Japan Culuture & Language

We often hear the word "otaku" thrown around in various contexts, but what exactly does it mean to be an otaku? This term is frequently used to describe individuals with a deep passion or obsessive...

What exactly is Honne and tatemae? At some point in time, we’ve all said, “We should hang out more!” to someone when we didn’t mean it. We do it to be polite, to avoid having to say the honest but...

There are all sorts of reasons why people become fascinated with Japan, ranging from its rich and unique history to its iconic cultural motifs and its pioneering role in the global tech boom....

The image of the ninja has been heavily influenced by Japanese pop culture in our modern times, and there are many misconceptions and myths about them. We often think of men dressed head-to-toe in...

Do you know what wabi-sabi is? Yes, it rhymes and is fun to say, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s a belief that all of us can apply in our lives to see the world in a different way, and...

The Tale of Genji (Genji no monogatari, 源氏の物語) is the world’s first full-length novel, written between 1000 and 1012 by Shikibu Murasaki, also known as Lady Murasaki. It’s a behemoth of a book, with...

Samurais have truly evolved throughout time as one of Japan’s most famous symbols. The ferocious warriors of the past, Japanese samurais are Japan’s original badasses. While they are most known for...

White faces, kimonos, ornate hair accessories—the geisha has become one of the most iconic representations of Japan, Japanese culture, and tradition. As not many people may know more about geisha...

Yōkai, roughly translated to 'spirits' or 'demons' in Japanese, have appeared in Japanese horror legends and folklore since historical times. In a period when the surreal began to overtake realistic...