XはYです

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Here are the key points of this lesson: Omission of the subject (Xは) Using 'は' for clarity Nouns in Japanese” Omission of the subject (Xは) In Japanese, sentences often omit subjects when the context makes them clear, unlike in English where subjects like "I" or "it" are typically included.  For example, "I am a student," "My major is Japanese language," and "It is 12:30" translate into Japanese as "がくせいです," "にほんごです," and "12じはんです," respectively, without direct subjects. Using 'は' for clarity If the context doesn't provide clarity, Japanese sentences can start with a topic marked by "wa" (は in hiragana), indicating "As for X, it is Y.” For example,  “わたしは がくせいです" (As for me, I am a student), “せんこうは にほんごです" (As for my major, it is Japanese language), and "じかんは12じはんです" (As for the current time, it is 12:30). The particle "wa" (は), used to denote ...
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Have you heard a story about the middle person in a photo of three would die?

Superstition: The Middle Person in a Photo




Have you ever heard the superstition that the middle person in a photo of three would die? It is a belief deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

According to this superstition, people believe that the middle person in a photograph is destined to face misfortune or even death. This belief stems from the early days of photography when cameras were a mysterious invention to many.

During that time, people couldn't comprehend how photography worked as it was beyond their understanding. Consequently, they developed a story to explain the process using their limited knowledge.

The story goes that cameras had the power to capture and transfer one's soul into the pictures. It was believed that the cameras extracted the most souls from individuals positioned in the middle of the photo. This is why many still hold the belief that their souls will be drained if they stand in the middle and tend to avoid it.

While this superstition originated from a lack of understanding of photography, it continues to persist in Japanese culture, with some individuals still cautious about being in the middle position in group photographs.

Note: It's important to remember that this is a superstition and not based on scientific evidence.

Location: Japan

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