よく聞かれるの日本文化（757項目）

伝統芸能必修 芸者と舞妓geikoprofessional entertainers trained in dance, music and hosting

伝統芸能必修 日本庭園Japanese gardenthe traditional garden

伝統芸能必修 俳句haikuthe seventeen-syllable poem

伝統芸能必修 浮世絵ukiyo-ewoodblock prints

伝統芸能必修 盆栽bonsaitrees grown in trays

伝統芸能必修 和太鼓wadaikoJapanese drums and the ensembles that play them

仏教必修 お墓参りohakamairivisiting the family grave

仏教必修 五重塔gojunotothe five-storied pagoda

仏教必修 合掌gasshoputting the hands together

仏教必修 禅Zena school of Buddhism built on seated meditation

仏教必修 大仏daibutsuthe great Buddha statues

仏教必修 日本の仏教Buddhism in Japanhow Buddhism arrived, changed, and ended up handling funerals

仏教必修 仏像の見分け方telling Buddhist statues apartthe four ranks of Buddhist image and how to read them

武道必修 プロ野球puro yakyuJapanese professional baseball

武道必修 まわしmawashithe thick belt a sumo wrestler wraps around the body and grips during a bout

武道必修 ラジオ体操rajio taisothe national radio exercise routine

武道必修 気合kiaithe shout that focuses breath and energy into a technique

武道必修 型kataa prearranged sequence of moves practiced alone or against an imagined opponent

武道必修 行司gyojithe referee who judges a sumo bout

武道必修 相撲sumoJapan's national sport and Shinto ritual

武道必修 道場dojoa training hall

武道必修 道着dogithe uniform worn for judo, karate, kendo, and other martial arts

着物必修 手ぬぐいtenuguia thin cotton cloth

着物必修 着物kimonothe traditional Japanese garment

着物必修 着物の右前migimaewearing a kimono with the left side over the right

着物必修 着物レンタルkimono rentalrenting a kimono instead of owning one

着物必修 鉢巻hachimakia cloth headband tied around the head to show focus and team spirit

着物必修 風呂敷furoshikia wrapping cloth

着物必修 浴衣yukataa light cotton kimono for summer

ことば必修 おかげさまでokagesama dethanks to you and to unseen help

ことば必修 おもてなしomotenashiJapanese hospitality

ことば必修 お互いさまotagaisamawe all need help sometimes, so no debt is owed

ことば必修 お邪魔しますojama shimasuwhat you say when entering someone's home

ことば必修 お天道様が見ているotentosama ga miteiruthe sun is watching you

ことば必修 がんばってganbattethe encouragement that is not quite good luck

ことば必修 じゃんけんjankenrock-paper-scissors, used by adults to decide almost anything

ことば必修 ただいま・おかえりtadaima and okaerithe greeting exchanged when someone comes home

ことば必修 もったいないmottainaiwhat a waste

ことば必修 よろしくお願いしますyoroshiku onegaishimasuthe phrase with no English equivalent

ことば必修 挨拶aisatsugreetings as a social duty

ことば必修 一生懸命isshokenmeiwith everything you have

ことば必修 漢字・ひらがな・カタカナthe three Japanese scriptswhy Japanese is written with three writing systems at once

ことば必修 関西弁kansai-benthe dialect spoken around Osaka and Kyoto

ことば必修 郷に入っては郷に従えgo ni itte wa go ni shitagaewhen in a place, follow its ways

ことば必修 思いやりomoiyariimagining how the other person feels

ことば必修 七転び八起きnanakorobi yaokifall seven times, get up eight

ことば必修 出る杭は打たれるderu kui wa utareruthe stake that sticks out gets hammered down

ことば必修 助数詞josushithe counters Japanese puts after a number

ことば必修 石の上にも三年ishi no ue nimo sannenthree years sitting on a stone

ことば必修 先輩・後輩senpai and kohaiseniors and juniors

ことば必修 罰が当たるbachi ga atarudivine or karmic punishment for wrongdoing

ことば必修 迷惑をかけないmeiwaku wo kakenainot causing trouble for others

ことば必修 和製英語wasei-eigoEnglish-looking words made in Japan

工芸必修 金継ぎkintsugirepairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold

工芸必修 折り紙origamipaper folding

工芸必修 暖簾norenthe split cloth curtain hung at a shop entrance

年中行事必修 おせち料理osechithe New Year food packed in stacked boxes

年中行事必修 お正月oshogatsuthe Japanese New Year

年中行事必修 お年玉otoshidamaNew Year money given to children

年中行事必修 お盆obonthe summer festival for returning ancestors

年中行事必修 ゴールデンウィークGolden Weekthe spring holiday cluster

年中行事必修 こどもの日kodomo no hiChildren's Day and the carp streamers

年中行事必修 バレンタインデーvalentinethe day women give chocolate, and the day men return it

年中行事必修 ホワイトデーwhite dayMarch 14, the return gift for Valentine's Day

年中行事必修 夏祭りの屋台yataifestival food stalls

年中行事必修 花火大会hanabi taikaithe summer fireworks festival

年中行事必修 花見hanamicherry blossom viewing

年中行事必修 祭りmatsuria local festival

年中行事必修 祭りの屋台matsuri no yataithe food and game stalls at a festival

年中行事必修 初詣hatsumodethe first shrine visit of the year

年中行事必修 初日の出hatsuhinodethe first sunrise of the New Year

年中行事必修 初売りと福袋hatsuuri and fukubukuroNew Year sales and lucky bags

年中行事必修 雛祭りhinamatsurithe doll festival on March 3rd

年中行事必修 大晦日omisokaNew Year's Eve in Japan

年中行事必修 大掃除osojithe year-end deep clean

年中行事必修 日本のクリスマスchristmas japanChristmas as a couples' night with fried chicken

年中行事必修 日本の祝日Japanese public holidaysthe national holiday calendar

年中行事必修 年越しそばtoshikoshi sobaNew Year's Eve noodles

年中行事必修 母の日と父の日mothers day and fathers dayhow Japan observes the two imported family days

年中行事必修 忘年会bonenkaithe year-end party to forget the year

年中行事必修 忘年会と新年会bonenkai and shinnenkaiyear-end and new-year parties

年中行事必修 盆踊りbon odorithe summer circle dance

妖怪必修 おみくじomikujifortune slips at shrines

妖怪必修 てるてる坊主teru teru bozua little white doll hung by the window to wish for sunny weather

妖怪必修 浦島太郎Urashima Tarothe fisherman who spends three days under the sea and returns three hundred years later

妖怪必修 縁起engiwhether something is considered lucky or unlucky

妖怪必修 縁結びenmusubimatchmaking, or bringing people together through fate

妖怪必修 干支etothe twelve-year cycle of zodiac animals

妖怪必修 四と九を避けるavoiding four and nineunlucky numbers in Japan

妖怪必修 招き猫maneki nekothe beckoning cat

妖怪必修 千羽鶴senbazurua thousand folded cranes, given as a wish for recovery or peace

妖怪必修 桃太郎Momotarothe boy born from a peach who goes to fight demons

妖怪必修 日本の昔話Japanese folk talesthe handful of stories every Japanese child grows up knowing

食べもの必修 あんこankosweet red bean paste

食べもの必修 いただきますitadakimasuwhat we say before eating

食べもの必修 いなり寿司inari-zushisushi rice stuffed in a sweet fried tofu pouch

食べもの必修 うなぎunagifreshwater eel, grilled and glazed

食べもの必修 おにぎりonigiria rice ball with a filling

食べもの必修 お好み焼きokonomiyakia savory pancake you often cook yourself

食べもの必修 お茶漬けochazukerice with tea or broth poured over it

食べもの必修 お通しotoshithe small dish an izakaya serves automatically as a seat charge

食べもの必修 かき氷kakigorishaved ice

食べもの必修 カツ丼katsudonthe pork cutlet rice bowl students eat before an exam

食べもの必修 カレーライスcurry riceJapanese curry

食べもの必修 しゃぶしゃぶshabu-shabubeef swished in hot broth

食べもの必修 すき焼きsukiyakibeef simmered at the table

食べもの必修 そばとうどんsoba and udonthe two traditional Japanese noodles

食べもの必修 たこ焼きtakoyakioctopus batter balls

食べもの必修 ちゃんこ鍋chanko nabethe hearty hot-pot meal associated with sumo stables

食べもの必修 ちらし寿司chirashi-zushisushi rice topped or mixed with a variety of ingredients

食べもの必修 とんかつtonkatsubreaded deep-fried pork cutlet

食べもの必修 ふりかけfurikakea dry seasoning sprinkled over rice

食べもの必修 まんじゅうmanjuthe steamed bun filled with sweet bean paste

食べもの必修 ラーメンramenChinese-style noodle soup, remade in Japan

食べもの必修 わさびwasabiJapanese horseradish grated from a fresh root

食べもの必修 一汁三菜ichiju sansaione soup and three dishes, the standard shape of a Japanese meal

食べもの必修 駅弁ekibenstation lunch boxes

食べもの必修 回転寿司kaiten-zushiconveyor belt sushi

食べもの必修 海苔norithe sheets of dried seaweed used for rice balls and sushi rolls

食べもの必修 鰹節katsuobushidried, smoked and fermented bonito, shaved into flakes for stock

食べもの必修 牛丼gyudonbeef over rice

食べもの必修 居酒屋izakayathe Japanese pub where food comes first

食べもの必修 串カツkushikatsuskewered, breaded and deep-fried food

食べもの必修 昆布konbuthe kelp that gives Japanese stock its savory depth

食べもの必修 雑煮zonithe New Year soup with rice cakes in it

食べもの必修 刺身sashimiraw fish served without rice

食べもの必修 煮物nimonoJapanese home-style simmered dishes

食べもの必修 寿司sushivinegared rice with fish or other toppings

食べもの必修 焼き魚yakizakanagrilled fish with salt

食べもの必修 焼き鳥yakitorigrilled chicken skewers

食べもの必修 焼肉yakinikugrill-it-yourself barbecue

食べもの必修 醤油shoyusoy sauce

食べもの必修 食べ放題tabehodaian all-you-can-eat meal with a time limit

食べもの必修 親子丼oyakodonchicken and egg on rice, and the name nobody expects

食べもの必修 大福daifukuthe pounded rice cake wrapped around sweet bean paste

食べもの必修 定食teishokua set meal built around rice, soup and a main dish

食べもの必修 天ぷらtempuralightly battered deep-fried seafood and vegetables

食べもの必修 唐揚げkaraageJapanese fried chicken

食べもの必修 豆腐tofubean curd

食べもの必修 鍋nabethe shared hot pot at the center of the table

食べもの必修 日本酒nihonshuJapanese rice wine

食べもの必修 納豆nattofermented soybeans

食べもの必修 米komerice as the center of the meal

食べもの必修 弁当bentoa packed meal in a box

食べもの必修 抹茶matchapowdered green tea

食べもの必修 味噌misofermented soybean paste

食べもの必修 味噌汁miso soupthe soup served with almost every Japanese meal

食べもの必修 餅mochipounded rice cake

食べもの必修 卵焼きtamagoyakithe rolled omelette, sweet or savory depending on where you are

食べもの必修 立ち食いそばtachigui sobastanding soba stalls for a fast, cheap meal

食べもの必修 緑茶ryokuchaJapanese green tea

食べもの必修 丼ものdonburia bowl of rice with something cooked served on top

食べもの必修 餃子gyozapan-fried dumplings

歴史必修 元号gengothe Japanese era name

歴史必修 侍samuraithe warrior class of old Japan

歴史必修 城Japanese castlea castle of the warlord era

住まい必修 こたつkotatsua low table with a heater and a quilt

住まい必修 トイレと風呂が別separate toilet and bathwhy the toilet is not in the bathroom

住まい必修 間取りの見方madorihow to read a Japanese rental floor plan

住まい必修 玄関genkanthe sunken entryway of a Japanese home

住まい必修 座布団zabutona floor cushion for sitting

住まい必修 畳tatamiwoven straw floor mats

住まい必修 洗濯物の外干しhanging laundry outsidedrying clothes on the balcony

住まい必修 布団futonthe bedding you lay out and put away

住まい必修 物干し竿monohoshi zaothe laundry pole used to dry clothes outdoors

住まい必修 和室washitsua traditional tatami room

冠婚葬祭必修 遺影ieieithe portrait photograph displayed at a funeral

冠婚葬祭必修 家族葬kazokusoua funeral limited to close family and a few relatives

冠婚葬祭必修 婚姻届kon'in todokethe marriage registration form filed at a city office

冠婚葬祭必修 年賀状nengajoNew Year greeting cards

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

マナー必修 お辞儀ojigibowing

マナー必修 お酌oshakupouring for each other

マナー必修 ごみを持ち帰るtaking your rubbish homecarrying your litter with you because there are no bins

マナー必修 さん付けhonorifics sanwhy names always have something attached

マナー必修 すみませんsumimasensorry / excuse me / thank you

マナー必修 スリッパslippersindoor slippers and the toilet pair

マナー必修 タクシーの自動ドアautomatic taxi doorsthe door that opens by itself

マナー必修 チップがないno tippingwhy Japan has no tipping culture

マナー必修 会釈eshakuthe small nod-bow used in passing

マナー必修 靴を脱ぐtaking off your shoesremoving shoes indoors

マナー必修 靴下に穴holes in your sockswhy this matters more here

マナー必修 残さず食べるfinishing your foodleaving nothing on the plate

マナー必修 写真を撮る前のひと言asking before you photographwhen you need permission

マナー必修 祝儀袋と不祝儀袋shugibukurothe envelopes for celebration and condolence money

マナー必修 職場のお土産omiyage for the officebringing back sweets for colleagues

マナー必修 食べ歩きtabearukieating while walking

マナー必修 相槌aizuchithe frequent small sounds and nods listeners make to show they are following along

マナー必修 電車の中のマナーtrain etiquettewhy Japanese trains are so quiet

マナー必修 箸のタブーchopstick taboosthings you must never do with chopsticks

マナー必修 物は両手で渡すhanding things with both handswhy two hands matter

マナー必修 麺をすするslurping noodleswhy noodles are eaten noisily

マナー必修 麺をすする音men wo susuru otoslurping noodles out loud

マナー必修 列に並ぶqueueingwhy Japanese queues are so orderly

現代の暮らし必修 おしぼりと水oshibori and free waterthe wet towel and water that arrive before you order

現代の暮らし必修 キャッシュレス決済cashless paymentpaying by card, IC card or QR code instead of cash

現代の暮らし必修 ゴミの分別gomi bunbetsusorting your rubbish

現代の暮らし必修 コンビニkonbinithe Japanese convenience store

現代の暮らし必修 デパ地下depachikathe department store food hall

現代の暮らし必修 ドラッグストアdrugstoreJapan's hybrid of a pharmacy and a discount supermarket

現代の暮らし必修 バスの整理券seirikenthe numbered ticket that tracks your bus fare

現代の暮らし必修 ファミリーレストランfamily restaurantthe all-purpose chain restaurant, and the drink bar

現代の暮らし必修 マスクmaskswhy people wear masks in Japan

現代の暮らし必修 レジ袋の有料化plastic bag chargepaying for shopping bags

現代の暮らし必修 花粉症kafunshohay fever, mostly from cedar pollen

現代の暮らし必修 緊急地震速報eewJapan's earthquake early warning alert

現代の暮らし必修 交通系ICカードIC cardthe tap card that works almost everywhere

現代の暮らし必修 公共のトイレpublic toiletsclean public toilets, free to use

現代の暮らし必修 高速道路のサービスエリアとパーキングエリアservice-areathe rest stops built into Japan's expressways

現代の暮らし必修 山手線Yamanote linethe loop line that connects most of central Tokyo

現代の暮らし必修 少子高齢化shoshi koreikaa falling birth rate with an ageing population

現代の暮らし必修 食券機shokkenkithe meal ticket machine at the door

現代の暮らし必修 新幹線shinkansenthe bullet train

現代の暮らし必修 水道水が飲めることtap waterwhy you can drink from the tap

現代の暮らし必修 台風taifuthe typhoons that reach Japan each year

現代の暮らし必修 宅配便takkyubinhome delivery service

現代の暮らし必修 地震への備えjishin e no sonaehow Japan prepares for earthquakes

現代の暮らし必修 電車の定時運行punctual trainswhy Japanese trains run on time

現代の暮らし必修 満員電車manin denshathe packed commuter train

現代の暮らし必修 夜道の安全yomichi no anzenwhy walking at night feels safe in Japan

季節必修 ツバメの巣tsubame no suthe swallow nests built above shop entrances every spring

季節必修 黄砂kosathe yellow dust blown in from deserts on the Asian continent

季節必修 火山と地震volcanoes and earthquakesliving on an unstable archipelago

季節必修 紅葉koyoautumn leaves, and going to look at them

季節必修 四季shikithe four seasons, as Japan talks about them

季節必修 梅雨tsuyuthe rainy season

季節必修 富士山と信仰Mount Fuji as a sacred mountainMount Fuji and mountain worship

季節必修 猛暑日moshoextreme summer heat in Japan

温泉必修 お風呂furothe Japanese home bath

温泉必修 かけ湯kakeyurinsing yourself before entering the bath

温泉必修 温泉onsena natural hot spring bath

温泉必修 温泉と水着swimsuits and onsenwhy bathing nude, not in a swimsuit, is the norm at most onsen

温泉必修 足湯ashiyufoot baths

温泉必修 貸切風呂kashikiri-buroa small bath a ryokan rents out to one group at a time

温泉必修 男湯と女湯otokoyu and onnayuthe separate men's and women's baths

温泉必修 湯あたりyuatarifeeling dizzy or unwell from soaking in hot spring water too long

温泉必修 湯上がりの一杯yuagarithe drink after the bath

温泉必修 湯船につかるyubune ni tsukarusoaking in the tub rather than just showering

温泉必修 日帰り温泉higaeri onsena day-use hot spring with no overnight stay

温泉必修 熱い風呂を好む文化atsuburothe Japanese taste for baths hotter than most visitors expect

温泉必修 硫黄のにおいsulfur smellthe rotten-egg smell of sulfur hot springs

温泉必修 露天風呂rotenburoopen-air bath

名所必修 鎌倉の大仏the Great Buddha of Kamakurathe bronze Buddha that sits outdoors because its hall was destroyed

名所必修 祇園と花街Gionthe old Kyoto quarter where geiko and maiko still work

名所必修 京都kyotothe capital for a thousand years, and how to explain it

名所必修 金閣寺Kinkakujithe Golden Pavilion in Kyoto

名所必修 銀閣寺Ginkakujithe Silver Pavilion in Kyoto, which has no silver on it

名所必修 原宿と表参道Harajuku and Omotesandothe youth fashion street and the tree-lined avenue beside it

名所必修 厳島神社Itsukushima Shrinethe shrine built over the sea, with a torii gate standing in the water

名所必修 広島と平和記念公園Hiroshima Peace Memorial Parkthe park in the middle of Hiroshima built where the city was destroyed

名所必修 皇居と二重橋Kokyowhere the Emperor lives, on the site of Edo Castle

名所必修 秋葉原Akihabarathe Tokyo district that went from radio parts to anime

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

名所必修 新宿と歌舞伎町Shinjuku and Kabukichothe world's busiest station and the entertainment district beside it

名所必修 清水寺Kiyomizuderathe Kyoto temple with a wooden stage built out over a hillside

名所必修 浅草Asakusathe old temple district in eastern Tokyo

名所必修 大阪osakathe merchant city, and how it differs from Tokyo

名所必修 築地と豊洲Tsukiji and Toyosuthe old fish market street and the new wholesale market

名所必修 東京タワーTokyo Towerthe red and white broadcasting tower built in 1958

名所必修 東大寺と奈良の大仏Todaijithe Nara temple housing a 15-meter bronze Buddha in a vast wooden hall

名所必修 道頓堀Dotonborithe canal-side street in Osaka with the running-man sign

名所必修 奈良公園の鹿the deer of Nara Parkthe wild deer that roam a city park in Nara

名所必修 白川郷Shirakawagothe mountain village of steep thatched farmhouses

名所必修 箱根Hakonethe hot spring area in the mountains west of Tokyo

名所必修 姫路城Himeji Castlethe white castle in Hyogo, the best-preserved original keep in Japan

名所必修 富士山Mount FujiJapan's highest mountain, an active volcano and a World Cultural Heritage site

名所必修 伏見稲荷大社Fushimi Inari Taishathe Kyoto shrine with thousands of vermilion torii gates up a mountain

名所必修 明治神宮Meiji Jinguthe Tokyo shrine set in a forest that was planted from nothing

名所必修 嵐山Arashiyamathe district of western Kyoto with the bridge, the temple garden and the bamboo path

ポップカルチャー必修 VチューバーVTubera performer who streams and posts videos as an animated character instead of showing their real face

ポップカルチャー必修 アニメanimeJapanese animation

ポップカルチャー必修 カラオケkaraokesinging to a backing track

ポップカルチャー必修 かわいいkawaiithe aesthetic of cuteness

ポップカルチャー必修 テレビゲームterebi gemuhome video games

ポップカルチャー必修 絵文字emojipicture characters

ポップカルチャー必修 漫画mangaJapanese comics

学校生活必修 ランドセルrandoseruthe hard leather backpack every primary school child carries

学校生活必修 夏休みの宿題natsuyasumi no shukudaithe summer holiday homework, including the free research project

学校生活必修 給食kyushokuschool lunch

学校生活必修 給食当番kyushoku tobanthe student duty that serves lunch to the whole class

学校生活必修 校則kosokuschool rules and how strict they are

学校生活必修 制服seifukuthe school uniform

学校生活必修 掃除school cleaningstudents cleaning their own school

学校生活必修 登校班tosuhanchildren walking to school in groups

学校生活必修 部活bukatsuschool club activities

神道必修 お守りomamoria protective charm from a shrine or temple

神道必修 参道sandothe approach to a shrine

神道必修 参拝の作法how to pray at a shrinethe two bows, two claps, one bow routine

神道必修 手水舎chozuyathe water pavilion where you rinse your hands before praying

神道必修 神社と寺の違いshrines and templeshow to tell a Shinto shrine from a Buddhist temple

神道必修 神道ShintoJapan's indigenous way of relating to spirits in nature and ancestors

神道必修 神輿mikoshithe portable shrine carried through the streets at a festival

神道必修 鳥居toriithe gate at the entrance to a shrine

神道必修 無宗教mushukyosaying you have no religion while keeping its customs

神道必修 賽銭saisenthe offering you throw in

仕事必修 お疲れさまotsukaresamathe all-purpose word for acknowledging someone's work

仕事必修 残業zangyoworking overtime

仕事必修 役職で呼ぶcalling people by titleaddressing colleagues by their job title

伝統芸能標準 琴kotothe thirteen-stringed Japanese zither

伝統芸能標準 見得miethe frozen dramatic pose in kabuki

伝統芸能標準 枯山水karesansuithe dry landscape garden

伝統芸能標準 三味線shamisenthe three-stringed instrument played with a large plectrum

伝統芸能標準 獅子舞shishimaithe lion dance that bites your head for luck

伝統芸能標準 将棋shogiJapanese chess

伝統芸能標準 川柳senryuthe comic cousin of haiku, about people rather than nature

伝統芸能標準 鳥獣戯画choju gigathe twelfth-century animal scrolls often called Japan's first manga

伝統芸能標準 百人一首Hyakunin Isshua hundred poems and the card game

伝統芸能標準 落語rakugosolo comic storytelling

仏教標準 お地蔵さんOjizo-santhe roadside guardian of children

仏教標準 お布施ofusethe money offered to a priest, with no stated price

仏教標準 観音Kannonthe bodhisattva of compassion

仏教標準 極楽と地獄gokuraku and jigokuthe Pure Land and the hells in Japanese Buddhism

仏教標準 座禅zazenseated Zen meditation

仏教標準 除夜の鐘joya no kanethe 108 bells on New Year's Eve

仏教標準 数珠juzuBuddhist prayer beads

仏教標準 線香senkoincense sticks for the dead

仏教標準 僧侶soryoBuddhist priests in Japan, who may marry and inherit a temple

仏教標準 托鉢takuhatsuthe walking alms round of a Buddhist monk

仏教標準 檀家離れdeclining temple membershipthe modern trend of families cutting formal ties to their household's Buddhist temple

仏教標準 灯明と献花candles and flowers at a Buddhist altarwhy people light a candle and set out flowers at a grave or altar

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

仏教標準 仏壇butsudanthe Buddhist altar in a Japanese home

仏教標準 梵鐘bonshothe temple bell struck from the outside

武道標準 駅伝ekidenlong-distance relay running

武道標準 横綱yokozunathe highest rank in sumo

武道標準 空手karatethe striking martial art from Okinawa

武道標準 県大会と全国大会prefectural and national tournamentsthe ladder of local, prefectural, and national school tournaments

武道標準 高校野球と甲子園high school baseball and Koshienthe national high school baseball tournament

武道標準 合気道aikidoa martial art without contests

武道標準 黒帯と段位black belts and dan ranksthe ranking system in Japanese arts

武道標準 残心zanshinstaying alert and ready in the instant after a technique lands

武道標準 四股shikothe sumo leg-raising movement, done as training and as a rite

武道標準 受け身ukemithe breakfall technique that lets you get thrown without getting hurt

武道標準 少林寺拳法Shorinji Kempoa Japanese martial art founded in 1947, different from Chinese Shaolin kung fu

武道標準 正座と黙想seiza and mokusokneeling and the short silent sitting at the start and end of practice

武道標準 素振りsuburiswinging a weapon or bat with no opponent or ball

武道標準 相撲部屋sumo beyathe stable where wrestlers live

武道標準 大銀杏oicho-magethe ginkgo-leaf-shaped topknot only sumo wrestlers ranked juryo and above are allowed to wear

武道標準 大相撲の本場所honbashothe six official grand sumo tournaments held each year

武道標準 竹刀と防具shinai and boguthe bamboo sword and protective armor used in kendo

武道標準 土俵入りdohyo-irithe ring-entering ceremony performed by top sumo wrestlers before their bouts

武道標準 立合いと仕切りtachiai and shikirithe charge that starts a sumo bout, and the ritual staring before it

武道標準 流鏑馬yabusamearchery from a galloping horse

武道標準 礼に始まり礼に終わるrei ni hajimari rei ni owaruit begins with a bow and ends with a bow

着物標準 かんざしkanzashian ornamental hairpin worn with traditional Japanese hairstyles

着物標準 たすきtasukia cord that ties back kimono sleeves, now also a sash worn across the chest

着物標準 羽織haorithe short jacket worn open over a kimono

着物標準 家紋kamonfamily crests

着物標準 学生服gakuseifukuthe classic Japanese school uniform: the stand-collar jacket and the sailor blouse

着物標準 作業着の文化traditional and modern work clothesthe culture around Japanese work clothing, from craftsmen to fashion brands

着物標準 七五三の晴れ着shichigosan formal wearthe special outfit children wear for the Shichi-Go-San ceremony

着物標準 振袖furisodethe long-sleeved kimono for unmarried women

着物標準 甚平と作務衣jinbei and samueeasy Japanese clothes you can actually wear

着物標準 雪駄settaflat sandals with a bamboo-sheath top and a leather sole, worn with kimono

着物標準 喪服mofukuthe black clothing worn to a funeral

着物標準 草履zoriflat thonged sandals

着物標準 足袋tabisplit-toe socks

着物標準 卒業式の袴graduation hakamathe skirt-trousers worn at graduation

着物標準 着付けkitsukeputting a kimono on

着物標準 着物の値段the cost of a kimonowhy a formal kimono can cost as much as a car

着物標準 着物の柄と文様kimono motifsthe symbolism behind cranes, waves and other patterns woven or dyed into kimono

着物標準 長襦袢nagajubanthe underlayer worn beneath a kimono

着物標準 白足袋と色足袋white tabi and colored tabiwhy the color of tabi socks signals how formal the occasion is

着物標準 半襟hanerithe decorative collar sewn onto a kimono's underlayer, replaced more often than the kimono itself

着物標準 半纏hantenthe padded winter jacket worn at home

着物標準 褌fundoshithe traditional loincloth worn as underwear or festival dress

ことば標準 一期一会ichigo ichieone time, one meeting

ことば標準 縁enthe connection between people that brings them together

ことば標準 遠慮enryoholding back out of consideration

ことば標準 我慢gamanenduring without complaint

ことば標準 気が利くki ga kikunoticing what's needed and acting on it without being asked

ことば標準 空気を読むkuki wo yomureading the room

ことば標準 察するsassuruworking out what someone means without being told

ことば標準 仕方ないshikata ga naiit cannot be helped

ことば標準 初心者と玄人shoshinsha and kurotothe words for a beginner and a true expert

ことば標準 数え年kazoedoshithe old way of counting age, from one at birth

ことば標準 生きがいikigaiwhat makes life worth living

ことば標準 腹八分目hara hachibunmeeating to eighty percent full

ことば標準 方言hogenthe regional dialects of Japanese

ことば標準 本音と建前honne and tatemaetrue feelings and public face

ことば標準 名字myojiJapanese family names and where they came from

ことば標準 流行語大賞buzzword of the yearthe annual award for new words, and what it really measures

ことば標準 侘び寂びwabi-sabibeauty in imperfection and age

ことば標準 忖度sontakuacting on what you guess a superior wants, without being told

工芸標準 寄木細工yosegi-zaikuHakone wooden marquetry made from woods of different natural colors

工芸標準 曲げわっぱmagewappaa bentwood box made from a thin sheet of cedar

工芸標準 錦鯉nishikigoiornamental koi carp bred for color, once called swimming jewels

工芸標準 根付netsukea small carved toggle once used to hang a pouch or case from a kimono sash

工芸標準 畳職人tatami craftsmanthe maker of tatami mats, a shrinking trade that still measures every room by hand

工芸標準 水引mizuhikidecorative cord on gift envelopes

工芸標準 扇子sensufolding fan

工芸標準 提灯chochinpaper lanterns

工芸標準 風鈴furinwind chimes

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

年中行事標準 お月見otsukimimoon viewing in autumn

年中行事標準 さっぽろ雪まつりSapporo Snow Festivalthe February festival of giant snow sculptures in Sapporo

年中行事標準 スポーツの日supotsu no hiSports Day, the second Monday of October

年中行事標準 どんど焼きdondo yakithe mid-January bonfire for New Year decorations

年中行事標準 衣替えkoromogaethe day everyone changes to summer or winter clothing

年中行事標準 海の日umi no hiMarine Day, the third Monday of July

年中行事標準 寒中見舞いkanchu mimaithe midwinter greeting card

年中行事標準 帰省ラッシュkisei rushthe mass return to the hometown

年中行事標準 鏡開きkagami birakibreaking open the New Year rice cakes

年中行事標準 鏡餅と鏡開きkagamimochithe stacked New Year rice cakes

年中行事標準 勤労感謝の日kinro kansha no hiLabor Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd

年中行事標準 建国記念の日kenkoku kinen no hiNational Foundation Day, February 11th

年中行事標準 憲法記念日kenpo kinenbiConstitution Memorial Day, May 3rd

年中行事標準 山の日yama no hiMountain Day, August 11th, Japan's newest public holiday

年中行事標準 七夕tanabatathe star festival

年中行事標準 昭和の日とみどりの日Showa Day and Greenery Daythe two late-April holidays that swapped names and dates

年中行事標準 正月の遊びnew year gamesthe traditional games played at New Year

年中行事標準 精霊馬shoryo umathe cucumber horse and eggplant cow made for Obon

年中行事標準 節分setsubunthe bean-throwing festival at the start of spring

年中行事標準 天皇誕生日tenno tanjobithe Emperor's Birthday, a holiday whose date changes with the reign

年中行事標準 土用の丑の日doyo no ushithe day everyone eats eel

年中行事標準 冬至winter solsticethe shortest day, with a yuzu bath and pumpkin

年中行事標準 冬至とゆず湯toji and yuzu baththe winter solstice and citrus baths

年中行事標準 酉の市tori no ichithe November rake market for good business

年中行事標準 二十四節気nijushi sekkithe twenty-four solar terms of the traditional calendar

年中行事標準 日本のハロウィンhalloween japanHalloween as a street costume event

年中行事標準 柏餅とちまきkashiwamochi and chimakithe two sweets eaten on Children's Day, east and west

年中行事標準 彼岸higanthe weeks around the equinoxes when families visit graves

年中行事標準 文化の日bunka no hiCulture Day, November 3rd

年中行事標準 門松kadomatsuthe pine and bamboo arrangement placed at the door for the New Year

年中行事標準 六曜rokuyothe six-day luck cycle on calendars

妖怪標準 こっくりさんkokkuri-sana coin-and-paper fortune-telling game often compared to a Japanese Ouija board

妖怪標準 だるまdarumathe round wish doll with no eyes

妖怪標準 ろくろ首rokurokubia yokai whose neck stretches or whose head detaches at night

妖怪標準 一富士二鷹三茄子ichifuji nitaka sannasubithe traditional ranking of lucky first-dream images: Mount Fuji, a hawk, an eggplant

妖怪標準 河童kappariver spirits with a dish on the head

妖怪標準 怪談kaidanJapanese ghost stories

妖怪標準 鬼onithe horned ogre of Japanese folklore

妖怪標準 血液型性格診断blood type personality theoryjudging character by blood type

妖怪標準 狐と稲荷foxes and Inariwhy shrines are guarded by foxes

妖怪標準 口裂け女kuchisake-onnathe slit-mouthed woman, Japan's most famous modern urban legend

妖怪標準 四十九日と霊the forty-nine days after deathwhy the soul is thought to linger for forty-nine days before its fate is settled

妖怪標準 手相tesouJapanese palm reading

妖怪標準 盛り塩morishiothe small cone of salt placed at an entrance

妖怪標準 茶柱が立つchabashira ga tatsua tea stem standing upright in your cup, a small good-luck sign

妖怪標準 鶴と亀crane and turtlesymbols of long life

妖怪標準 天狗tengulong-nosed mountain spirits

妖怪標準 猫又nekomataa cat believed to grow supernatural powers, including a split tail, after living unusually long

妖怪標準 破魔矢hamayathe arrow you buy at New Year

妖怪標準 北枕kitamakurasleeping with your head to the north, a direction linked with death

妖怪標準 夢占いyume-uranaiJapanese dream divination

妖怪標準 夜に爪を切ってはいけないcutting nails at nightthe superstition that you should not cut your nails at night

妖怪標準 妖怪yokaiJapanese supernatural creatures

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

妖怪標準 龍ryuthe East Asian dragon

食べもの標準 あんぱんanpanthe sweet bean bun that made bread Japanese

食べもの標準 おでんodena winter stew of fish cakes, daikon and eggs

食べもの標準 こんにゃくkonnyakua jelly-like food made from a starchy tuber

食べもの標準 ご当地グルメgotochi gourmetlocal specialty foods, and the towns that market them

食べもの標準 さしすせそsashisusesothe order in which the five basic seasonings go into a Japanese dish

食べもの標準 そうめんsomenvery thin cold noodles

食べもの標準 たい焼きtaiyakifish-shaped cake with bean paste

食べもの標準 どら焼きdorayakitwo small pancakes with sweet red bean paste between them

食べもの標準 温泉卵onsen tamagothe egg cooked the other way round

食べもの標準 懐石料理kaisekithe formal multi-course meal, and the two different things called kaiseki

食べもの標準 甘酒amazakethe sweet rice drink, with and without alcohol

食べもの標準 喫茶店kissatenthe old-style Japanese coffee shop

食べもの標準 魚を食べる文化eating fishhow much fish Japan eats, and how that is changing

食べもの標準 恵方巻ehomakithe uncut sushi roll eaten facing a set direction at Setsubun

食べもの標準 山菜ときのこsansai and mushroomswild vegetables and mushrooms from the mountains

食べもの標準 焼酎shochua distilled Japanese spirit

食べもの標準 食品ロスshokuhin lossfood that could have been eaten but was thrown away

食べもの標準 赤飯sekihanred rice steamed with azuki beans

食べもの標準 駄菓子dagashithe cheap sweets children buy with their own money

食べもの標準 団子dangorice flour dumplings on a skewer

食べもの標準 茶碗蒸しchawanmushisavory steamed egg custard

食べもの標準 漬物tsukemonoJapanese pickles served alongside rice

食べもの標準 日本のウイスキーjapanese whiskyhow Japan started making whisky, and why the old bottles vanished

食べもの標準 梅干しumeboshisalted pickled plums

食べもの標準 麦茶mugichacold barley tea

食べもの標準 銘菓と土産菓子meibutsu-gashithe local sweets people buy as souvenirs

食べもの標準 洋食yoshokuWestern-style dishes invented in Japan

食べもの標準 卵かけご飯tamago kake gohanraw egg over hot rice

歴史標準 そろばんsorobanthe Japanese abacus

歴史標準 関ヶ原の戦いthe Battle of Sekigaharathe 1600 battle that decided who would rule Japan for 265 years

歴史標準 黒船kurofunethe American warships that forced Japan to open its ports in 1853

歴史標準 信長・秀吉・家康Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasuthe three who unified Japan

歴史標準 戦国時代the Sengoku periodJapan's age of civil war

歴史標準 天皇tennothe Emperor of Japan

歴史標準 忍者ninjathe covert agents of feudal Japan

歴史標準 平家物語the tale of the heikethe war tale about the fall of a clan, recited to the lute

歴史標準 万葉集manyoshuJapan's oldest surviving poetry collection

住まい標準 1LDK1LDKhow Japanese floor plans are labeled

住まい標準 ちゃぶ台chabudaia low folding dining table

住まい標準 ユニットバスunit baththe Japanese bathroom layout

住まい標準 引っ越しの手続きmoving house paperworkwhat you must file when you move

住まい標準 雨戸amadosliding storm shutters

住まい標準 押し入れoshiirethe deep sliding-door closet

住まい標準 蚊取り線香katori senkomosquito coil

住まい標準 外干しsotoboshidrying laundry and futons outdoors

住まい標準 瓦屋根kawara yanethe tiled roof

住まい標準 建て替えと中古住宅tatekae to chuko jutakuwhy Japanese houses are so often rebuilt rather than resold

住まい標準 鍵と防犯locks and home securityhow Japanese homes are secured

住まい標準 玄関のたたきtatakithe sunken entryway floor where shoes come off

住まい標準 七輪shichirinthe small portable charcoal grill

住まい標準 収納と片づけstorage and declutteringliving well in a small space

住まい標準 神棚kamidanathe household Shinto altar

住まい標準 打ち水uchimizusprinkling water on the ground to cool the air

住まい標準 暖房器具heating applianceshow Japanese homes are heated

住まい標準 日本の家の寒さcold Japanese houseswhy homes are cold in winter

住まい標準 日本の台所Japanese kitchenwhat a Japanese kitchen has and lacks

住まい標準 表札hyosatsuthe family nameplate by the door

住まい標準 保証人guarantorwho vouches for you when you rent

住まい標準 礼金と敷金reikin and shikikinkey money and deposit when renting

冠婚葬祭標準 お宮参りomiyamairia baby's first shrine visit

冠婚葬祭標準 お食い初めokuizomethe first meal ceremony at 100 days

冠婚葬祭標準 ご祝儀goshugithe money you give at a wedding

冠婚葬祭標準 引っ越しの挨拶greeting the neighborsthe visit you make after moving in

冠婚葬祭標準 還暦と長寿の祝いkanrekibirthdays that mark a long life

冠婚葬祭標準 結婚式の二次会nijikaithe casual after-party that follows a wedding reception

冠婚葬祭標準 七五三shichi-go-santhe festival for children aged seven, five and three

冠婚葬祭標準 神前式shinzenshikia Shinto wedding

冠婚葬祭標準 成人式seijinshikithe coming-of-age ceremony

冠婚葬祭標準 誕生日の祝い方tanjobi no iwaikatahow birthdays are marked across a Japanese life, beyond a party

冠婚葬祭標準 通夜tsuyathe wake held the night before a funeral

冠婚葬祭標準 内祝いuchiiwaithe thank-you gift after a celebration

冠婚葬祭標準 夫婦の姓married surnameswhy couples must share one name

冠婚葬祭標準 名前のつけ方naming a childwhat you may and may not call a baby

マナー標準 エスカレーターの片側空けescalatorstanding on one side, and why that is changing

マナー標準 割り勘warikansplitting the bill

マナー標準 敬語keigothe honorific levels of Japanese

マナー標準 傘のマナーkasa no mannerhow umbrellas are handled in Japan

マナー標準 指さしと手招きgesturesgestures that mean something different in Japan

マナー標準 謝るapologizingwhy Japanese people apologize first

マナー標準 手紙の拝啓と敬具haikei and keiguthe formal opening and closing words that bracket a proper Japanese letter

マナー標準 手土産temiyagethe gift you bring when you visit

マナー標準 順番を譲るyielding your turn in lineoffering to let someone else go first, especially someone in a hurry or in need

マナー標準 正座seizasitting on your heels

マナー標準 先日はどうもsenjitsu wa domothanking someone again next time

マナー標準 贈り物を一度断るdeclining a gift oncethe polite custom of refusing a gift once before accepting it

マナー標準 土下座dogezakneeling with your forehead on the floor

マナー標準 鼻をかむblowing your nosewhy blowing your nose in public is avoided

マナー標準 優先席priority seatsseats set aside for those who need them

現代の暮らし標準 100円ショップhyaku-en shopthe hundred-yen store

現代の暮らし標準 ウォシュレットwashletthe Japanese high-tech toilet

現代の暮らし標準 エアコンと節電air conditioningcooling a Japanese summer, and saving power

現代の暮らし標準 カプセルホテルcapsule hotelsleeping in a pod the size of a bed

現代の暮らし標準 クールビズcool bizthe summer campaign to work without a jacket and tie

現代の暮らし標準 コインランドリーcoin-laundrythe pay-per-use laundromat

現代の暮らし標準 コインロッカーcoin lockerstation luggage lockers

現代の暮らし標準 ジェンダーギャップgender gapwhy Japan ranks low on gender equality despite high education levels

現代の暮らし標準 シャッター商店街shatta-shotengaia shopping street where most storefronts are permanently shuttered

現代の暮らし標準 ネットカフェnet cafeinternet cafe with private booths

現代の暮らし標準 ハザードマップhazard-mapthe map showing how bad flooding or a disaster could get at your address

現代の暮らし標準 バリアフリーbarrier freeaccessibility in Japan, and the yellow tactile paving it invented

現代の暮らし標準 ビニール傘vinyl umbrellathe clear plastic umbrella

現代の暮らし標準 ふるさと納税furusato nozeidonating to another town and having it deducted from your own tax

現代の暮らし標準 ポイントカードpoint cardsloyalty points at every register

現代の暮らし標準 ポイント経済point economywhy everyone in Japan is asked for a point card

現代の暮らし標準 マイナンバーmy numberthe national identification number

現代の暮らし標準 マイナンバーカードMy Number cardthe national ID card that now also works as a health insurance card

現代の暮らし標準 ママチャリmamacharithe everyday shopping bicycle

現代の暮らし標準 ヤクザyakuzaorganized crime in Japan, and why the offices have nameplates

現代の暮らし標準 過労死karoshideath from overwork, and the law Japan wrote because of it

現代の暮らし標準 介護kaigolong-term care, and the insurance system behind it

現代の暮らし標準 漢方kampotraditional herbal medicine as practiced in Japan

現代の暮らし標準 気象警報weather warningsJapan's tiered warning system and what each level means

現代の暮らし標準 空き家akiyaempty houses left standing across Japan

現代の暮らし標準 計画運休keikaku unkyushutting down the trains before the storm arrives

現代の暮らし標準 健康診断kenko-shindanthe annual health checkup nearly every worker gets

現代の暮らし標準 現金社会cash societywhy Japan still runs on cash

現代の暮らし標準 交番kobanthe neighborhood police box

現代の暮らし標準 国民皆保険kokumin kaihokenthe public health insurance everyone in Japan is required to join

現代の暮らし標準 在宅勤務working from homewhy remote work spread and then shrank again in Japan

現代の暮らし標準 自動車教習所kyoshujodriving school, the required path to a license

現代の暮らし標準 自動販売機jidohanbaikivending machines

現代の暮らし標準 車検shakenthe mandatory vehicle inspection

現代の暮らし標準 手話shuwaJapanese Sign Language

現代の暮らし標準 終電shudenthe last train, and the way it shapes the night

現代の暮らし標準 消費税consumption taxJapan's sales tax, its rises, and the reduced rate

現代の暮らし標準 食品サンプルfood samplesthe plastic food in restaurant windows

現代の暮らし標準 新幹線の車窓shinkansen window viewsthe passing scenery, especially Mount Fuji, that makes the shinkansen ride itself an attraction

現代の暮らし標準 青春18きっぷseishun juhachi kippua budget ticket for unlimited local and rapid JR trains over several consecutive days

現代の暮らし標準 宅配便と再配達takuhaibinhome delivery and the problem of repeated attempts

現代の暮らし標準 駐輪場churinjobicycle parking and removal

現代の暮らし標準 点字ブロックtenji blockthe yellow tactile paving on the ground

現代の暮らし標準 電柱と電線utility poleswhy so many overhead wires

現代の暮らし標準 電動キックボードe-scooterthe electric scooter now allowed without a driver's license

現代の暮らし標準 発車メロディーhassha melodystation departure jingles

現代の暮らし標準 判子hankothe personal seal used instead of a signature

現代の暮らし標準 避難訓練hinan kunrenthe evacuation drills everyone has done

現代の暮らし標準 分煙smoking ruleswhere you can and cannot smoke in Japan

現代の暮らし標準 捕鯨whalingwhy Japan resumed commercial whaling, and how little whale is actually eaten

現代の暮らし標準 宝くじtakarakujithe public lottery, and why the prize is tax-free

現代の暮らし標準 麻雀mahjongthe four-player tile game, and where it sits legally

現代の暮らし標準 落とし物lost and foundwhy lost things come back in Japan

季節標準 沖縄と北海道の気候Okinawa and Hokkaidothe two ends of Japan's climate

季節標準 海と漁業the sea and fishinghow Japan eats from the ocean

季節標準 菊kikuchrysanthemum

季節標準 旧暦kyurekithe old lunisolar calendar Japan used until 1872

季節標準 金魚kingyogoldfish, and the summer festival game of scooping them

季節標準 銀杏ichothe ginkgo tree

季節標準 蛍hotarufireflies

季節標準 桜前線sakura zensenthe cherry blossom front

季節標準 紫陽花ajisaihydrangea

季節標準 秋雨前線akisame zensenthe autumn rain front that brings weeks of gray, wet weather

季節標準 初雪と根雪hatsuyuki and nezukithe first snow and the snow that stays all winter

季節標準 松竹梅shochikubaipine, bamboo and plum

季節標準 森林の国shinrin no kunihow much of Japan is forest

季節標準 杉sugithe Japanese cedar

季節標準 雪かきyukikakiclearing snow as daily work

季節標準 雪国yukiguniJapan's heavy snow regions

季節標準 蝉の声cicada songthe sound of a Japanese summer

季節標準 線状降水帯senjo kosuitaithe linear rainband that causes Japan's worst flash flooding

季節標準 棚田tanadaterraced rice paddies cut into mountain slopes

季節標準 竹takebamboo

季節標準 虫の声を聴くlistening to insect songsenjoying the sound of autumn insects

季節標準 朝顔asagaothe morning glory

季節標準 日本列島の地形the shape of Japana long mountainous chain of islands

季節標準 梅umeJapanese apricot blossom

温泉標準 サウナと水風呂sauna and cold plungesauna culture in Japan

温泉標準 スーパー銭湯super sentolarge modern bathhouses

温泉標準 一番風呂ichiban-burobeing the very first person into freshly drawn bathwater

温泉標準 温泉とタトゥーtattoos and onsenwhy tattoos can get you refused at a bath

温泉標準 温泉マークthe onsen markthe three-steam symbol used on maps and signs for hot springs

温泉標準 温泉街onsengaia hot spring town

温泉標準 温泉街の射的と卓球shooting galleries and ping-pongshooting galleries and table tennis at hot-spring resorts

温泉標準 家族風呂kazoku buroa private bath you can book

温泉標準 岩盤浴ganbanyokulying on heated stone to sweat, a dry alternative to soaking in a bath

温泉標準 源泉かけ流しgensen kakenagashihot spring water used once and let overflow, with nothing recirculated

温泉標準 指宿の砂むし温泉Ibusuki sand batha hot sand bath on a beach warmed by hot spring water

温泉標準 湯の花yu no hanahot-spring mineral flakes

温泉標準 湯冷めyuzamecatching a chill after a hot bath, as your body cools down too fast

温泉標準 内湯と外湯めぐりsoto-yu-megurihopping between a hot spring town's public bathhouses in a yukata

温泉標準 旅館ryokana traditional Japanese inn

名所標準 お台場Odaibathe waterfront district built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay

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

名所標準 銀座Ginzathe expensive shopping district named after a silver mint

名所標準 桜島sakurajimathe active volcano that drops ash on a city of 600,000

名所標準 三十三間堂Sanjusangendothe 120-meter hall in Kyoto holding 1,001 statues of Kannon

名所標準 首里城と沖縄Shurijothe palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Okinawa

名所標準 上野公園Ueno Parkthe Tokyo park holding the national museums, the zoo and the cherry trees

名所標準 城崎温泉Kinosaki Onsena hot spring town in northern Hyogo known for its seven public bathhouses

名所標準 長崎と出島Nagasaki and Dejimathe port that was Japan's only window to Europe, and the second atomic bombing

名所標準 東京スカイツリーTokyo Skytreethe 634-meter broadcasting tower in eastern Tokyo

名所標準 東京駅の駅舎Tokyo Stationthe red brick station building of 1914, restored in 2012

名所標準 二条城Nijojothe Kyoto castle where the shogun gave power back to the Emperor

名所標準 日光東照宮Nikko Toshoguthe shrine where Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined, covered in carvings

名所標準 平等院鳳凰堂Byodointhe eleventh-century temple hall on the ten-yen coin

名所標準 別府と湯布院Beppu and Yufuinthe biggest hot spring town in Japan and the quiet one next to it

名所標準 北海道の広さthe scale of Hokkaidohow much bigger Hokkaido is than most visitors expect

名所標準 有馬温泉Arima Onsenthe old hot spring town in the hills behind Kobe

ポップカルチャー標準 オタクotakusomeone obsessively into a hobby

ポップカルチャー標準 ガチャガチャgachagachacapsule toy vending machine

ポップカルチャー標準 かるたkarutathe card game where you race to grab the right card

ポップカルチャー標準 キャラクター文化character bunkacharacters attached to everything

ポップカルチャー標準 ゲームセンターgame centervideo game arcade

ポップカルチャー標準 コスプレcosplaydressing as a character

ポップカルチャー標準 ジャンプと週刊漫画誌Weekly Shonen Jumpthe manga magazine where reader postcards ranking each week's chapters can decide a series' fate

ポップカルチャー標準 バラエティ番組variety showsJapanese TV variety programs

ポップカルチャー標準 プリクラpurikuraphoto sticker booths

ポップカルチャー標準 ゆるキャラyuru-kyaralocal mascot characters

ポップカルチャー標準 ロリータファッションLolita fashiona modest, Victorian-inspired street fashion born in Harajuku, built around long skirts and frills

ポップカルチャー標準 音ゲーongerhythm games

ポップカルチャー標準 花札hanafudathe flower card game

ポップカルチャー標準 喫茶店とモーニングkissaten morning servicethe free breakfast set old-style coffee shops add to the price of a single coffee

ポップカルチャー標準 甲子園の応援koshien cheeringthe organized brass-band and stand cheering that fills the stadium during the national high school baseball tournament

ポップカルチャー標準 紅白歌合戦Kohaku Uta Gassenthe New Year's Eve song contest on public television

ポップカルチャー標準 紙芝居kamishibaithe paper theater a storyteller carried on a bicycle

ポップカルチャー標準 時代劇jidaigekithe period drama set before the Meiji era

ポップカルチャー標準 昭和レトロShowa retroa nostalgia trend for the look and feel of Japan's postwar Showa decades

ポップカルチャー標準 推し活oshikatsusupporting your favorite

ポップカルチャー標準 声優seiyuvoice actors

ポップカルチャー標準 昔の遊びmukashi no asobithe pre-electronic children's games still taught in schools

ポップカルチャー標準 痛車itashaa car wrapped in large anime or game character graphics

ポップカルチャー標準 鉄道ファンtrain otakuJapan's railway enthusiasts, a hobby broad enough to include photographers, sound recorders and model builders

ポップカルチャー標準 同人音楽doujin musicself-released music made and sold by independent circles, often at fan conventions

ポップカルチャー標準 漫画喫茶manga kissamanga and internet cafes

ポップカルチャー標準 漫才manzaitwo-person stand-up comedy

学校生活標準 運動会undokaischool sports day

学校生活標準 学級担任tanninthe homeroom teacher who teaches everything

学校生活標準 学年とクラス替えclass reshufflingthe annual reshuffling of students into new classes

学校生活標準 校歌school songthe anthem every school has and teaches to every student

学校生活標準 高校の偏差値hensachithe deviation score used to rank Japanese schools by difficulty

学校生活標準 受験jukenthe entrance exam system

学校生活標準 修学旅行shugaku ryokothe school trip everyone goes on

学校生活標準 塾jukuthe private school you go to after school

学校生活標準 出席番号shusseki bangothe roster number every student is assigned for the school year

学校生活標準 上履きuwabakithe indoor shoes worn at school

学校生活標準 身体測定shintai sokuteithe school health check and measurements

学校生活標準 水泳の授業school swimming lessonsswimming as a compulsory school subject

学校生活標準 席替えsekigaechanging where everyone sits in the classroom

学校生活標準 卒業アルバムgraduation albumthe yearbook every class makes together before graduating

学校生活標準 中学受験chugaku jukentaking an entrance exam to enter a private or elite junior high school

学校生活標準 朝礼choreithe morning assembly at a school or workplace

学校生活標準 内申点naishintenthe school's internal assessment that counts toward high school entry

学校生活標準 二分の一成人式half coming-of-age ceremonyan elementary school event around age ten where children reflect on their first decade and thank their families

学校生活標準 日本の英語教育english educationwhy Japanese people study English for years and still cannot speak it

学校生活標準 入学式と卒業式entrance and graduation ceremoniesthe formal ceremonies that open and close a school year

学校生活標準 部活の合宿bukatsu training campthe multi-day training camp a school club holds, often in summer

学校生活標準 文化祭bunkasaithe school culture festival

学校生活標準 保健室hokenshitsuthe school nurse's room, which is also a refuge

学校生活標準 林間学校rinkan-gakkoa short class trip to the mountains or coast built around group living and outdoor activities

神道標準 お祓いoharairitual purification

神道標準 伊勢神宮Ise Jinguthe central shrine of Shinto

神道標準 絵馬emaa wooden plaque you write a wish on

神道標準 祇園祭Gion Matsurithe month-long Kyoto festival that began as a rite against plague

神道標準 御神木goshinbokuthe sacred tree in a shrine precinct

神道標準 狛犬komainuthe guardian pair at a shrine

神道標準 出雲大社Izumo Taishathe shrine where the gods gather

神道標準 神職と巫女shinshoku and mikoshrine priests and shrine maidens

神道標準 神道と自然shinto and naturethe animism at the heart of Shinto belief

神道標準 総本社と分社sohonsha and bunshahead shrines and their thousands of branch shrines

神道標準 地鎮祭jichinsaithe ceremony held before building on a piece of land

神道標準 注連縄shimenawathe sacred rope

神道標準 鎮守の森chinju no morithe grove that surrounds a shrine

神道標準 天満宮と学問の神Tenmangushrines of the deity of learning

神道標準 日本神話Nihon shinwathe myths in Japan's oldest books

神道標準 厄払いyakubaraithe shrine rite performed in an unlucky year of life

仕事標準 ボーナスbonusthe twice-yearly lump-sum pay

仕事標準 リモートワークremote workworking from home in Japan

仕事標準 飲み会nomikaithe work drinking party

仕事標準 作業着と社章work uniformscompany uniforms and lapel pins

仕事標準 社員旅行shain ryokothe company trip

仕事標準 就活と新卒一括採用shukatsuhiring an entire year group at once

仕事標準 退職届taishokutodokethe one-line resignation notice

仕事標準 転勤tenkincompany-ordered relocation

仕事標準 転職tenshokuchanging jobs mid-career

仕事標準 有給休暇yukyupaid leave, and why people don't take it

仕事標準 履歴書rirekishothe Japanese-format resume

仏教応用 戒名kaimyothe Buddhist name given after death

仏教応用 護摩gomaa fire ritual performed by esoteric Buddhist priests

仏教応用 宗派の違いBuddhist schools in Japanthe main branches of Japanese Buddhism and how they differ

仏教応用 卒塔婆sotobathe wooden memorial tablet at a grave

武道応用 押忍osuthe all-purpose word shouted in martial arts dojos

着物応用 着物の格kimono formalitythe ranking that decides which kimono may be worn where

工芸応用 刀鍛冶katana kajithe swordsmiths who still forge Japanese blades by hand

妖怪応用 鬼門kimonthe unlucky northeast direction

妖怪応用 厄年yakudoshithe unlucky years of your life

歴史応用 君が代kimigayothe national anthem, and why it is argued about

住まい応用 町内会と回覧板chonaikai and kairanbanthe neighborhood association and its circulating folder

住まい応用 追い焚きoidakireheating the same bathwater

現代の暮らし応用 アイヌthe Ainuthe indigenous people of northern Japan, recognized in law only in 2019

現代の暮らし応用 お薬手帳okusuri techothe personal medication record book

現代の暮らし応用 コインパーキングcoin parkingunattended pay parking lots

現代の暮らし応用 パチンコpachinkothe gambling that legally is not gambling

現代の暮らし応用 外国人お断りJapanese only signswhy some businesses refuse foreign customers, and what the law does and does not say

現代の暮らし応用 皇位継承imperial successionwho can become emperor, and the shortage of people who qualify

現代の暮らし応用 奨学金shogakukinthe word that means scholarship but usually means student loan

現代の暮らし応用 同性婚same-sex marriagewhy Japan has partnership systems in most cities but no legal marriage

季節応用 潮干狩りshiohigaridigging for clams at low tide

名所応用 鳥取砂丘Tottori Sand Dunesthe large coastal dunes on the Japan Sea, often mistaken for a desert

ポップカルチャー応用 ボーカロイドVocaloidsinging voice synthesizer

ポップカルチャー応用 メイド喫茶maid cafemaid cafe

ポップカルチャー応用 聖地巡礼seichi junreivisiting places from anime

ポップカルチャー応用 同人誌とコミケdoujinshiself-published fan comics and Comiket

ポップカルチャー応用 特撮tokusatsulive-action special effects shows

ポップカルチャー応用 宝塚歌劇団Takarazuka Revuethe all-female musical theater company

学校生活応用 体育座りtaiiku zuwarithe way Japanese students sit on the floor

学校生活応用 日直nitchokuthe student on duty for the day

学校生活応用 部活の朝練morning practicetraining before school starts

学校生活応用 放課後houkagoafter school, and why students stay

仕事応用 島型デスクisland desksthe open office facing each other