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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Tanabata Festival: Experiencing a Traditional Japanese Summer at NILS
07/03/2026
Culture
Student life
Tanabata is celebrated on July 7 throughout Japan. People write their wishes on small strips of paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches, hoping their dreams will come true. Japan has many seasonal traditions, and being able to experience them firsthand is one of the unique and rewarding parts of studying in Japan.
Tanabata Festival at NILS
As part of our annual Tanabata celebra…
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Foreign Workers in Japan Reach a Record High: More Opportunities for International Students
06/19/2026
News
Student life
There is encouraging news for people who are interested in studying in Japan. As of October 2025, the number of foreign workers in Japan exceeded 2.3 million, the highest figure ever recorded. Due to ongoing labor shortages, many Japanese companies are actively hiring international talent, creating more opportunities than ever for international students to build their careers in Japan after gradua…
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Volunteer Experience in Japan — Cleaning Up Along the Homan River
05/15/2026
Culture
Student life
Japan is famous as a “clean country.” When international students actually come to Japan, many of them are surprised by how clean the streets and parks are and how little trash they see in public places. Students at our Japanese language school, NILS, often say, “Japan is really clean!” However, that does not mean there is no trash at all in Japan. Especially near rivers and in grassy areas around…
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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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A Memorable Day in March
03/06/2026
Culture
Student life
Uncategorized
When March arrives, the atmosphere in the classroom begins to change. The academic year is drawing to a close, and graduation season is just around the corner. For me, as a teacher at a Japanese language school, March is a month that always fills my heart with special emotions.
It feels like only yesterday that the students were attending the entrance ceremony with nervous expressions on their …
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A Small Birthday Surprise in the Classroom
02/19/2026
Culture
Student life
Uncategorized
Just before class the other day, one of the students said to me,“Sensei, today is Puja-san’s birthday.”
As I looked over at Puja-san, I saw that they were smiling more than usual.
Then Puja-san came up to me and said,“Sensei, today is my birthday. Here—please have some chocolate,”and handed me a piece of chocolate.
At that moment, I was genuinely surprised. In Japan, it feels natural that…
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We had a health checkup.
01/23/2026
Student life
Yesterday, we conducted a health checkup for the new students who enrolled in October.Although it was their first health checkup, there were not many students, so it went more smoothly than expected.
However, since it was their first time, some students seemed confused. All of them have been in Japan for about three months, so it appeared that understanding the Japanese spoken by the doctors an…
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A Colorful Autumn Experience at NILS
12/11/2025
Culture
Student life
Every autumn, NILS organizes a small cultural outing for students, and one of our regular activities is momijigari, the Japanese tradition of enjoying autumn leaves. This year, we visited the historic Hirata Family Residence in Ogori City. It was a pleasant day where we were able to appreciate the scenery, learn a bit about local history, and enjoy a simple seasonal treat together.
Stepping…
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