おもちパワー – Mochi Power for the New Year
Making mochi with grandparents during New Year, enjoying kinako, anko, ozoni, yakimochi, and warm family traditions bringing comfort and...
Sound More Natural in Japanese: How to Use といえば Correctly
Learn how to use Nといえば in Japanese to say “speaking of X.” Simple explanations, natural examples, and practice exercises...
福男・福女 – A Unique New Year Race in Japan
Discover Japan’s New Year tradition of Fuku-otoko and Fuku-onna, a lively shrine race to choose the year’s luckiest people....
Never Get Japanese Dates Wrong Again: 年・月・日 Made Simple
Struggling with Japanese dates? Learn how to say years, months, and days (年・月・日) with simple examples and practice exercises.
福袋 – The Joy of Japan’s New Year Lucky Bags
Discover what fukubukuro are—Japan’s popular New Year lucky bags. Learn what’s inside, when to buy them, and why they’re...
Are You Saying It Right? How to Say “Congratulations” in Japanese
Learn how to say “おめでとうございます” naturally in Japanese, from casual friends to formal business, New Year greetings, and special...
三が日 – How Japanese People Start the New Year
Learn about 三が日 (Sanganichi), the first three days of the New Year in Japan, including traditions like hatsumode, osechi,...
Special Ways to Count Years in Japan : 元号 and 干支
Discover how Japan names years using 元号 and 干支. Learn the era system, zodiac animals, and how Japanese people...
Expressions & Phrases at the End of the Year
Learn common Japanese end-of-year expressions, their meanings, and when to use them—plus the key difference between Japanese and English...