culture
Whenever and wherever Japanese people travel, one thing is always on their mind — souvenirs, or omiyage (お土産). In Japan, bringing back souvenirs isn’t just about buying gifts; it’s about sharing your experience and showing thoughtfulness toward others. Whether it’s for friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors, bringing home omiyage is a deeply rooted social custom. More Than a Gift — A Gesture of Connection Souvenirs represent the joy of travel and the appreciation of those waiting back home. In Japan, it’s almost unthinkable to return from a trip without omiyage. People might even feel embarrassed to come back empty-handed ...
Japan is full of shortened words — and once you notice them, you’ll hear them everywhere. From remote control becoming Remo-con to smartphone becoming Sma-pho, abbreviations are a fun and natural part of everyday Japanese communication. 1. Why Japanese People Shorten Words Japanese culture values efficiency and simplicity, but there’s more to it than that. The Japanese language has a natural rhythm made of short syllables, so shortening words makes them easier to say and gives them a catchy, rhythmic sound. That’s why even foreign brand names and people’s names get shortened based on sound, not spelling: Starbucks → Staba ...
Every school classes or group of certain members would like to organise ‘Renrakumou’. Renrakumou is a list on which the member’s name and contact details are written. With renrakumou, you won’t need to collect member’s contact by asking individually. Especially, renrakumou made in schools has a purpose of emergency network When school has got some notices that they want to spread to the students/guardians urgently is when the renrakumou will play its roll. It is usually arranged in the tree-form network, starting from the teacher at the top then it comes down to the 2nd layers downwards. The teacher passes ...
Every country has its own set of superstitions — small beliefs that mix fear, respect, and curiosity. Japan is no exception. Even today, many traditional sayings and actions are quietly passed down through daily life. When Someone Sneezes In English-speaking countries, people say “Bless you!” when someone sneezes. But in Japan, sneezing means something completely different — someone is talking about you! No one knows whether they’re saying good or bad things, but the idea still makes people smile. Don’t Waste Even a Grain of Rice Japanese people are often taught to finish every bite on their plate. Leaving ...
In Japan, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May. It’s the same date as many countries — but the mood feels uniquely Japanese: gentle, warm, and quietly grateful. 🌸 Red Carnations Everywhere Walk through town in early May and you’ll see a wave of red. Flower shops and supermarkets fill their displays with red carnations. Ads read “お母さん、ありがとう” — “Thank you, Mom.” This custom came from the United States in the early 20th century and spread widely after World War II. Over time, it blossomed into one of Japan’s sweetest spring traditions. 🎁 Gifts Beyond Flowers ...
People are enthusiastic to learn new things to upgrade themselves. Kouminkan – community centre – is where to go. Community centre is a public facility provided and supported by the local government. Their main purpose is to offer residents the spaces for their multiple activities, which could be group meeting, event or anything that the space could serve for. Some facilities could be just simple with a few of meeting rooms while others could have multiple functions; meeting rooms, hall which is suitable for larger events and some indoor sports, Tatami Japanese room, besides some are combined with library and ...
In Japan, students receive school lunches — kyūshoku — from elementary through junior high school. Everyone eats the same meal, served at the same time, in the same classroom. It’s part of the country’s compulsory education and continues until the end of junior high. From high school onward, students usually bring their own obento lunch boxes. Kyushoku=School Lunch The system began as a way to ensure that all children, regardless of family income, could eat a nutritious meal during the day. It also lightens the burden on parents, who no longer need to prepare daily lunches. With a small ...
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 ...
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 ...
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