Japanese Convenience Stores: More Than Just a Store
10/29/2026
Culture
Student life
In Japanese, convenience stores are called konbini (コンビニ), a shortened form of the English phrase “convenience store.” For many people living in Japan, konbini are simply part of everyday life.
What Can You Do at a Konbini?
Of course, you can buy food and drinks at a convenience store, such as onigiri, sandwiches, bento boxes, snacks, and coffee. But Japanese convenience stores offer much mo…
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Green or Blue? The Story Behind Japan’s “Blue” Traffic Lights!
10/16/2026
Uncategorized
Look at the traffic light ahead: Is it green or blue?
If you were walking around the streets of Fukuoka and asked a local, "What color is the 'Go' signal?", they would instantly answer without hesitation: "Ao" (青 — Blue)!
Wait a second... blue? If you take a closer look at the light, it is clearly a bright shade of green!
In English and most Western languages, this is strictly called a "G…
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Do Japanese Restaurants Provide “Oshibori”?
10/06/2026
Culture
When you visit a restaurant or izakaya in Japan, an “oshibori” (wet towel) is often served before you order your food. Since wet towels are rarely provided at restaurants in other countries, this might seem unusual to foreign visitors coming to Japan for the first time. However, it is a completely normal practice for Japanese people.
What Is an Oshibori?
An oshibori is a small towel used to …
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September 25: A Day Trip to Greenland!
10/01/2026
News
Student life
Once a year, NILS students go on a school trip by bus to enjoy a fun day outside the classroom. On September 25, our students visited Greenland, a large amusement park in Arao, Kumamoto.
It was a special day away from their usual classes. Instead of studying Japanese, students had the chance to relax, have fun, and enjoy spending time together.
Off to Greenland!
In…
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