study

Miyagi hot spring inn offering free sleep analysis as part of relaxing, health-focused stay

Three Japanese companies are working together to help show the importance of a good night’s sleep. Read More

1 in 20 Japanese junior high school students regularly missing school, government study finds

The number of truant elementary and junior high school students in Japan is also the highest ever recorded.

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Japanese elementary school student teaches us all how to pronounce English like a native speaker

Sometimes the youngest students can be the smartest learners.

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Survey reveals that many young people in Japan are experiencing loneliness and isolation

The pandemic and its effects have contributed to a rise in loneliness among people of all ages, but especially young people. 

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Is this the tiniest teleworking space in Japan?

Small building comes with a big price tag. 

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Study indicates Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure helps alleviate chronic low back pain in adults

Who knew playing video games could be therapeutic for your body as well as your mind?

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Top 10 Japanese baby names of 2020 revealed

If you’re looking for inspiration for your little bundle of joy, maybe this will give you some ideas.

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Data shows Fukui Prefecture may be the best place to live in Japan, but survey results differ

A non-profit study sought to determine the best Japanese prefecture to live in, but found interesting discrepancies.

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Nasal spray that could alleviate symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder now in clinical trials

The spray, which has been studied for more than five years, is now being tested on men, women, and children. 

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Learn Japanese kanji with captivating stop-motion videos created by Tokyo animator

These adorable clips and characters will help you memorise kanji symbols and make you smile at the same time.

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Learn kanji with the magical power of poop!

 

These new textbooks are the shit, you guys.

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Top 10 most irritating Japanese borrowed words – Part 2 (The people’s top 10)

My entries for the “Top 10 most irritating Japanese borrowed words” weren’t irritating enough for some people – so I’ve formulated a part two (“tsuu”) with your help!

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Tohoku University’s study cites a scary new reason for an increased chance of being a hikkikomori

If you want to keep yourself from becoming a shut-in, you better brush your teeth!

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Top 10 most irritating Japanese borrowed words

Here are some Japanese words that can drive English-speakers crazy when learning Japanese!

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Noisy neighbors? Need silence to study? These tiny dogs can help!

Get the peace and quiet you need by shoving a tiny dog in your ears!

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Japanese interior micro-houses and study spaces: Great for work-at-home professionals, kids too

Who needs a home away from home when you can have a second house inside your living space?

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How Japanese universities are trying to help worried parents by babying their students

University means a lot of things to people, but most of us have the same initial thought when we receive that glorious acceptance letter: FREEDOM! You are rid of your parents, can ignore those pesky siblings and finally carve out your own space in the world. You get to experience all sorts of the highs and lows, like living on your own for the first time, cooking for yourself and being the only one who cares if you make it to class.

All the responsibility lies with the student; university is the time for coming of age and shaping the adult that you will be. Recently though, Japanese parents have become increasingly vocal about their concerns for their children and the fact that there are not many support systems in place to give the parents some peace of mind. Well, as it turns out, the universities are listening and bowing to parents’ wishes.

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Natto allergy is caused by jellyfish stings, says surprising Japanese study

Surfers could be at greater risk of developing an allergy to natto, a Japanese study has found. And the unlikely culprit is thought to be jellyfish stings.

Natto, the sticky fermented soy beans that are as as polarising as Marmite, is a traditional and common Japanese food. Allergy to natto is rare, but research from Yokohama City University Hospital suggests it could be more prevalent in people who spend a lot of time in the water and have been repeatedly stung by jellyfish.

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Want to be a professional gamer? Time to go to school!

Children growing up around the world these days are asking the same question, “How do I become a pro gamer?” In the past, all you could do was find a game you were good at, become really good at it, and then hope someone would pay you for it.

These days, the professional gamer has many avenues to explore. There are plenty of games out there that have a thriving professional circuit. If you like first-person shooters (FPS), you could get into Call of Duty. If you’re more of a real-time strategy game fan perhaps Starcraft II will be your thing. The versus fighting game scene has always been extremely competitive, and multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA) like Dota 2 and League of Legends are breaking player and viewership records. But can you really say that those professional gamers are actually “qualified”? Well, if you’re looking for a school in Japan, you could become a qualified pro gamer with a pro gamer degree!

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Struggling with Japanese? Let Tako lend you a hand…or five

Yes, I know octopi have eight tentacles not six, but Tako of Takos Japanese has five. It’s the same cartoon logic that makes the Simpson family all have eight fingers. And yes, I know the name should probably read “Tako’s Japanese.” Really though, let’s not get bogged down in talk of appendages and apostrophes right now.

Today we’re here to look at a new Japanese study app released by Spain-based Giant Soul Interactive. A lot of Japanese study apps found online are either fun but limited in content or deep but boring and stodgy. Learn Japanese with Tako (recently changed from “Takos Japanese”) aims to strike a happy balance of a fun way to learn the language that’s also rich in content. Let’s find out if they succeed.

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