“Please make sure to take home your mistress’s poop.” Startling sign in Japanese park shows the importance of kanji
Every once in a while, you might spot a sign that that requires a double take to make sure what you just read was written…
Kanji
2020 discovery of “possibly Japan’s oldest writing” revealed to be permanent marker ink
In January 2020, archeologists and scholars researching the history of writing in Japan were excited by the tantalizing prospect that what was “possibly Japan’s oldest…
Fashion and manga fans! Learn Japanese with hilarious songs by a popular Japanese band
Have you ever thought “I want to learn Japanese by singing”? I’ll introduce two super hilarious and cool Japanese songs to you and their official…
Three manga to learn kanji, katakana and old Japanese as recommended by a Japanese teacher
Good news for Japanese learners! Kadokawa Corporation has published three new books about the Japanese language. The three books are part of the のびーる国語 nobīru…
Elementary school student has perfect choice for her favorite kanji in calligraphy class
In Japan shodo, or, calligraphy class, begins as early as elementary school. Often children will be asked to learn, practice, and write down their favorite…
Monumental feats, new 500 yen coin contribute to choice of “Gold” as 2021’s Kanji of the Year
On December 13th, 2021, the chief priest of Kyoto’s famous Kiyomizudera temple wrote down the kanji character kin 金 which means “gold” or “money” as…
A former Danish diplomat released an efficient kanji memorizing software with more features!
Memorizing is one of the hardest parts when you learn something. Here is the good news for you! Mr. Kim Pedersen, a former Danish diplomat,…
Kanji “trick” for writing complicated Japanese family name draws laughter online
“It looks rather natural.” “It doesn’t look out of place at all!” “I don’t think they’ll notice. I’ll try it next time!” In case you’re…
Message printed on pay envelope in Japan leads to hilarious misunderstanding
The Japanese term 謝礼 sharei can simply mean thanks or gratitude, but it also can refer to a sum of money paid as a gratuity…
Spring kanji foods unite at Tokyo’s Mango Tree Cafe for sawara soup curry and sakura smoothies
With spring just around the corner, many Japanese srestaurants, sweets shops, cafes and drinks stands are thinking of various ways of marking the occasion. As…
Japan decides its Kanji of the Year, and it embodies 2020 to a tee
Every year around this time, at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, one of Japan’s most famous Buddhist temples and a World Heritage Site, the “Kanji of…
Show off cute and cool stylized kanji characters with Rohoubou earrings
We have had numerous opportunities at grape Japan to introduce the interesting and appealing aspects of Kanji 漢字, the Japanese word for the adopted logographic…
Japanese calligraphist shows how you can write gorgeous kanji with a cheap pen
Whether it be traditionally practiced Japanese calligraphy or simply an extremely neatly written signboard, there’s something very satisfying about watching perfectly handwritten kanji. Taught from…
Japanese sign seems to tell people to get off their bike “for the sake of the Queen”
Japan has an emperor but it doesn’t have a queen. Therefore, it makes no sense to see a sign in Japan telling you to do…
Original kanji contest is a chance to leave your mark on the Japanese language
An abundance of kanji Although most Japanese people only use a few thousand kanji in their daily lives—six thousand if they’re very knowledgeable—that’s only a…