Japanese Jungle

This sentence pattern (____ から ____ まで ) is used to indicate the beginning and end of a certain duration or length. For example: The summer holiday is from July 20th to September 5th. 夏休みは 7 月 20 日から 9 月 5 日までです。 (natsuyasumi wa shichigatsu hatsuka kara kugatsu ituka made desu.) The afternoon break is from 12:00 to 12:50. 昼休みは 12 時から 12 時 50 分までです。 (hiruyasumi wa jūniji kara jūniji gojuppun made desu.) The exam covers from lesson 1 to lesson 5. テストは 1 課から 5 課までです。 (tesuto wa ikka kara goka made desu.) Note: " から (kara)" indicates the starting point of time or movement. " まで (made)" expresses the ending point of time or movement. You do not always have to use both " から " and " まで " in a sentence. For example: The summer holiday is from July. 夏休みは 7 月からです。 (natsuyasumi wa shichigatsu kara desu.) I go to the station. ( 私は ) 駅まで行きます。 ((watashi wa) eki made ikimasu.) " まで (made)" serves the same purpose as ...

  Asking Dates: Nangatsu Nannichi (なんがつ なんにち) This phrase, "nangatsu nannichi," is used to inquire about dates. For example: A: When is your birthday? (anata no) tanjōbi wa nangatsu nannichi desu ka? (あなた の) たんじょうび は なんがつ なんにち です か。 (あなたの) 誕生日は何月何日ですか? In everyday conversations, "anata (あなた)" is often left out. B: My birthday is on July 14th. (watashinotanj tanjōbi wa) shichigatsu jūyokka desu. （わたしのたんじょうびは）しちがつじゅうよっかです。 （私の誕生日は）7月14日です。 Note: Pay attention to the readings for "shigatsu (April)," "shichigatsu (July)," and "kugatsu (September)."  Some specific days, like the 1st to 10th and the 20th, have unique readings. 1st: tsuitachi (ついたち) 2nd: futsuka (ふつか) 3rd: mikka (みっか) 4th: yokka (よっか) 5th: itsuka (いつか) 6th: muika (むいか) 7th: nanoka (なのか) 8th: yōka (ようか) 9th: kokonoka (ここのか) 10th: tōka (とうか) 20th: hatsuka (はつか) Asking Days of the Week: Nanyōbi (なんようび) This phrase, "nanyōbi," is used to inquire about the day of the week...

 31. Asking and Telling Time in Japanese  Do you wonder how to ask for the time in Japanese? The structure pattern "なんじ ですか" (nanji desu ka?) is your go-to for asking about the time, while the formula "(number) +時 (number)+分 です" is used to tell the time.  Asking the Time :
To ask someone for the time, you can use the phrase "なんじ ですか" (nanji desu ka?): 
いま なんじ です か (ima nanji desu ka?)。 - What time is it now?
 Telling the Time :
When it comes to telling time, follow this formula:
いま じゅうにじ ごじゅうごふん です(今12時55分です)。- It is twelve fifty-five now.
 しちじはんです (7時半です)。- It is half past seven.  よじ さんぷん まえ です(４時３分前です)。- It is three to four.
 くじ じゅうごふん すぎ です(9時15分すぎです)。- It is fifteen minutes past nine.
 Important Notes :
There are a few essential things to keep in mind when discussing time in Japanese: Clock Reading: Pay attention to the correct readings for specific hours.  
Incorrect: よん じ, なな じ, きゅう じ
 Correct: よ じ, しち じ, く じ Using "Sugi" and "Mae...

 The Origin of Sushi: From Fermented Fish to Modern Delicacy Sushi has a long history that traces back to a fermented food called "narezushi." People in Southeast Asia used this method around the 2nd century AD. Eventually, it reached Japan in the 8th century, and written records about it appeared in the 10th century. In the Lake Biwa area, "narezushi" became a staple family dish and an important source of protein. Families used rice and salt to ferment fish, preserving them in barrels for months or even years. The most common fish used in this area is the mudfish, known as “nigoribuna.” First, the fish scales are removed, and the entrails are taken out. Then it is salted and left to ferment for several months. Afterwards, it is mixed with rice to continue the fermentation process. The fermented fish can be preserved for months or even decades. In the past, people used to eat only fish and discard the fermented "smelly rice." But around the 1500s, they s...

  How Temperature Affects Our Feelings: A Simple Experiment Did you know that the temperature of what you hold in your hand can actually influence your feelings? Researchers at Yale University conducted an interesting experiment to explore this phenomenon. In the experiment, participants were asked to hold either a hot or iced coffee cup while riding an escalator to a lab. Once there, they were asked to read about a fictional character and share their impressions of them. Surprisingly, those who held the hot drink perceived the characters as warmer and friendlier. The researchers also investigated whether temperature affects people's behaviour towards others. They had participants hold either a frozen or heated therapeutic pad for a few minutes, and then offered them a drink for themselves or a voucher to give to a friend. Interestingly, those who held the warm pads were more likely to choose the voucher to give to a friend. These experiments suggest that people tend to be ki...

  Living as a foreigner in Japan offers several distinct advantages. Let's explore these advantages: Lucrative English Teaching Opportunities: If you are an English speaker, Japan presents numerous opportunities to earn money by teaching English. In fact, English speakers often have the potential to earn more than local Japanese individuals in this field because not many people can speak English. Freedom from Societal Norms: As a foreigner, you are not bound by all the societal expectations and standards that Japanese people typically follow. This grants you the freedom to express yourself more authentically and embrace your individuality. Flexibility in Hierarchy: The hierarchical structure deeply ingrained in Japanese society may hold less influence over foreigners, especially if you are not fluent in Japanese. This means you can navigate social interactions and workplace dynamics with greater flexibility and independence. Better Work-Life Balance: Unlike many Japanese worke...

My Small Land portrays the changes and challenges in Japanese Society ©2022"My Small Land" Production Committee Japan is changing as more foreigners come to live in the country. This brings opportunities and challenges as different cultures mix and communities become more diverse. This article explores these changes and examines the issues portrayed in the movie "My Small Land." The film follows Sarya, a young girl from a Kurdish family who moved to Japan when she was little. By understanding these challenges, we can work towards building a more inclusive and open society for the future. Sarya, a 17-year-old high school student, has a unique background. Her Kurdish family sought refuge in Japan, and she grew up like any other Japanese student. Sarya dreams of becoming a teacher and works part-time at a convenience store to save money for university. She meets Shota, a male high school student, and they become close friends there. However, their lives suddenly turn...

Religion in Japan: Coexistence and Influence When foreigners ask Japanese people about their religious beliefs, they may receive unclear answers or find that many Japanese individuals have little interest in religion. While most Japanese people don't identify with a specific religion, they still practice various religious customs. For example, they celebrate the New Year in the traditional Shintō way. They also attend seasonal festivals at Shintō shrines, visit cemeteries on spring and autumn equinoxes, and pray for their ancestors during the midsummer festival called "obon," which has Buddhist origins. Additionally, it is common for Japanese people to obtain amulets from Shintō shrines or Buddhist temples for various purposes, such as passing school exams or preventing accidents. Weddings are often conducted in either the Shintō or Christian style, while funerals follow Buddhist traditions. One may wonder how the Japanese can embrace Shintō, Christianity, and Buddhism ...

Is Japan Still a Male-Dominated Society? Japan is known for its male-dominated society, where men hold most of the positions of power in workplaces. Unfortunately, Japan's record on gender equality is not impressive, ranking 120 out of 156 nations in the Global Gender Gap Report 2021. One of the reasons behind this gender gap, as mentioned by Selleri (2019), is the lack of women in leadership positions, including politics. While the gender gap remains an issue in Japan, there are certain services that seem to favour women. For example, women are charged a fee of 1,000 yen at some international parties, while men have to pay 3,000 yen.  Similarly, many dating apps in Japan only charge men for their services, such as the dating app Omiai (Omiai, n.d.).  Therefore, there is a reverse gender difference in certain services in Japan, where women enjoy an advantage over men. However, striving for a society where men and women receive equal earnings and pay the same prices for...