for decades, long before the term became popular. Families, couples, and travelers visit the countryside to enjoy fruits fresh from the tree.   How It Works Most farms charge a flat fee for “all-you-can-eat” fruit within a ...

Who would have imagined that curry would become one of Japan’s most beloved dishes? Many people in Japan even say they could eat curry every single day without getting tired of it! In Japan, the word “curry” almost always refers to curry rice (kare raisu) — a dish quite different from the spicy curries found in India or Thailand. Japanese curry has its own distinct flavor, texture, and cultural story.   The Secret of Japanese Curry’s Unique Taste Japanese curry is made using a roux — a thick paste created by blending various spices with wheat flour and oil. This ...

If you want to take a walk or kill time and don’t want to spend money, library shall be the perfect destination; fully air-conditioned and full of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs from the latest to the classics. Every local government has several of the well-stocked libraries per district. You can visit there and just scan the latest materials at the site or if you prefer, you can borrow them for a specific period, most of the case for two weeks and extendable, as per stipulated at each facility, if you are resident of the district. This system has contributed ...

Very early in the morning, much before dawn, you will hear the sound of motorbike going around the houses and apartments. They are ‘Shimbun haitatsu’ newspaper delivery. Although people who subscribe newspaper are decreasing than before, along with the spread of the internet that provides various information immediately, especially among young generation. Internet will update you per minutes. But newspaper delivery is still much alive. One way or another we must get things Win To combat with the internet news services, newspaper agents are very keen to keep up the number of subscription. They send salespersons occasionally to visit houses ...

Konnnichiwa (hello) must be the most well-known Japanese greeting. ‘Konnichiwa’ will be used any time after ‘good morning’ time but before ‘good evening’ time. ‘Ohayo’ is good morning. Ohayo followed by ‘Gozaimasu’ (oayo gozaimasu) is the polite version. ‘Konbanwa’ (good evening) is the greeting used in the evening and afterwards. Greeting at Departure When you go out, anytime of a day, you will say to anyone you leave behind ‘Ittekimasu’ which literally means ‘I’m going’. You will be answered by ‘Itterasshai’, let’s say ‘Have a nice day’. When you are back, you are supposed to say ‘Tadaima’ toward anyone at ...

Japan experiences the rainy season annually. It starts from late spring to early summer and often it falls day and night for days. The actual timing will differ according to the region but it lasts for nearly a month and a half in any place of Japan. For example, Okinawa, the most southern part of Japan, will be in rainy season from early May until June end. While in northern part of the mainland it will be from middle of June to end of July. Hokkaido and some islands are exceptions; they have no rainy season. Rainy season in Japan ...