Koinobori (Carp Streamers)
04/10/2025
Culture
Koinobori are traditional wind streamers displayed at Japanese homes to celebrate Children’s Day on May 5th every year. This day is especially recognized as a celebration of boys' growth, and koinobori are widely cherished as a symbol of this occasion. These carp-shaped streamers carry deep historical and symbolic meanings, making them popular as gifts and commemorative items, often passed down th…
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White Day
03/13/2025
Culture
White Day is a unique Japanese tradition celebrated every year on March 14th, where people who received gifts on Valentine’s Day return the favor. On this day, it is common for men to give gifts to women, especially to express gratitude towards their romantic partners, friends, or colleagues. White Day was introduced in the late 1970s by the confectionery industry with the goal of establishing a c…
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Setsubun
02/14/2025
Culture
Student life
Hello everyone! Today I would like to introduce a traditional Japanese event called Setsubun.
Setsubun (節分) is a traditional Japanese event, mainly to celebrate the coming of spring. Specifically, it is usually held on the day before Risshun, or around February 3. The main purpose of Setsubun is to drive away evil spirits and bring in good fortune. Setsubun has various customs and events depend…
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Starting the New Year with NILS’ New Year’s Shrine Visit and Calligraphy!
01/29/2025
Culture
Student life
Hello everyone! ?✨Today, I’d like to share with you the fun and meaningful New Year’s event we held at NILS — Hatsumode (New Year’s Shrine Visit) and Kakizome (Calligraphy Practice)! This event was a wonderful opportunity for us to experience traditional Japanese customs while having a lot of fun. Let me take you through the details!
What is Hatsumode? Experiencing a Shrine Visit!
First,…
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New Year’s in Japan
01/10/2025
Culture
New Year's in Japan, celebrated from January 1st, is a special period filled with traditions and cultural activities. It is a time for family gatherings and for reflecting on the past year while welcoming the new one. Below is an overview of Japanese New Year's customs and practices.
Overview of Japanese New Year
In Japan, New Year's (called "Oshōgatsu") is one of the most important …
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Grand Sumo Tournament in Kyushu
12/20/2024
Culture
To all of you who are studying Japanese, or are about to study Japanese. “Sumo” is often a theme in Japanese language textbooks. However, not many people have actually seen sumo. In Fukuoka, you can watch sumo matches every November. The location of the event depends on the time of year: January, May, and September in Tokyo, March in Osaka, July in Nagoya, and November in Fukuoka. The only chance …
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Autumn leaf viewing
12/02/2024
Culture
Student life
As autumn approaches, the beautiful season of autumn leaves has arrived. This year, I went to Shirouzu Oike Park in Fukuoka Prefecture with many students to view autumn leaves.
Shirouzu Oike Park is a vast natural park in Onojo City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and is known as a place where the autumn leaves are particularly beautiful in autumn. There is a large pond in the park, and the sight of t…
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A Memorable Visit to the Kyushu Historical Museum!
11/29/2024
Culture
Student life
The other day, we visited the Kyushu Historical Museum!We started the day with excitement, gathering at a station near our school in the morning. From there, we took a train together, chatting and enjoying the journey.
Once we arrived at the station closest to the museum, we walked the rest of the way. The walk was full of energy as we talked with friends and imagined what fun experiences lay a…
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“Life in the Dormitory”
11/08/2024
Culture
Student life
There are only two months left in 2024.
This time, I’d like to talk about "dormitory life."
At our school, most students live in the dormitories. The dorms are within walking or cycling distance, so it is recommended that new students live there, and many continuing students also choose to stay in the dorms. The main benefits include lower monthly living costs and the close proximity to scho…
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Student life, history and culture of Ogori City
08/16/2024
Culture
Student life
Hello everyone. Today, I would like to introduce you to the life of a NILS student and the historical buildings in Ogori City.
Students who attend NILS...
Students study Japanese every day from Monday to Friday, but they do not study in the classroom all the time until graduation. There are also major events, such as school trips and speech contests. Students will feel suffocated if they onl…
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