Ninja Sword or Shinobi Gatana how different?
The length of a normal Japanese sword is about 70cm, but a Ninja sword is about 40cm, making it very compact. In addition, Ninja swords do not have the curvature of the blade, which is unique to Japanese swords. The short, warpless shape of the ninja sword was created to suit the activities of the […]
10 Things You Need to Know Before Coming to Japan
By Ryoji Shimada, staff writer If you are a foreigner currently living in Japan, it may seem obvious, but there are many things that may surprise you when you first come to Japan as a non-Japanese. If you know what to expect in advance, you will not be surprised or confused. Here I would like […]
Why do Japanese people climb Mt. Fuji?
To Commemorate One’s Life As the Reason for Climbing Mt. Fuji Mt. Fuji was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This summer, with the number of climbers on the mountain expected to exceed the average year, a survey was conducted to find out what people think about Japan’s highest mountain. JustSystems Corporation surveyed 1,100 people […]
One in Seven Children Is in Poverty in Japan
In September 2014, a single mother killed her junior high school daughter in a prefectural public housing complex in Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture, west of Tokyo. After killing her daughter, the mother intended to commit suicide herself. However, she was arrested before she could carry out her suicide. The mother, who was 43 years old […]
Characteristics of the Japanese: Strengths and Weaknesses
By Ryoji Shimada, staff writer It is said that Japanese people are diligent, and I think that has not changed. If you ask a Japanese person or perhaps a foreigner what the characteristics of the Japanese are, the answer will probably be the same :diligence. Diligence is a good characteristic, not a bad one. So […]
Understanding "Rongo to Soroban" in English by Eiichi Shibusawa
Not only as a business person but as the father of capitalism in Japan If I were to ask you who you know as a Japanese businessman, who would you name? You might name Masayoshi Son of Softbank, Kazuo Inamori of Kyocera, Konosuke Matsushita of Panasonic, or Tadashi Yanai of Uniqlo. But as of 2021, […]
How to use "Chotto" in Japanese?
It is quite natural for a word to have multiple meanings in a certain language. In Japanese, too, a single word can have many meanings. One of the representative words is "chotto" ちょっと. It is normally written in hiragana. Chotto has so many different meanings, some similar and some opposite. It may sound complicated, but […]
Available Jobs in Japan for Non-Japanese
These are just a few of the jobs we are currently accepting for foreigners. Please contact us if you are interested in any of them and other jobs. You can click the title to find out more info in PDF. As of October 24, 2021 There are many other permanent jobs available, please click here […]
What Is "Haiku"?
Haiku, made up of only 17 syllables arranged in a 5‐7‐5 pattern, is said to be the shortest poetic form in the world. Unlike a "tanka," a haiku is required to have a seasonal word in it. Haiku have become popular overseas, and there are some enthusiasts who compose haiku in English. Takahama Kyoshi's famous […]
What Is "Tanka"? たんか 短歌
Tanka (literally “short poem”), which belongs to the old Japanese poetry called "waka 和歌," is a 31‐syllable poem formed by five lines in the pattern of 5‐7‐5‐7‐7. Originally there existed other forms in "waka" such as "choka 長歌" (literally “long poem”), which was distinguished from "tanka." With the disappearance of "choka" and other minor forms, […]