“Is it okay if I take this home?”
08/17/2026
Uncategorized
What do you do when you can’t finish all the food you ordered at a restaurant? In Japan, it is generally not common to take leftovers home. Even if a customer wants to take their remaining food with them, the staff will respond like this:
Customer: Excuse me. I couldn’t finish all of this—would it be alright to take it home?
Staff: I’m very sorry, but we kindly ask customers not to take left…
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“Korda Sim Sim” from Nepal and “Chichin Pui Pui” from Japan
08/07/2026
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“Korda Sim Sim” from Nepal and “Chichin Pui Pui” from JapanOne day in class, it took a little time to set up the projector.As I jokingly held my hand over it and made a gesture as if saying, “I hope it turns on quickly,” a student from Nepal suddenly began chanting, “Kordar Shimshim.”When I asked, “What does that mean?”, the student explained that it is a magic phrase used in Nepal and India when …
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Enjoy summer in Japan!
07/24/2026
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Starting in late July, NILS will be on summer break for about a month. If you’re studying abroad in Japan, there’s an event you definitely shouldn’t miss during summer break: the fireworks festivals held all over Japan.
〇 The Origins of Fireworks Festivals
It is said that fireworks festivals in Japan began as a result of a famine and an outbreak of infectious disease that occurred in 1733—…
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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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Why Is teamLab So Popular Around the World?
07/01/2026
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Fukuoka, where NILS is located, is famous not only for its delicious food and beautiful scenery but also for attractions that draw visitors from all over the world. One of the most popular is “teamLab Forest Fukuoka”.
Have you ever seen photos on social media of breathtaking spaces filled with glowing lights or colorful flowers stretching as far as the eye can see? Many of those images are work…
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Do Japanese people eat sushi every day?
05/18/2026
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Do you know what Japan is really like? Do Japanese people eat sushi every day? Is everyone in Japan kind? Does everyone love anime?
Today, I’d like to share a ranking of “Everyday Japan” that surprises many Americans. Take a look and get a little preview of life in Japan!
■ What surprises American teens and people in their 20s
Anime and manga are popular not only among children but also …
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Enjoy Spring in Fukuoka! Celebrate Together at the Hakata Dontaku Festival
04/30/2026
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In Japan, there is a long holiday period from spring to early summer known as “Golden Week.” During this time, many people travel, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy special events.
One of the biggest events in Fukuoka during Golden Week is the Hakata Dontaku Festival. Held every year on May 3rd and 4th, it attracts several million visitors over just two days, making it one of the la…
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How to dispose of garbage in Japan
04/24/2026
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One thing that surprises foreigners living in Japan for the first time is how detailed the rules for garbage disposal are. Today, I’ll explain how to dispose of garbage in Japan.
〇 Putting Out Garbage
In Japan, household garbage must be placed at designated locations for collection. The rules for putting out garbage vary by municipality. If you don’t follow the rules, your garbage won’t be c…
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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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Cherry blossoms in Ogori
04/08/2026
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The graduation ceremony has finished, and now it is NILS’s spring break. The school is quiet, but even so, we can feel that the new semester is approaching.Why is that? Around the NILS Ogori campus, various flowers have started to bloom. Among them, when cherry blossoms bloom, we feel that “spring has come.” This is because, in Japanese culture, cherry blossoms have long been considered a symbol o…
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