Study Abroad (313) | 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 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 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 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 men wo susuru oto麺をすする音slurping noodles out loud

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 rotenburo露天風呂open-air bath

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

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

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

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

Pop CultureEssential karaokeカラオケsinging to a backing track

Pop CultureEssential kawaiiかわいいthe aesthetic of cuteness

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 seifuku制服the school uniform

School LifeEssential school cleaning掃除students cleaning their own school

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

ArtsStandard kakejiku掛け軸a hanging scroll displayed in an alcove

ArtsStandard shodo書道Japanese calligraphy

BuddhismStandard shakyo写経copying a sutra by hand

BuddhismStandard juzu数珠Buddhist prayer beads

BuddhismStandard senko線香incense sticks for the dead

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 butsudan仏壇the Buddhist altar in a Japanese home

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

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

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

ClothingStandard mofuku喪服the black clothing worn to a funeral

ClothingStandard hanten半纏the padded winter jacket worn at home

ClothingStandard haramaki腹巻きa stretchy band of cloth worn around the belly to keep it warm

ConceptsStandard uchi and sotoウチとソトinside group and outside group

ConceptsStandard shitsukeしつけbringing up a child to behave considerately

ConceptsStandard enryo遠慮holding back out of consideration

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 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

CraftsStandard mizuhiki水引decorative cord on gift envelopes

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 kanchu mimai寒中見舞いthe midwinter greeting card

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

Annual EventsStandard Respect for the Aged Day敬老の日the September holiday honoring older people

Annual EventsStandard goyo osame御用納めと仕事始めthe last and first working days of the year

Annual EventsStandard tanabata七夕the star festival

Annual EventsStandard kakizome書き初めthe first calligraphy of the 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 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 kashiwamochi and chimaki柏餅とちまきthe two sweets eaten on Children's Day, east and west

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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 oiwai no sekiお祝いの席a formal Japanese celebration meal

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 kaikiiwai快気祝いthe thank-you gift sent after recovering from illness or injury

Life EventsStandard mochu hagaki喪中はがきthe mourning notice sent before New Year

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

MannersStandard Japanese business emailメールの書き出しと結びthe fixed opening and closing lines

MannersStandard warikan割り勘splitting the bill

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

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

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

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

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 kampo漢方traditional herbal medicine as practiced in Japan

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

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

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 hinan kunren避難訓練the evacuation drills everyone has done

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

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

Seasons & NatureStandard sugi杉the Japanese cedar

Seasons & NatureStandard yukikaki雪かきclearing snow as daily work

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

Seasons & NatureStandard asagao朝顔the morning glory

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

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

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

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

PlacesStandard michi no eki道の駅roadside stations that sell local produce and let drivers rest

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 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 onge音ゲーrhythm games

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

Pop CultureStandard oshikatsu推し活supporting your favorite

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

School LifeStandard PTAPTAthe parents and teachers association at a Japanese school

School LifeStandard undokai運動会school sports day

School LifeStandard gakkyukai学級会the class meeting where pupils decide things themselves

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 juken受験the entrance exam system

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

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

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

Work CultureStandard nomikai飲み会the work drinking party

FolkloreAdvanced kaso方位と家相lucky and unlucky directions in a house

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

Home & LivingAdvanced amido網戸the sliding screen door

MannersAdvanced elevator etiquetteエレベーターの作法who stands where and who presses the buttons

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

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

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

School LifeAdvanced tsuchihyo通知表the school report card

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