Rebecca Shiraishi-Miles 
April in Japan is one of the most iconic months of the year! With the famous cherry blossom season in full swing, the scenery fully matches that fairytale image of Japan you might have in your head. As well as fun hanami (cherry blossom viewing) picnics and festivals, April brings the start of the school … Read more
JapanesePod101 is my personal favourite way to learn Japanese online, and I recommend it to everyone. But how much does JapanesePod101 cost? Unfortunately there’s no straight answer, because it depends on lots of factors like your membership level and length of subscription. But as a very rough guide, expect to pay between $4 and $10 … Read more
Looking for free Japanese printables to help you learn faster? You’re in the right place! Whether you’re just starting with hiragana and katakana or beginning to tackle kanji, having simple, printable resources can make a huge difference. They give you a clear structure and help you stay consistent, and make it easy to practise without … Read more
March in Japan is a month of transition. Winter is fading, plum blossoms are in full bloom, and cherry blossoms begin to appear in the warmer regions. Schools and companies prepare for graduation ceremonies, and the whole country feels fresh and full of new beginnings! Whether you’re planning a spring trip or exploring Japanese culture … Read more
If you’re starting Japanese from scratch, learning hiragana is your very first step. Japanese uses three writing systems, but beginners begin with the two phonetic alphabets – hiragana and katakana. Together, they’re known as the kana. They represent sounds, not meanings. And once you can read them, you can pronounce any Japanese word correctly. That’s … Read more
Most Studio Ghibli movies feel totally magical, and that’s why we love them! But many of the details they show are very real, and we can actually learn a lot about Japanese culture from watching Ghibli movies. Look closely, and you’ll spot everyday Japanese traditions and customs woven into the stories. Shrines, school routines, shared … Read more
Most Studio Ghibli films feel so complete and original that it’s easy to assume they were written purely for the screen! But several of them actually began as novels, manga, or even much older folktales. It’s not always obvious which is which. In some cases the film follows the original closely. In others, Studio Ghibli … Read more
For many learners, anime is their first real exposure to Japanese. And watching anime in the original version is many people’s motivation to start learning Japanese. It’s no wonder so many people ask if you can learn Japanese watching anime! Well, anime can be a useful tool for learning Japanese – but only if you … Read more