Frequently Asked (757) | Japan Culture Navi

MannersEssential the ambiguity of kekko desu「結構です」の曖昧さa single phrase that can mean either yes, that's fine or no, thank you depending on tone and context

MannersEssential ojigiお辞儀bowing

MannersEssential oshakuお酌pouring for each other

MannersEssential taking your rubbish homeごみを持ち帰るcarrying your litter with you because there are no bins

MannersEssential honorifics sanさん付けwhy names always have something attached

MannersEssential sumimasenすみませんsorry / excuse me / thank you

MannersEssential slippersスリッパindoor slippers and the toilet pair

MannersEssential automatic taxi doorsタクシーの自動ドアthe door that opens by itself

MannersEssential no tippingチップがないwhy Japan has no tipping culture

MannersEssential eshaku会釈the small nod-bow used in passing

MannersEssential taking off your shoes靴を脱ぐremoving shoes indoors

MannersEssential holes in your socks靴下に穴why this matters more here

MannersEssential finishing your food残さず食べるleaving nothing on the plate

MannersEssential asking before you photograph写真を撮る前のひと言when you need permission

MannersEssential shugibukuro祝儀袋と不祝儀袋the envelopes for celebration and condolence money

MannersEssential omiyage for the office職場のお土産bringing back sweets for colleagues

MannersEssential tabearuki食べ歩きeating while walking

MannersEssential aizuchi相槌the frequent small sounds and nods listeners make to show they are following along

MannersEssential train etiquette電車の中のマナーwhy Japanese trains are so quiet

MannersEssential chopstick taboos箸のタブーthings you must never do with chopsticks

MannersEssential handing things with both hands物は両手で渡すwhy two hands matter

MannersEssential slurping noodles麺をすするwhy noodles are eaten noisily

MannersEssential men wo susuru oto麺をすする音slurping noodles out loud

MannersEssential queueing列に並ぶwhy Japanese queues are so orderly

Modern JapanEssential oshibori and free waterおしぼりと水the wet towel and water that arrive before you order

Modern JapanEssential cashless paymentキャッシュレス決済paying by card, IC card or QR code instead of cash

Modern JapanEssential gomi bunbetsuゴミの分別sorting your rubbish

Modern JapanEssential konbiniコンビニthe Japanese convenience store

Modern JapanEssential depachikaデパ地下the department store food hall

Modern JapanEssential drugstoreドラッグストアJapan's hybrid of a pharmacy and a discount supermarket

Modern JapanEssential seirikenバスの整理券the numbered ticket that tracks your bus fare

Modern JapanEssential family restaurantファミリーレストランthe all-purpose chain restaurant, and the drink bar

Modern JapanEssential masksマスクwhy people wear masks in Japan

Modern JapanEssential plastic bag chargeレジ袋の有料化paying for shopping bags

Modern JapanEssential kafunsho花粉症hay fever, mostly from cedar pollen

Modern JapanEssential eew緊急地震速報Japan's earthquake early warning alert

Modern JapanEssential IC card交通系ICカードthe tap card that works almost everywhere

Modern JapanEssential public toilets公共のトイレclean public toilets, free to use

Modern JapanEssential service-area高速道路のサービスエリアとパーキングエリアthe rest stops built into Japan's expressways

Modern JapanEssential Yamanote line山手線the loop line that connects most of central Tokyo

Modern JapanEssential shoshi koreika少子高齢化a falling birth rate with an ageing population

Modern JapanEssential shokkenki食券機the meal ticket machine at the door

Modern JapanEssential shinkansen新幹線the bullet train

Modern JapanEssential tap water水道水が飲めることwhy you can drink from the tap

Modern JapanEssential taifu台風the typhoons that reach Japan each year

Modern JapanEssential takkyubin宅配便home delivery service

Modern JapanEssential jishin e no sonae地震への備えhow Japan prepares for earthquakes

Modern JapanEssential punctual trains電車の定時運行why Japanese trains run on time

Modern JapanEssential manin densha満員電車the packed commuter train

Modern JapanEssential yomichi no anzen夜道の安全why walking at night feels safe in Japan

Seasons & NatureEssential tsubame no suツバメの巣the swallow nests built above shop entrances every spring

Seasons & NatureEssential kosa黄砂the yellow dust blown in from deserts on the Asian continent

Seasons & NatureEssential volcanoes and earthquakes火山と地震living on an unstable archipelago

Seasons & NatureEssential koyo紅葉autumn leaves, and going to look at them

Seasons & NatureEssential shiki四季the four seasons, as Japan talks about them

Seasons & NatureEssential tsuyu梅雨the rainy season

Seasons & NatureEssential Mount Fuji as a sacred mountain富士山と信仰Mount Fuji and mountain worship

Seasons & NatureEssential mosho猛暑日extreme summer heat in Japan

Onsen & BathEssential furoお風呂the Japanese home bath

Onsen & BathEssential kakeyuかけ湯rinsing yourself before entering the bath

Onsen & BathEssential onsen温泉a natural hot spring bath

Onsen & BathEssential swimsuits and onsen温泉と水着why bathing nude, not in a swimsuit, is the norm at most onsen

Onsen & BathEssential ashiyu足湯foot baths

Onsen & BathEssential kashikiri-buro貸切風呂a small bath a ryokan rents out to one group at a time

Onsen & BathEssential otokoyu and onnayu男湯と女湯the separate men's and women's baths

Onsen & BathEssential yuatari湯あたりfeeling dizzy or unwell from soaking in hot spring water too long

Onsen & BathEssential yuagari湯上がりの一杯the drink after the bath

Onsen & BathEssential yubune ni tsukaru湯船につかるsoaking in the tub rather than just showering

Onsen & BathEssential higaeri onsen日帰り温泉a day-use hot spring with no overnight stay

Onsen & BathEssential atsuburo熱い風呂を好む文化the Japanese taste for baths hotter than most visitors expect

Onsen & BathEssential sulfur smell硫黄のにおいthe rotten-egg smell of sulfur hot springs

Onsen & BathEssential rotenburo露天風呂open-air bath

PlacesEssential the Great Buddha of Kamakura鎌倉の大仏the bronze Buddha that sits outdoors because its hall was destroyed

PlacesEssential Gion祇園と花街the old Kyoto quarter where geiko and maiko still work

PlacesEssential kyoto京都the capital for a thousand years, and how to explain it

PlacesEssential Kinkakuji金閣寺the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto

PlacesEssential Ginkakuji銀閣寺the Silver Pavilion in Kyoto, which has no silver on it

PlacesEssential Harajuku and Omotesando原宿と表参道the youth fashion street and the tree-lined avenue beside it

PlacesEssential Itsukushima Shrine厳島神社the shrine built over the sea, with a torii gate standing in the water

PlacesEssential Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park広島と平和記念公園the park in the middle of Hiroshima built where the city was destroyed

PlacesEssential Kokyo皇居と二重橋where the Emperor lives, on the site of Edo Castle

PlacesEssential Akihabara秋葉原the Tokyo district that went from radio parts to anime

PlacesEssential the Shibuya scramble crossing渋谷スクランブル交差点the all-way pedestrian crossing outside Shibuya Station

PlacesEssential Shinjuku and Kabukicho新宿と歌舞伎町the world's busiest station and the entertainment district beside it

PlacesEssential Kiyomizudera清水寺the Kyoto temple with a wooden stage built out over a hillside

PlacesEssential Asakusa浅草the old temple district in eastern Tokyo

PlacesEssential osaka大阪the merchant city, and how it differs from Tokyo

PlacesEssential Tsukiji and Toyosu築地と豊洲the old fish market street and the new wholesale market

PlacesEssential Tokyo Tower東京タワーthe red and white broadcasting tower built in 1958

PlacesEssential Todaiji東大寺と奈良の大仏the Nara temple housing a 15-meter bronze Buddha in a vast wooden hall

PlacesEssential Dotonbori道頓堀the canal-side street in Osaka with the running-man sign

PlacesEssential the deer of Nara Park奈良公園の鹿the wild deer that roam a city park in Nara

PlacesEssential Shirakawago白川郷the mountain village of steep thatched farmhouses

PlacesEssential Hakone箱根the hot spring area in the mountains west of Tokyo

PlacesEssential Himeji Castle姫路城the white castle in Hyogo, the best-preserved original keep in Japan

PlacesEssential Mount Fuji富士山Japan's highest mountain, an active volcano and a World Cultural Heritage site

PlacesEssential Fushimi Inari Taisha伏見稲荷大社the Kyoto shrine with thousands of vermilion torii gates up a mountain

PlacesEssential Meiji Jingu明治神宮the Tokyo shrine set in a forest that was planted from nothing

PlacesEssential Arashiyama嵐山the district of western Kyoto with the bridge, the temple garden and the bamboo path

Pop CultureEssential VTuberVチューバーa performer who streams and posts videos as an animated character instead of showing their real face

Pop CultureEssential animeアニメJapanese animation

Pop CultureEssential karaokeカラオケsinging to a backing track

Pop CultureEssential kawaiiかわいいthe aesthetic of cuteness

Pop CultureEssential terebi gemuテレビゲームhome video games

Pop CultureEssential emoji絵文字picture characters

Pop CultureEssential manga漫画Japanese comics

School LifeEssential randoseruランドセルthe hard leather backpack every primary school child carries

School LifeEssential natsuyasumi no shukudai夏休みの宿題the summer holiday homework, including the free research project

School LifeEssential kyushoku給食school lunch

School LifeEssential kyushoku toban給食当番the student duty that serves lunch to the whole class

School LifeEssential kosoku校則school rules and how strict they are

School LifeEssential seifuku制服the school uniform

School LifeEssential school cleaning掃除students cleaning their own school

School LifeEssential tosuhan登校班children walking to school in groups

School LifeEssential bukatsu部活school club activities

ShintoEssential omamoriお守りa protective charm from a shrine or temple

ShintoEssential sando参道the approach to a shrine

ShintoEssential how to pray at a shrine参拝の作法the two bows, two claps, one bow routine

ShintoEssential chozuya手水舎the water pavilion where you rinse your hands before praying

ShintoEssential shrines and temples神社と寺の違いhow to tell a Shinto shrine from a Buddhist temple

ShintoEssential Shinto神道Japan's indigenous way of relating to spirits in nature and ancestors

ShintoEssential mikoshi神輿the portable shrine carried through the streets at a festival

ShintoEssential torii鳥居the gate at the entrance to a shrine

ShintoEssential mushukyo無宗教saying you have no religion while keeping its customs

ShintoEssential saisen賽銭the offering you throw in

Work CultureEssential otsukaresamaお疲れさまthe all-purpose word for acknowledging someone's work

Work CultureEssential zangyo残業working overtime

Work CultureEssential calling people by title役職で呼ぶaddressing colleagues by their job title

ArtsStandard koto琴the thirteen-stringed Japanese zither

ArtsStandard mie見得the frozen dramatic pose in kabuki

ArtsStandard karesansui枯山水the dry landscape garden

ArtsStandard shamisen三味線the three-stringed instrument played with a large plectrum

ArtsStandard shishimai獅子舞the lion dance that bites your head for luck

ArtsStandard shogi将棋Japanese chess

ArtsStandard senryu川柳the comic cousin of haiku, about people rather than nature

ArtsStandard choju giga鳥獣戯画the twelfth-century animal scrolls often called Japan's first manga

ArtsStandard Hyakunin Isshu百人一首a hundred poems and the card game

ArtsStandard rakugo落語solo comic storytelling

BuddhismStandard Ojizo-sanお地蔵さんthe roadside guardian of children

BuddhismStandard ofuseお布施the money offered to a priest, with no stated price

BuddhismStandard Kannon観音the bodhisattva of compassion

BuddhismStandard gokuraku and jigoku極楽と地獄the Pure Land and the hells in Japanese Buddhism

BuddhismStandard zazen座禅seated Zen meditation

BuddhismStandard joya no kane除夜の鐘the 108 bells on New Year's Eve

BuddhismStandard juzu数珠Buddhist prayer beads

BuddhismStandard senko線香incense sticks for the dead

BuddhismStandard soryo僧侶Buddhist priests in Japan, who may marry and inherit a temple

BuddhismStandard takuhatsu托鉢the walking alms round of a Buddhist monk

BuddhismStandard declining temple membership檀家離れthe modern trend of families cutting formal ties to their household's Buddhist temple

BuddhismStandard candles and flowers at a Buddhist altar灯明と献花why people light a candle and set out flowers at a grave or altar

BuddhismStandard nembutsu and daimoku南無阿弥陀仏と南無妙法蓮華経the two most common chanted phrases in Japanese Buddhism, and why they differ by school

BuddhismStandard butsudan仏壇the Buddhist altar in a Japanese home

BuddhismStandard bonsho梵鐘the temple bell struck from the outside

Martial ArtsStandard ekiden駅伝long-distance relay running

Martial ArtsStandard yokozuna横綱the highest rank in sumo

Martial ArtsStandard karate空手the striking martial art from Okinawa

Martial ArtsStandard prefectural and national tournaments県大会と全国大会the ladder of local, prefectural, and national school tournaments

Martial ArtsStandard high school baseball and Koshien高校野球と甲子園the national high school baseball tournament

Martial ArtsStandard aikido合気道a martial art without contests

Martial ArtsStandard black belts and dan ranks黒帯と段位the ranking system in Japanese arts

Martial ArtsStandard zanshin残心staying alert and ready in the instant after a technique lands

Martial ArtsStandard shiko四股the sumo leg-raising movement, done as training and as a rite

Martial ArtsStandard ukemi受け身the breakfall technique that lets you get thrown without getting hurt

Martial ArtsStandard Shorinji Kempo少林寺拳法a Japanese martial art founded in 1947, different from Chinese Shaolin kung fu

Martial ArtsStandard seiza and mokuso正座と黙想kneeling and the short silent sitting at the start and end of practice

Martial ArtsStandard suburi素振りswinging a weapon or bat with no opponent or ball

Martial ArtsStandard sumo beya相撲部屋the stable where wrestlers live

Martial ArtsStandard oicho-mage大銀杏the ginkgo-leaf-shaped topknot only sumo wrestlers ranked juryo and above are allowed to wear

Martial ArtsStandard honbasho大相撲の本場所the six official grand sumo tournaments held each year

Martial ArtsStandard shinai and bogu竹刀と防具the bamboo sword and protective armor used in kendo

Martial ArtsStandard dohyo-iri土俵入りthe ring-entering ceremony performed by top sumo wrestlers before their bouts

Martial ArtsStandard tachiai and shikiri立合いと仕切りthe charge that starts a sumo bout, and the ritual staring before it

Martial ArtsStandard yabusame流鏑馬archery from a galloping horse

Martial ArtsStandard rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru礼に始まり礼に終わるit begins with a bow and ends with a bow

ClothingStandard kanzashiかんざしan ornamental hairpin worn with traditional Japanese hairstyles

ClothingStandard tasukiたすきa cord that ties back kimono sleeves, now also a sash worn across the chest

ClothingStandard haori羽織the short jacket worn open over a kimono

ClothingStandard kamon家紋family crests

ClothingStandard gakuseifuku学生服the classic Japanese school uniform: the stand-collar jacket and the sailor blouse

ClothingStandard traditional and modern work clothes作業着の文化the culture around Japanese work clothing, from craftsmen to fashion brands

ClothingStandard shichigosan formal wear七五三の晴れ着the special outfit children wear for the Shichi-Go-San ceremony

ClothingStandard furisode振袖the long-sleeved kimono for unmarried women

ClothingStandard jinbei and samue甚平と作務衣easy Japanese clothes you can actually wear

ClothingStandard setta雪駄flat sandals with a bamboo-sheath top and a leather sole, worn with kimono

ClothingStandard mofuku喪服the black clothing worn to a funeral

ClothingStandard zori草履flat thonged sandals

ClothingStandard tabi足袋split-toe socks

ClothingStandard graduation hakama卒業式の袴the skirt-trousers worn at graduation

ClothingStandard kitsuke着付けputting a kimono on

ClothingStandard the cost of a kimono着物の値段why a formal kimono can cost as much as a car

ClothingStandard kimono motifs着物の柄と文様the symbolism behind cranes, waves and other patterns woven or dyed into kimono

ClothingStandard nagajuban長襦袢the underlayer worn beneath a kimono

ClothingStandard white tabi and colored tabi白足袋と色足袋why the color of tabi socks signals how formal the occasion is

ClothingStandard haneri半襟the decorative collar sewn onto a kimono's underlayer, replaced more often than the kimono itself

ClothingStandard hanten半纏the padded winter jacket worn at home

ClothingStandard fundoshi褌the traditional loincloth worn as underwear or festival dress

ConceptsStandard ichigo ichie一期一会one time, one meeting

ConceptsStandard en縁the connection between people that brings them together

ConceptsStandard enryo遠慮holding back out of consideration

ConceptsStandard gaman我慢enduring without complaint

ConceptsStandard ki ga kiku気が利くnoticing what's needed and acting on it without being asked

ConceptsStandard kuki wo yomu空気を読むreading the room

ConceptsStandard sassuru察するworking out what someone means without being told

ConceptsStandard shikata ga nai仕方ないit cannot be helped

ConceptsStandard shoshinsha and kuroto初心者と玄人the words for a beginner and a true expert

ConceptsStandard kazoedoshi数え年the old way of counting age, from one at birth

ConceptsStandard ikigai生きがいwhat makes life worth living

ConceptsStandard hara hachibunme腹八分目eating to eighty percent full

ConceptsStandard hogen方言the regional dialects of Japanese

ConceptsStandard honne and tatemae本音と建前true feelings and public face

ConceptsStandard myoji名字Japanese family names and where they came from

ConceptsStandard buzzword of the year流行語大賞the annual award for new words, and what it really measures

ConceptsStandard wabi-sabi侘び寂びbeauty in imperfection and age

ConceptsStandard sontaku忖度acting on what you guess a superior wants, without being told

CraftsStandard yosegi-zaiku寄木細工Hakone wooden marquetry made from woods of different natural colors

CraftsStandard magewappa曲げわっぱa bentwood box made from a thin sheet of cedar

CraftsStandard nishikigoi錦鯉ornamental koi carp bred for color, once called swimming jewels

CraftsStandard netsuke根付a small carved toggle once used to hang a pouch or case from a kimono sash

CraftsStandard tatami craftsman畳職人the maker of tatami mats, a shrinking trade that still measures every room by hand

CraftsStandard mizuhiki水引decorative cord on gift envelopes

CraftsStandard sensu扇子folding fan

CraftsStandard chochin提灯paper lanterns

CraftsStandard furin風鈴wind chimes

CraftsStandard Arita ware and Imari ware有田焼と伊万里焼Japan's first porcelain, and the export port that gave it a second name in the West

Annual EventsStandard otsukimiお月見moon viewing in autumn

Annual EventsStandard Sapporo Snow Festivalさっぽろ雪まつりthe February festival of giant snow sculptures in Sapporo

Annual EventsStandard supotsu no hiスポーツの日Sports Day, the second Monday of October

Annual EventsStandard dondo yakiどんど焼きthe mid-January bonfire for New Year decorations

Annual EventsStandard koromogae衣替えthe day everyone changes to summer or winter clothing

Annual EventsStandard umi no hi海の日Marine Day, the third Monday of July

Annual EventsStandard kanchu mimai寒中見舞いthe midwinter greeting card

Annual EventsStandard kisei rush帰省ラッシュthe mass return to the hometown

Annual EventsStandard kagami biraki鏡開きbreaking open the New Year rice cakes

Annual EventsStandard kagamimochi鏡餅と鏡開きthe stacked New Year rice cakes

Annual EventsStandard kinro kansha no hi勤労感謝の日Labor Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd

Annual EventsStandard kenkoku kinen no hi建国記念の日National Foundation Day, February 11th

Annual EventsStandard kenpo kinenbi憲法記念日Constitution Memorial Day, May 3rd

Annual EventsStandard yama no hi山の日Mountain Day, August 11th, Japan's newest public holiday

Annual EventsStandard tanabata七夕the star festival

Annual EventsStandard Showa Day and Greenery Day昭和の日とみどりの日the two late-April holidays that swapped names and dates

Annual EventsStandard new year games正月の遊びthe traditional games played at New Year

Annual EventsStandard shoryo uma精霊馬the cucumber horse and eggplant cow made for Obon

Annual EventsStandard setsubun節分the bean-throwing festival at the start of spring

Annual EventsStandard tenno tanjobi天皇誕生日the Emperor's Birthday, a holiday whose date changes with the reign

Annual EventsStandard doyo no ushi土用の丑の日the day everyone eats eel

Annual EventsStandard winter solstice冬至the shortest day, with a yuzu bath and pumpkin

Annual EventsStandard toji and yuzu bath冬至とゆず湯the winter solstice and citrus baths

Annual EventsStandard tori no ichi酉の市the November rake market for good business

Annual EventsStandard nijushi sekki二十四節気the twenty-four solar terms of the traditional calendar

Annual EventsStandard halloween japan日本のハロウィンHalloween as a street costume event

Annual EventsStandard kashiwamochi and chimaki柏餅とちまきthe two sweets eaten on Children's Day, east and west

Annual EventsStandard higan彼岸the weeks around the equinoxes when families visit graves

Annual EventsStandard bunka no hi文化の日Culture Day, November 3rd

Annual EventsStandard kadomatsu門松the pine and bamboo arrangement placed at the door for the New Year

Annual EventsStandard rokuyo六曜the six-day luck cycle on calendars

FolkloreStandard kokkuri-sanこっくりさんa coin-and-paper fortune-telling game often compared to a Japanese Ouija board

FolkloreStandard darumaだるまthe round wish doll with no eyes

FolkloreStandard rokurokubiろくろ首a yokai whose neck stretches or whose head detaches at night

FolkloreStandard ichifuji nitaka sannasubi一富士二鷹三茄子the traditional ranking of lucky first-dream images: Mount Fuji, a hawk, an eggplant

FolkloreStandard kappa河童river spirits with a dish on the head

FolkloreStandard kaidan怪談Japanese ghost stories

FolkloreStandard oni鬼the horned ogre of Japanese folklore

FolkloreStandard blood type personality theory血液型性格診断judging character by blood type

FolkloreStandard foxes and Inari狐と稲荷why shrines are guarded by foxes

FolkloreStandard kuchisake-onna口裂け女the slit-mouthed woman, Japan's most famous modern urban legend

FolkloreStandard the forty-nine days after death四十九日と霊why the soul is thought to linger for forty-nine days before its fate is settled

FolkloreStandard tesou手相Japanese palm reading

FolkloreStandard morishio盛り塩the small cone of salt placed at an entrance

FolkloreStandard chabashira ga tatsu茶柱が立つa tea stem standing upright in your cup, a small good-luck sign

FolkloreStandard crane and turtle鶴と亀symbols of long life

FolkloreStandard tengu天狗long-nosed mountain spirits

FolkloreStandard nekomata猫又a cat believed to grow supernatural powers, including a split tail, after living unusually long

FolkloreStandard hamaya破魔矢the arrow you buy at New Year

FolkloreStandard kitamakura北枕sleeping with your head to the north, a direction linked with death

FolkloreStandard yume-uranai夢占いJapanese dream divination

FolkloreStandard cutting nails at night夜に爪を切ってはいけないthe superstition that you should not cut your nails at night

FolkloreStandard yokai妖怪Japanese supernatural creatures

FolkloreStandard hiding your belly button from thunder雷様とおへそthe saying that the thunder god will steal your belly button if you leave it uncovered

FolkloreStandard ryu龍the East Asian dragon

Food & DrinkStandard anpanあんぱんthe sweet bean bun that made bread Japanese

Food & DrinkStandard odenおでんa winter stew of fish cakes, daikon and eggs

Food & DrinkStandard konnyakuこんにゃくa jelly-like food made from a starchy tuber

Food & DrinkStandard gotochi gourmetご当地グルメlocal specialty foods, and the towns that market them

Food & DrinkStandard sashisusesoさしすせそthe order in which the five basic seasonings go into a Japanese dish

Food & DrinkStandard somenそうめんvery thin cold noodles

Food & DrinkStandard taiyakiたい焼きfish-shaped cake with bean paste

Food & DrinkStandard dorayakiどら焼きtwo small pancakes with sweet red bean paste between them

Food & DrinkStandard onsen tamago温泉卵the egg cooked the other way round

Food & DrinkStandard kaiseki懐石料理the formal multi-course meal, and the two different things called kaiseki

Food & DrinkStandard amazake甘酒the sweet rice drink, with and without alcohol

Food & DrinkStandard kissaten喫茶店the old-style Japanese coffee shop

Food & DrinkStandard eating fish魚を食べる文化how much fish Japan eats, and how that is changing

Food & DrinkStandard ehomaki恵方巻the uncut sushi roll eaten facing a set direction at Setsubun

Food & DrinkStandard sansai and mushrooms山菜ときのこwild vegetables and mushrooms from the mountains

Food & DrinkStandard shochu焼酎a distilled Japanese spirit

Food & DrinkStandard shokuhin loss食品ロスfood that could have been eaten but was thrown away

Food & DrinkStandard sekihan赤飯red rice steamed with azuki beans

Food & DrinkStandard dagashi駄菓子the cheap sweets children buy with their own money

Food & DrinkStandard dango団子rice flour dumplings on a skewer

Food & DrinkStandard chawanmushi茶碗蒸しsavory steamed egg custard

Food & DrinkStandard tsukemono漬物Japanese pickles served alongside rice

Food & DrinkStandard japanese whisky日本のウイスキーhow Japan started making whisky, and why the old bottles vanished

Food & DrinkStandard umeboshi梅干しsalted pickled plums

Food & DrinkStandard mugicha麦茶cold barley tea

Food & DrinkStandard meibutsu-gashi銘菓と土産菓子the local sweets people buy as souvenirs

Food & DrinkStandard yoshoku洋食Western-style dishes invented in Japan

Food & DrinkStandard tamago kake gohan卵かけご飯raw egg over hot rice

HistoryStandard sorobanそろばんthe Japanese abacus

HistoryStandard the Battle of Sekigahara関ヶ原の戦いthe 1600 battle that decided who would rule Japan for 265 years

HistoryStandard kurofune黒船the American warships that forced Japan to open its ports in 1853

HistoryStandard Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu信長・秀吉・家康the three who unified Japan

HistoryStandard the Sengoku period戦国時代Japan's age of civil war

HistoryStandard tenno天皇the Emperor of Japan

HistoryStandard ninja忍者the covert agents of feudal Japan

HistoryStandard the tale of the heike平家物語the war tale about the fall of a clan, recited to the lute

HistoryStandard manyoshu万葉集Japan's oldest surviving poetry collection

Home & LivingStandard 1LDK1LDKhow Japanese floor plans are labeled

Home & LivingStandard chabudaiちゃぶ台a low folding dining table

Home & LivingStandard unit bathユニットバスthe Japanese bathroom layout

Home & LivingStandard moving house paperwork引っ越しの手続きwhat you must file when you move

Home & LivingStandard amado雨戸sliding storm shutters

Home & LivingStandard oshiire押し入れthe deep sliding-door closet

Home & LivingStandard katori senko蚊取り線香mosquito coil

Home & LivingStandard sotoboshi外干しdrying laundry and futons outdoors

Home & LivingStandard kawara yane瓦屋根the tiled roof

Home & LivingStandard tatekae to chuko jutaku建て替えと中古住宅why Japanese houses are so often rebuilt rather than resold

Home & LivingStandard locks and home security鍵と防犯how Japanese homes are secured

Home & LivingStandard tataki玄関のたたきthe sunken entryway floor where shoes come off

Home & LivingStandard shichirin七輪the small portable charcoal grill

Home & LivingStandard storage and decluttering収納と片づけliving well in a small space

Home & LivingStandard kamidana神棚the household Shinto altar

Home & LivingStandard uchimizu打ち水sprinkling water on the ground to cool the air

Home & LivingStandard heating appliances暖房器具how Japanese homes are heated

Home & LivingStandard cold Japanese houses日本の家の寒さwhy homes are cold in winter

Home & LivingStandard Japanese kitchen日本の台所what a Japanese kitchen has and lacks

Home & LivingStandard hyosatsu表札the family nameplate by the door

Home & LivingStandard guarantor保証人who vouches for you when you rent

Home & LivingStandard reikin and shikikin礼金と敷金key money and deposit when renting

Life EventsStandard omiyamairiお宮参りa baby's first shrine visit

Life EventsStandard okuizomeお食い初めthe first meal ceremony at 100 days

Life EventsStandard goshugiご祝儀the money you give at a wedding

Life EventsStandard greeting the neighbors引っ越しの挨拶the visit you make after moving in

Life EventsStandard kanreki還暦と長寿の祝いbirthdays that mark a long life

Life EventsStandard nijikai結婚式の二次会the casual after-party that follows a wedding reception

Life EventsStandard shichi-go-san七五三the festival for children aged seven, five and three

Life EventsStandard shinzenshiki神前式a Shinto wedding

Life EventsStandard seijinshiki成人式the coming-of-age ceremony

Life EventsStandard tanjobi no iwaikata誕生日の祝い方how birthdays are marked across a Japanese life, beyond a party

Life EventsStandard tsuya通夜the wake held the night before a funeral

Life EventsStandard uchiiwai内祝いthe thank-you gift after a celebration

Life EventsStandard married surnames夫婦の姓why couples must share one name

Life EventsStandard naming a child名前のつけ方what you may and may not call a baby

MannersStandard escalatorエスカレーターの片側空けstanding on one side, and why that is changing

MannersStandard warikan割り勘splitting the bill

MannersStandard keigo敬語the honorific levels of Japanese

MannersStandard kasa no manner傘のマナーhow umbrellas are handled in Japan

MannersStandard gestures指さしと手招きgestures that mean something different in Japan

MannersStandard apologizing謝るwhy Japanese people apologize first

MannersStandard haikei and keigu手紙の拝啓と敬具the formal opening and closing words that bracket a proper Japanese letter

MannersStandard temiyage手土産the gift you bring when you visit

MannersStandard yielding your turn in line順番を譲るoffering to let someone else go first, especially someone in a hurry or in need

MannersStandard seiza正座sitting on your heels

MannersStandard senjitsu wa domo先日はどうもthanking someone again next time

MannersStandard declining a gift once贈り物を一度断るthe polite custom of refusing a gift once before accepting it

MannersStandard dogeza土下座kneeling with your forehead on the floor

MannersStandard blowing your nose鼻をかむwhy blowing your nose in public is avoided

MannersStandard priority seats優先席seats set aside for those who need them

Modern JapanStandard hyaku-en shop100円ショップthe hundred-yen store

Modern JapanStandard washletウォシュレットthe Japanese high-tech toilet

Modern JapanStandard air conditioningエアコンと節電cooling a Japanese summer, and saving power

Modern JapanStandard capsule hotelカプセルホテルsleeping in a pod the size of a bed

Modern JapanStandard cool bizクールビズthe summer campaign to work without a jacket and tie

Modern JapanStandard coin-laundryコインランドリーthe pay-per-use laundromat

Modern JapanStandard coin lockerコインロッカーstation luggage lockers

Modern JapanStandard gender gapジェンダーギャップwhy Japan ranks low on gender equality despite high education levels

Modern JapanStandard shatta-shotengaiシャッター商店街a shopping street where most storefronts are permanently shuttered

Modern JapanStandard net cafeネットカフェinternet cafe with private booths

Modern JapanStandard hazard-mapハザードマップthe map showing how bad flooding or a disaster could get at your address

Modern JapanStandard barrier freeバリアフリーaccessibility in Japan, and the yellow tactile paving it invented

Modern JapanStandard vinyl umbrellaビニール傘the clear plastic umbrella

Modern JapanStandard furusato nozeiふるさと納税donating to another town and having it deducted from your own tax

Modern JapanStandard point cardsポイントカードloyalty points at every register

Modern JapanStandard point economyポイント経済why everyone in Japan is asked for a point card

Modern JapanStandard my numberマイナンバーthe national identification number

Modern JapanStandard My Number cardマイナンバーカードthe national ID card that now also works as a health insurance card

Modern JapanStandard mamachariママチャリthe everyday shopping bicycle

Modern JapanStandard yakuzaヤクザorganized crime in Japan, and why the offices have nameplates

Modern JapanStandard karoshi過労死death from overwork, and the law Japan wrote because of it

Modern JapanStandard kaigo介護long-term care, and the insurance system behind it

Modern JapanStandard kampo漢方traditional herbal medicine as practiced in Japan

Modern JapanStandard weather warnings気象警報Japan's tiered warning system and what each level means

Modern JapanStandard akiya空き家empty houses left standing across Japan

Modern JapanStandard keikaku unkyu計画運休shutting down the trains before the storm arrives

Modern JapanStandard kenko-shindan健康診断the annual health checkup nearly every worker gets

Modern JapanStandard cash society現金社会why Japan still runs on cash

Modern JapanStandard koban交番the neighborhood police box

Modern JapanStandard kokumin kaihoken国民皆保険the public health insurance everyone in Japan is required to join

Modern JapanStandard working from home在宅勤務why remote work spread and then shrank again in Japan

Modern JapanStandard kyoshujo自動車教習所driving school, the required path to a license

Modern JapanStandard jidohanbaiki自動販売機vending machines

Modern JapanStandard shaken車検the mandatory vehicle inspection

Modern JapanStandard shuwa手話Japanese Sign Language

Modern JapanStandard shuden終電the last train, and the way it shapes the night

Modern JapanStandard consumption tax消費税Japan's sales tax, its rises, and the reduced rate

Modern JapanStandard food samples食品サンプルthe plastic food in restaurant windows

Modern JapanStandard shinkansen window views新幹線の車窓the passing scenery, especially Mount Fuji, that makes the shinkansen ride itself an attraction

Modern JapanStandard seishun juhachi kippu青春18きっぷa budget ticket for unlimited local and rapid JR trains over several consecutive days

Modern JapanStandard takuhaibin宅配便と再配達home delivery and the problem of repeated attempts

Modern JapanStandard churinjo駐輪場bicycle parking and removal

Modern JapanStandard tenji block点字ブロックthe yellow tactile paving on the ground

Modern JapanStandard utility poles電柱と電線why so many overhead wires

Modern JapanStandard e-scooter電動キックボードthe electric scooter now allowed without a driver's license

Modern JapanStandard hassha melody発車メロディーstation departure jingles

Modern JapanStandard hanko判子the personal seal used instead of a signature

Modern JapanStandard hinan kunren避難訓練the evacuation drills everyone has done

Modern JapanStandard smoking rules分煙where you can and cannot smoke in Japan

Modern JapanStandard whaling捕鯨why Japan resumed commercial whaling, and how little whale is actually eaten

Modern JapanStandard takarakuji宝くじthe public lottery, and why the prize is tax-free

Modern JapanStandard mahjong麻雀the four-player tile game, and where it sits legally

Modern JapanStandard lost and found落とし物why lost things come back in Japan

Seasons & NatureStandard Okinawa and Hokkaido沖縄と北海道の気候the two ends of Japan's climate

Seasons & NatureStandard the sea and fishing海と漁業how Japan eats from the ocean

Seasons & NatureStandard kiku菊chrysanthemum

Seasons & NatureStandard kyureki旧暦the old lunisolar calendar Japan used until 1872

Seasons & NatureStandard kingyo金魚goldfish, and the summer festival game of scooping them

Seasons & NatureStandard icho銀杏the ginkgo tree

Seasons & NatureStandard hotaru蛍fireflies

Seasons & NatureStandard sakura zensen桜前線the cherry blossom front

Seasons & NatureStandard ajisai紫陽花hydrangea

Seasons & NatureStandard akisame zensen秋雨前線the autumn rain front that brings weeks of gray, wet weather

Seasons & NatureStandard hatsuyuki and nezuki初雪と根雪the first snow and the snow that stays all winter

Seasons & NatureStandard shochikubai松竹梅pine, bamboo and plum

Seasons & NatureStandard shinrin no kuni森林の国how much of Japan is forest

Seasons & NatureStandard sugi杉the Japanese cedar

Seasons & NatureStandard yukikaki雪かきclearing snow as daily work

Seasons & NatureStandard yukiguni雪国Japan's heavy snow regions

Seasons & NatureStandard cicada song蝉の声the sound of a Japanese summer

Seasons & NatureStandard senjo kosuitai線状降水帯the linear rainband that causes Japan's worst flash flooding

Seasons & NatureStandard tanada棚田terraced rice paddies cut into mountain slopes

Seasons & NatureStandard take竹bamboo

Seasons & NatureStandard listening to insect songs虫の声を聴くenjoying the sound of autumn insects

Seasons & NatureStandard asagao朝顔the morning glory

Seasons & NatureStandard the shape of Japan日本列島の地形a long mountainous chain of islands

Seasons & NatureStandard ume梅Japanese apricot blossom

Onsen & BathStandard sauna and cold plungeサウナと水風呂sauna culture in Japan

Onsen & BathStandard super sentoスーパー銭湯large modern bathhouses

Onsen & BathStandard ichiban-buro一番風呂being the very first person into freshly drawn bathwater

Onsen & BathStandard tattoos and onsen温泉とタトゥーwhy tattoos can get you refused at a bath

Onsen & BathStandard the onsen mark温泉マークthe three-steam symbol used on maps and signs for hot springs

Onsen & BathStandard onsengai温泉街a hot spring town

Onsen & BathStandard shooting galleries and ping-pong温泉街の射的と卓球shooting galleries and table tennis at hot-spring resorts

Onsen & BathStandard kazoku buro家族風呂a private bath you can book

Onsen & BathStandard ganbanyoku岩盤浴lying on heated stone to sweat, a dry alternative to soaking in a bath

Onsen & BathStandard gensen kakenagashi源泉かけ流しhot spring water used once and let overflow, with nothing recirculated

Onsen & BathStandard Ibusuki sand bath指宿の砂むし温泉a hot sand bath on a beach warmed by hot spring water

Onsen & BathStandard yu no hana湯の花hot-spring mineral flakes

Onsen & BathStandard yuzame湯冷めcatching a chill after a hot bath, as your body cools down too fast

Onsen & BathStandard soto-yu-meguri内湯と外湯めぐりhopping between a hot spring town's public bathhouses in a yukata

Onsen & BathStandard ryokan旅館a traditional Japanese inn

PlacesStandard Odaibaお台場the waterfront district built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay

PlacesStandard ferries and remote islandsフェリーと離島the ferry networks that connect Japan's thousands of smaller islands to the mainland

PlacesStandard Ginza銀座the expensive shopping district named after a silver mint

PlacesStandard sakurajima桜島the active volcano that drops ash on a city of 600,000

PlacesStandard Sanjusangendo三十三間堂the 120-meter hall in Kyoto holding 1,001 statues of Kannon

PlacesStandard Shurijo首里城と沖縄the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Okinawa

PlacesStandard Ueno Park上野公園the Tokyo park holding the national museums, the zoo and the cherry trees

PlacesStandard Kinosaki Onsen城崎温泉a hot spring town in northern Hyogo known for its seven public bathhouses

PlacesStandard Nagasaki and Dejima長崎と出島the port that was Japan's only window to Europe, and the second atomic bombing

PlacesStandard Tokyo Skytree東京スカイツリーthe 634-meter broadcasting tower in eastern Tokyo

PlacesStandard Tokyo Station東京駅の駅舎the red brick station building of 1914, restored in 2012

PlacesStandard Nijojo二条城the Kyoto castle where the shogun gave power back to the Emperor

PlacesStandard Nikko Toshogu日光東照宮the shrine where Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined, covered in carvings

PlacesStandard Byodoin平等院鳳凰堂the eleventh-century temple hall on the ten-yen coin

PlacesStandard Beppu and Yufuin別府と湯布院the biggest hot spring town in Japan and the quiet one next to it

PlacesStandard the scale of Hokkaido北海道の広さhow much bigger Hokkaido is than most visitors expect

PlacesStandard Arima Onsen有馬温泉the old hot spring town in the hills behind Kobe

Pop CultureStandard otakuオタクsomeone obsessively into a hobby

Pop CultureStandard gachagachaガチャガチャcapsule toy vending machine

Pop CultureStandard karutaかるたthe card game where you race to grab the right card

Pop CultureStandard character bunkaキャラクター文化characters attached to everything

Pop CultureStandard game centerゲームセンターvideo game arcade

Pop CultureStandard cosplayコスプレdressing as a character

Pop CultureStandard Weekly Shonen Jumpジャンプと週刊漫画誌the manga magazine where reader postcards ranking each week's chapters can decide a series' fate

Pop CultureStandard variety showsバラエティ番組Japanese TV variety programs

Pop CultureStandard purikuraプリクラphoto sticker booths

Pop CultureStandard yuru-kyaraゆるキャラlocal mascot characters

Pop CultureStandard Lolita fashionロリータファッションa modest, Victorian-inspired street fashion born in Harajuku, built around long skirts and frills

Pop CultureStandard onge音ゲーrhythm games

Pop CultureStandard hanafuda花札the flower card game

Pop CultureStandard kissaten morning service喫茶店とモーニングthe free breakfast set old-style coffee shops add to the price of a single coffee

Pop CultureStandard koshien cheering甲子園の応援the organized brass-band and stand cheering that fills the stadium during the national high school baseball tournament

Pop CultureStandard Kohaku Uta Gassen紅白歌合戦the New Year's Eve song contest on public television

Pop CultureStandard kamishibai紙芝居the paper theater a storyteller carried on a bicycle

Pop CultureStandard jidaigeki時代劇the period drama set before the Meiji era

Pop CultureStandard Showa retro昭和レトロa nostalgia trend for the look and feel of Japan's postwar Showa decades

Pop CultureStandard oshikatsu推し活supporting your favorite

Pop CultureStandard seiyu声優voice actors

Pop CultureStandard mukashi no asobi昔の遊びthe pre-electronic children's games still taught in schools

Pop CultureStandard itasha痛車a car wrapped in large anime or game character graphics

Pop CultureStandard train otaku鉄道ファンJapan's railway enthusiasts, a hobby broad enough to include photographers, sound recorders and model builders

Pop CultureStandard doujin music同人音楽self-released music made and sold by independent circles, often at fan conventions

Pop CultureStandard manga kissa漫画喫茶manga and internet cafes

Pop CultureStandard manzai漫才two-person stand-up comedy

School LifeStandard undokai運動会school sports day

School LifeStandard tannin学級担任the homeroom teacher who teaches everything

School LifeStandard class reshuffling学年とクラス替えthe annual reshuffling of students into new classes

School LifeStandard school song校歌the anthem every school has and teaches to every student

School LifeStandard hensachi高校の偏差値the deviation score used to rank Japanese schools by difficulty

School LifeStandard juken受験the entrance exam system

School LifeStandard shugaku ryoko修学旅行the school trip everyone goes on

School LifeStandard juku塾the private school you go to after school

School LifeStandard shusseki bango出席番号the roster number every student is assigned for the school year

School LifeStandard uwabaki上履きthe indoor shoes worn at school

School LifeStandard shintai sokutei身体測定the school health check and measurements

School LifeStandard school swimming lessons水泳の授業swimming as a compulsory school subject

School LifeStandard sekigae席替えchanging where everyone sits in the classroom

School LifeStandard graduation album卒業アルバムthe yearbook every class makes together before graduating

School LifeStandard chugaku juken中学受験taking an entrance exam to enter a private or elite junior high school

School LifeStandard chorei朝礼the morning assembly at a school or workplace

School LifeStandard naishinten内申点the school's internal assessment that counts toward high school entry

School LifeStandard half coming-of-age ceremony二分の一成人式an elementary school event around age ten where children reflect on their first decade and thank their families

School LifeStandard english education日本の英語教育why Japanese people study English for years and still cannot speak it

School LifeStandard entrance and graduation ceremonies入学式と卒業式the formal ceremonies that open and close a school year

School LifeStandard bukatsu training camp部活の合宿the multi-day training camp a school club holds, often in summer

School LifeStandard bunkasai文化祭the school culture festival

School LifeStandard hokenshitsu保健室the school nurse's room, which is also a refuge

School LifeStandard rinkan-gakko林間学校a short class trip to the mountains or coast built around group living and outdoor activities

ShintoStandard oharaiお祓いritual purification

ShintoStandard Ise Jingu伊勢神宮the central shrine of Shinto

ShintoStandard ema絵馬a wooden plaque you write a wish on

ShintoStandard Gion Matsuri祇園祭the month-long Kyoto festival that began as a rite against plague

ShintoStandard goshinboku御神木the sacred tree in a shrine precinct

ShintoStandard komainu狛犬the guardian pair at a shrine

ShintoStandard Izumo Taisha出雲大社the shrine where the gods gather

ShintoStandard shinshoku and miko神職と巫女shrine priests and shrine maidens

ShintoStandard shinto and nature神道と自然the animism at the heart of Shinto belief

ShintoStandard sohonsha and bunsha総本社と分社head shrines and their thousands of branch shrines

ShintoStandard jichinsai地鎮祭the ceremony held before building on a piece of land

ShintoStandard shimenawa注連縄the sacred rope

ShintoStandard chinju no mori鎮守の森the grove that surrounds a shrine

ShintoStandard Tenmangu天満宮と学問の神shrines of the deity of learning

ShintoStandard Nihon shinwa日本神話the myths in Japan's oldest books

ShintoStandard yakubarai厄払いthe shrine rite performed in an unlucky year of life

Work CultureStandard bonusボーナスthe twice-yearly lump-sum pay

Work CultureStandard remote workリモートワークworking from home in Japan

Work CultureStandard nomikai飲み会the work drinking party

Work CultureStandard work uniforms作業着と社章company uniforms and lapel pins

Work CultureStandard shain ryoko社員旅行the company trip

Work CultureStandard shukatsu就活と新卒一括採用hiring an entire year group at once

Work CultureStandard taishokutodoke退職届the one-line resignation notice

Work CultureStandard tenkin転勤company-ordered relocation

Work CultureStandard tenshoku転職changing jobs mid-career

Work CultureStandard yukyu有給休暇paid leave, and why people don't take it

Work CultureStandard rirekisho履歴書the Japanese-format resume

BuddhismAdvanced kaimyo戒名the Buddhist name given after death

BuddhismAdvanced goma護摩a fire ritual performed by esoteric Buddhist priests

BuddhismAdvanced Buddhist schools in Japan宗派の違いthe main branches of Japanese Buddhism and how they differ

BuddhismAdvanced sotoba卒塔婆the wooden memorial tablet at a grave

Martial ArtsAdvanced osu押忍the all-purpose word shouted in martial arts dojos

ClothingAdvanced kimono formality着物の格the ranking that decides which kimono may be worn where

CraftsAdvanced katana kaji刀鍛冶the swordsmiths who still forge Japanese blades by hand

FolkloreAdvanced kimon鬼門the unlucky northeast direction

FolkloreAdvanced yakudoshi厄年the unlucky years of your life

HistoryAdvanced kimigayo君が代the national anthem, and why it is argued about

Home & LivingAdvanced chonaikai and kairanban町内会と回覧板the neighborhood association and its circulating folder

Home & LivingAdvanced oidaki追い焚きreheating the same bathwater

Modern JapanAdvanced the Ainuアイヌthe indigenous people of northern Japan, recognized in law only in 2019

Modern JapanAdvanced okusuri techoお薬手帳the personal medication record book

Modern JapanAdvanced coin parkingコインパーキングunattended pay parking lots

Modern JapanAdvanced pachinkoパチンコthe gambling that legally is not gambling

Modern JapanAdvanced Japanese only signs外国人お断りwhy some businesses refuse foreign customers, and what the law does and does not say

Modern JapanAdvanced imperial succession皇位継承who can become emperor, and the shortage of people who qualify

Modern JapanAdvanced shogakukin奨学金the word that means scholarship but usually means student loan

Modern JapanAdvanced same-sex marriage同性婚why Japan has partnership systems in most cities but no legal marriage

Seasons & NatureAdvanced shiohigari潮干狩りdigging for clams at low tide

PlacesAdvanced Tottori Sand Dunes鳥取砂丘the large coastal dunes on the Japan Sea, often mistaken for a desert

Pop CultureAdvanced Vocaloidボーカロイドsinging voice synthesizer

Pop CultureAdvanced maid cafeメイド喫茶maid cafe

Pop CultureAdvanced seichi junrei聖地巡礼visiting places from anime

Pop CultureAdvanced doujinshi同人誌とコミケself-published fan comics and Comiket

Pop CultureAdvanced tokusatsu特撮live-action special effects shows

Pop CultureAdvanced Takarazuka Revue宝塚歌劇団the all-female musical theater company

School LifeAdvanced taiiku zuwari体育座りthe way Japanese students sit on the floor

School LifeAdvanced nitchoku日直the student on duty for the day

School LifeAdvanced morning practice部活の朝練training before school starts

School LifeAdvanced houkago放課後after school, and why students stay

Work CultureAdvanced island desks島型デスクthe open office facing each other