linguistics

Arrest proves a common Japanese saying about apologies and police

“I’m sorry” doesn’t cancel out “I’ll kill you.”

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Foreign English teachers in Japan pick their favorite Japanese-language phrases【Survey】

Ironically, number-one pick is something many foreigners in Japan hate hearing too.

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Shohei Ohtani called liar after saying he met fan who caught home run ball, but it might be a Japanese translation error

Video shows Japanese language quirk and translation snafu might be hurting the baseball star’s image.

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Japan’s new “painful sadness” snacks are a deliciously mysterious linguistics lesson【Taste test】

Happy Turn swerves into a new form, Tsuratan.

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McDonald’s Japan made two almost identical commercials, with one tiny, touching difference【Vids】

A taste, and words, to remind everyone of home.

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New book teaches Japanese people English to help out foreign travelers

Publisher wants to help make it easier to help.

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What’s it like living with an unusual name in Japan? We talk with a super-rare Mr. Heianzan

This Okinawan singer has a last name so rare, only 1 every 90,000 people in Japan have it! 

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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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Japanese university globalizes with fall start date, governor wants English as official language

Says Japan will “continue to decline” without greater globalization.

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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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Tokyo movie theater allows cheering but forbids speaking Japanese at special screening

Fans are encouraged to shout, cheer, and even plat tambourines at screening of Indian action hit, but asked to refrain from speaking Japanese.

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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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