Love Japan? You’ll love these posts all about life in Japan and Japanese culture.
Ah, New Year! It’s the best time to gather and celebrate all around the world. Japan values the importance of New Year or shōgatsu (正月 / しょうがつ) as much as other countries do. In fact, Japanese new year celebrations are rich in tradition and festivities! Families and individuals begin their preparations as early as December, … Read more
Can you hear the jingle bells coming this way? Like most places around the world, Japan also celebrates Christmas, although there may be huge differences in their beliefs and traditions during the holidays. Roughly 1% of Japan’s population associate themselves with Christianity, but even so, Japanese from all over the country celebrate Christmas as a … Read more
Ever wondered what to do when celebrating your birthday in Japan? Or how the Japanese celebrate birthdays? Or most importantly – how to say ‘happy birthday’ in Japanese? We’ve got you covered! Up until the 1950s, celebrating birthdays in Japan was not customary. In fact, they considered every new year a common birthday for everyone! … Read more
The leaves are changing colour, the days are getting shorter, there’s a nip in the air… Autumn is here! (Or fall, depending on where you’re from ? ) Perhaps you already know that the seasons are very important in Japan. In Japanese culture, people honour the changes in the seasons with foods, drinks, customs, festivals … Read more
We all know that Japan is famous worldwide for being a polite culture. Japanese honorifics are one of the ways that people show this respect when speaking to each other. “Honorific” means to give or show honor or respect. Honorifics are small words that come before a name (a prefix) or after a name (a … Read more
Finally! The long, cold winter is over, and spring is arriving in Japan! Spring is many people’s favourite season in Japan. As in other countries, spring is a sign of new life and a fresh start. The most famous symbol of spring in Japan is sakura – cherry blossom flowers. As you will see, there … Read more
Everybody loves a party. And not many people love a party more than the Japanese! Each year, thousands of different festivals take place across Japan. These festivals are usually rooted in the Shinto tradition. Many date back hundreds of years. However, Japanese festivals are more than just a religious event. They represent a chance to … Read more