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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Students Learn About Japanese Traffic Rules
12/01/2025
Culture
News
Student life
Recently, NILS students participated in a special safety workshop to learn about Japanese traffic rules. Since many of our students use bicycles for commuting and daily errands, understanding how to ride safely in Japan is essential. For this workshop, the police borrowed the training course of a nearby driving school and conducted a bicycle safety lesson there.
Police Borrow a Driving School f…
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Japanese Convenience Stores Are Too Convenient!— A Foreign Student’s Experience
10/20/2025
Student life
Hello everyone!I’m an international student currently studying at NILS Japanese Language School.Today, I’d like to introduce one of the things that surprised me the most after coming to Japan — the convenience store (or “konbini,” as it’s called here).
In the U.S. or Europe, there are small supermarkets and stores open 24 hours, right?But Japanese convenience stores go far beyond that. They’re …
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From Arrival to Starting Life at NILS
10/16/2025
Student life
Starting a new life in Japan can feel a little overwhelming, since everything is new and different. But don’t worry — at NILS, teachers are here to support you so you can settle in smoothly. Here’s what the process looks like from your arrival until the beginning of your new life in Japan.
1. From the Airport to the Dormitory
When you arrive at the airport, a NILS teacher will meet you a…
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We Visited Kijima Kogen Park!
10/02/2025
Student life
We went on our annual field trip again this year!Our destination was Kijima Kogen Park, a popular amusement park located in Oita Prefecture. Although the weather was cloudy, it wasn’t too hot or too cold—just perfect for spending a comfortable day outdoors.
A total of 334 people, including teachers, joined the trip this year. The meeting area in the morning was lively and full of excitement. We…
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