NILS Fukuoka Times

How Birthdays Are Celebrated in Japan Just like in English, it can be a bit too straightforward to ask for som … Continue reading Celebrating Birthdays in Japan

In order to keep this simple, there are two categories most people fall into when it comes to pensions: 1) A p … Continue reading Everything You Need To Know About The Japanese Pension System

Kafunsho, the Japanese word for pollen allergies, is an inevitable topic of conversation every spring in Japan … Continue reading Dealing with Hay Fever in Japan

Traditional Japanese art forms have been a source of fascination and inspiration for centuries, not only in Ja … Continue reading Traditional Japanese Art Forms

What does the word “New Year” mean to you? In some cultures, the first thoughts that come to mind might be wat … Continue reading Hatsumode – Traditional Shrine Visit in the New Year

It is said that compared to people from other countries, Japanese tend to view themselves as belonging to a sh … Continue reading Essential Tips on Saying “No” in Japanese

If you have ever been stuck on the crowded trains of Tokyo, you know the relief of being offered a seat (thoug … Continue reading Essential Tips on Saying “Thank You” in Japanese

Tea was introduced to Japan from China by Zen Buddhists around the 12th century in the Heian Period. They were … Continue reading Essential Tips on Attending a Japanese Tea Ceremony

So in the previous article, we gave you essential tips when visiting a Japanese shrine. This time, however, we … Continue reading Essential Tips on Visiting A Temple

Praying at the temples and shrines in Japan is largely out of tradition rather than a full-blown belief in the … Continue reading Essential Tips on Visiting A Shrine