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July 24, 2026
 

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KANJI

While making it to 100 is cause for a celebration, there are a few other ages that get you an extra piece of cake in Japan.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 28, 2025
Japan¡¯s milestone birthdays: Why 60, 77, 80, 88 and 99 matter so much
A look at Japan¡¯s milestone birthdays, the traditions behind them and how the grammar pattern ¡°ni totte¡± expresses their personal meaning.
Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji "kuma," which was chosen by the public as the character that best represents 2025, at the temple on Friday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Dec 12, 2025
¡®Kuma¡¯ selected as kanji of the year after surge in bear sightings and attacks
The character for bear, or ¡°kuma,¡± has been selected as kanji of the year for 2025, after a surge in bear sightings and attacks.
Parents in Japan consider everything from kanji meaning, sound and total strokes when choosing names for their newborns.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Nov 8, 2025
¡®Deep Blue,¡¯ ¡®Morning Sun,¡¯ ¡®Clear Sky¡¯: Japan¡¯s top baby names for 2025
Single-kanji names jumped in popularity this year, possibly in reaction to a new law aiming to crack down on overly creative ¡±kira kira¡± names.
Incredibly popular in summer, Japanese wind chimes are said to cool the mind by giving the wind a voice.
LIFE / Bilingual
Jul 31, 2025
A language built on the wind, from mountain gusts to wind chimes
A breeze is always appreciated in summer, and Japan¡¯s rich wind vocabulary reflects a deep cultural connection to nature, poetry and everyday life.
Reports claim that children with unusual names were being bullied at school and facing difficulties finding jobs.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 6, 2025
What¡¯s in a name? With new guidelines, the Japanese government wants to know.
Japan now requires official furigana for names in the family register, aiming to limit overly creative ¡°kira-kira¡± readings.
On April 23, 1925, The Japan Times ran a story about the principal clauses of the new Peace Preservation Law that was enacted to suppress ideologies deemed dangerous by the state.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / History / Japan Times Gone By
Apr 5, 2025
Japan Times 1925: Peace law has several teeth
The Peace Preservation Law was a means of ideological suppression that grew tighter over time until it was repealed by Allied authorities following World War II.
The ͨÇÚ½U· (ts¨±kin keiro, commuting route) is a big part of most working Tokyoites¡¯ daily routines.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 14, 2025
From ¡®commuting¡¯ to ¡®passing through,¡¯ meet the kanji that¡¯s always on the move
The character ͨ is also used to denote avenues and forms of communication.
According to the Cultural Affairs Agency, shod¨­ is defined as the act of writing kanji and kana characters using traditional brushstrokes and techniques.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Mar 4, 2025
Japan to again propose calligraphy for UNESCO heritage list
The government is expected to submit the fresh proposal to UNESCO by the end of the month.
Japan's 2024 Word of the Year, "futehodo," is a phrase tied to a Netflix show and highlights the broader decline in the cultural significance of such awards, with recent selections often seen as superficial or promotional.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 31, 2024
Japan¡¯s 2024 word of the year has no rizz
Some critics wondered why the word of the year award was, essentially, functioning as advertising for a TV show that is still available on streaming.
Actor Sadao Abe accepts the 2024 U-Can New Word and Popular Phrase Award for ¤Õ¤Æ¤Û¤É (futehodo), the abbreviated title for his series, ¡°Futekisetsu nimo Hodo ga Aru!¡± (¡°Extremely Inappropriate!¡±).
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 12, 2024
How often do Japan¡¯s buzzwords make it into the vernacular?
We crown a new one every year, but trendy terms tend to disappear from public consciousness if they¡¯re related to pop culture.
The head priest of Kiyomizu Temple writes the kanji "kin," which was chosen by the public as the character that best represents 2024, on Thursday in Kyoto.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 12, 2024
¡¯°­¾±²Ô¡¯ selected as the kanji of 2024 after strong year for Japanese athletes
The choice also reflected the Liberal Democratic Party¡¯s slush-fund scandal and the spate of robberies involving shady part-time jobs.
Familiarizing yourself with different types of honorifics and formal verb structures will be crucial to successfully completing a job interview in Japanese.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 2, 2024
Get to know basic honorifics before you head into that Japanese job interview
Honorific language, or ¡°keigo,¡± is something you¡¯ll want to get a handle on before you head out to hunt for a job in Japan.
As they enter the workforce, the young employees who grew up texting one another have their own rules for communicating.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 2, 2024
Fear of a full stop? Young Japanese say drop the period in your texts.
In addition to ¡°maruhara,¡± or ¡°period harassment,¡± younger employees want to cut down on the unnecessary emails that are a part of work culture.
What would you do if you received a juicy piece of gossip at work, do you know the Japanese for how you'd respond?
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 23, 2024
Rumor, gossip and misinformation with neither roots nor leaves
Areas hit by the New Year¡¯s Day earthquake find themselves subject to damaging misinformation as they try to focus on reconstruction.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 15, 2023
Despite a taxing year, 2023¡¯s top kanji still draws questions
In a year of major crises around the world, Japanese voters pick the kanji for ¡°zei,¡± meaning ¡°tax,¡± based on a plan yet to be implemented.
Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, writes "zei" (taxes), which was chosen on Tuesday as the kanji of the year.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 12, 2023
Talk of taxes spurs choice for Japan¡¯s kanji of the year
The choice came as tax hikes and cuts were heavily covered in the news and discussed among policymakers.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 16, 2022
If you thought 2022 was a battle, this year¡¯s top kanji pick shows you weren¡¯t alone
The kanji of the year for 2022 is used for wars and struggles, while this year¡¯s buzzwords referenced sports lingo and a Norwegian pop tune.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 12, 2022
¡®War¡¯ selected as kanji of the year amid international conflicts
The kanji for ¡®sen,¡¯ meaning war, battle or match, was picked as the single most representative Chinese character corresponding to the social mood in Japan this year.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / Vocabulary Boost
Oct 28, 2022
A verb you¡¯re bound to wear out on Halloween
The verb ¡®kiru¡¯ (to wear) is a necessary bit of a vocabulary to know on a night like Halloween. Its usage is about more than just costumes, though.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 3, 2022
Looking to make an escape in Japanese? You¡¯ll need to know your kanji.
As the war in Ukraine looks far from over, there is no shortage of discussions on how to ¡°get out¡± of such a dangerous situation. Here¡¯s a closer look at some escape-related terms.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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