Why Japanese Daycare Centers Are Admired Around the World
07/13/2026
Culture
Student life
Uncategorized
Vocabulary
Have you ever heard that Japanese children are polite, independent, and responsible from a very young age? Or perhaps you've seen videos online showing young children in Japan cleaning up after themselves, serving lunch, or traveling to school on their own. One of the reasons behind these impressive qualities can be found in the daily routines and educational philosophy of Japanese daycare centers…
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JLPT Exam Day
07/07/2026
Culture
JLPT
Student life
Vocabulary
【Gathering Earlier Due to Heavy Rain During the Rainy Season】
July 5th was the day of the JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test). The JLPT is an important examination that measures learners' overall Japanese ability, including vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening skills.
For international students, it is a very important day because the results can affect their future education and…
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Why You Don’t Tip in Japan — And What It Reveals About Japanese Culture
04/13/2026
Culture
Student life
Uncategorized
Vocabulary
If you’re coming to Japan from the United States or Europe, one of the first things that might confuse you is surprisingly simple:
No one tips.
Not at restaurants, not in taxis, not even in hotels.
At first, this can feel uncomfortable. You might find yourself hesitating at the register, wondering if you’re doing something wrong—or worse, being rude. In many Western countries, tipping is …
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Not Just ‘Sorry’: Understanding “Sumimasen” and “Gomen Nasai”
07/25/2025
Culture
Tips
Vocabulary
Hello everyone!
Today, I’d like to talk about how Japanese people use the words “sumimasen” and “gomen nasai.” These are two common Japanese expressions often translated as “I’m sorry,” but they can have other meanings depending on the situation.
Have you ever talked with a Japanese friend who’s been living in Japan for a long time?Maybe you’ve thought, “Wow, Japanese people apologize a lot!…
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Japanese Proverbs – A Deep Dive into Japanese Culture!
07/19/2024
Culture
Vocabulary
Hello everyone! In this time, we will explore some intriguing Japanese proverbs. Every country has proverbs, and they play a vital role in conveying the culture and values behind the language. For foreigners, learning Japanese proverbs can be a key to deeply understanding the culture. Let’s dive into some interesting Japanese proverbs.
proverbs
"Ishi no ue ni mo san nen" （石の上にも３年）：Stay 3 ye…
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Let’s use “ので” (〜node) and make a sentence!
04/24/2023
Uncategorized
Vocabulary
We studied "~ので, ..." in a grammar class.
When do you use "～ので,..."(〜node)?
Yes, it is often used to give a reason.
It gives the impression of being more polite than "～から, ..."(〜kara).
I asked students to come up with the reason why " you can go home before a class finishes .“
Then, they try to think of the various reasons to use “〜ので” (node)
Here are examples of the …
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Oshi (For advanced Japanese learners)
03/24/2022
Vocabulary
※Japanese sentences in this blog are for advanced Japanese learners
Hello everyone. The spring season has arrived in Japan and the cherry blossoms have begun to bloom.
This is an important month in Japan as it marks the end of the year.
Today, I would like to introduce a word which is commonly used by young Japanese people, "○○推し(oshi).
“Oshi" is used for idols and celebritie…
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Hakata-ben
03/18/2022
Vocabulary
Hello, how are you?
Today's topic is regional dialects. Do you speak any dialect?
In Fukuoka, where NILS is located, we have a very distinct dialect called 博多弁(はかたべん) (Hakata-ben).
Let me introduce a few Hakata-ben words/phrases you might hear frequently.
(1) よか (Yoka)
It means good, nice, or fine.
[Example] 「髪(かみ)染(そ)めたと？ よか色(いろ)やね！｣ "Kami someta to? Yoka iroyane."
…
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Winter Kanji / Students’ Pottery Works
02/04/2022
News
Vocabulary
Hello, how are you doing these days?
In Japan, today is 立春(rissyun) day (4th February).
This day is called the start of a year and spring in the Japanese lunar calendar.
However, we still have winter cold weather even though the calendar says 'it's spring now'.
So today, let me show you some Kanjis that describe cold weather.
氷(Kori) ―― ice
Water turns into ice, right? So, 水 (water) …
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“しか勝たん“ (shika katan)
01/21/2022
Uncategorized
Vocabulary
Hello, everyone.
Today, I would like to explain a new phrase “しか勝たん“ (shika katan).
Ramen wa tonkotsu shika katan.
Kaze shika katan.
What do you think “shika katan” means? It basically means something is awesome, someone’s favorite, there is nothing better.
For example,
“Ramen wa tonkotsu shika katan” means there is nothing better than tonkotsu ramen, or tonkotsu ramen is the writer’s …
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