Japanese language

Calling accused rapist a “piece of shit” is not slander and is legally OK, Tokyo High Court rules

High Court has no time for this shit, tosses out defamation suit.

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Japanese convenience store’s Spicy Tuna rice balls might not be what foreigners or locals expect

But they might like them anyway.

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Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s

So long, Sibuya!

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Sumikko Gurashi origin book gets English/Japanese bilingual release, great for language learners

An adorable way to start reading Japanese, or just to spend some more time with the lovable Sumikko Gurashi cast.

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Official Tokyo Marathon T-shirts get recalled for English spelling mistake

Things started off OK, but didn’t finish quite right.

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International-hit candy Hi-Chew adds English to in-Japan logo, makes it bigger than the Japanese

America’s second-most popular Hi-Chew flavor will also make its in-Japan debut.

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Why do Japan’s noisy-gulp drink commercials exist, and are they gross?【SN24 reader survey】

We asked your opinions about this long-standing, big-gulping tradition.

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Japan has a set phrase for the crazy busy feeling we all get at the start of the year

If you’re shocked that January is almost over, Japanese has a phrase for that.

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Japan’s Kanji of the Year for 2023 reveals the worries of Japanese society

A single character says a thousand words.

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Why Does Engrish Happen in Japan? 30-year-old fart-related signage mistake edition

Otaru will no longer direct drivers to the town fart.

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Kyoto’s “ikezu” culture of backhanded compliments explained in hilarious souvenir sticker series

Behind the calm, polite face of a Kyotoite is an angry woman who wants to shout at you for being so uncultured.

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Japanese convenience store apologizes for putting Meatballs in meatball packages, issues recall

Family Mart wants to make amends for simple yet linguistically complex mistake.

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Super expensive sushi restaurant super cheap beef bowl chain team up to create Unagyu Burger

Teruzushi and Matsuya come together for a broader interpretation of Japan’s summertime eel-eating tradition.

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Five different ways to say “children” in Japanese

Let’s celebrate Japan’s Children’s Day by learning how to talk children in Japanese.

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Super Mario Bros. Movie gets Japanese-dub screening in North America

As the Super Mario Bros. movie finally opens in Japan, its Japanese dub is debuting overseas on the same day.

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North Japan prefecture creates guide to help new foreign workers understand local language quirks

Yamagata dialect can be very different from the Japanese you learned in school, but this illustrated guide will have people telling you “Jondagodo!” in no time.

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Giri? Tomo? Gyaku? A guide to Japan’s many different kinds of Valentine’s Day chocolate

There’s more to Valentine’s chocolate in Japan than the infamous “obligation” type.

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Groper arrested in Japan insists he did not grab both breasts, but just one

Japanese language quirk made charges ambiguous, but he probably didn’t help his case by clearing that up.

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What does a kanji with 12 “kuchi” radicals mean? A look at weird, forgotten Japanese characters

Three dragons and three clouds…A straight line…An upside-down “child”…What could they mean?

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Why is there a fish on this Shake Shack Japan T-shirt?

The linguistic and cultural reasons behind the design of one of our burger-loving reporter’s favorite pieces of clothing.

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