Japanese with Hikari's Blog

Have you ever had one of those days when it feels like you’re doing nothing but one thing?

Like…

Eating snacks all the time

Watching Netflix non-stop 

Or recently… maybe studying Japanese all day?! 

In Japanese, when you want to say “on...

You’re scrolling through Instagram and see a Japan traveler’s post… 

A beautifully painted folding fan, some adorable cat goods, or maybe merchandise from your favorite anime character.

Your heart goes “Ahhh, I want that!!” 

In Japanese, ...

Have you ever eaten too much food at an all-you-can-eat restaurant? 

Or stayed up way too late because you couldn’t stop binge-watching Netflix shows?

In Japanese, when something is “too much,” we use すぎる (sugiru).

It’s super handy for expre...

Today, let’s talk about something super important in Japanese: particles! 

If you’ve been studying Japanese for a little while, you’ve already seen them, tiny words like 「は」 (ha), 「を」 (wo), or 「で」 (de). Their job is to show what role that word plays...

Have you ever wanted to say “looks like” or “seems like” in Japanese?
For example: “Her smile is like the sun” or “It seems like he’s feeling down because work isn’t going well.”

This expression is also super useful when you forget or don’t know t...

In this article, I’m telling you about one of Japan’s most stunning autumn traditions: Kōyō (紅葉), or the changing of the leaves! Let’s dive into why Kōyō is such an important part of Japanese culture and where you can experience it.

🍂 What does "Kōy...

What does ichiban (一番) mean in Japanese?

Ichiban (いちばん / 一番) is made of 一 (ichi, "one") and 番 (ban, "number" or "turn"). It has three main meanings:

1. "Number one / first"
   一番線 (ichiban-sen): platform number 1
   私が一番です。
   watashi ga ichiban desu. (I'm
...

Imagine your friend asks after work, “When are you free to grab dinner?”
You want to say, “I’m free every day except Monday.”

Of course, you could list all the days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but there’s a much handier way to say it i...

Sometimes in life, things go well not just because of your own effort, but also thanks to someone or something else.

For example:
Thanks to my teammates, we achieved outstanding results.
Because of the beautiful weather, we had a romantic picnic date!...

Let’s be honest, we all love making comparisons, right?

“That anime was more exciting than the last!” or “My onigiri is bigger than yours!”. 

Of course, no need to compare yourself, but when it comes to food, travel spots, or anime characters, J...

What does itsumo (いつも) mean in Japanese?

Itsumo (いつも) means “always” or “usually” in Japanese. It’s used to talk about habits and things that happen all the time.

1. Habits:
   朝はいつもコーヒーを飲みます。
   Asa wa itsumo koohii o nomimasu. (I always drink coffee
...

Your friend says, “The trains have stopped running, and they won’t be restored today.”
You pause for a moment and reply, “That means we’ll have to take a bus or taxi.”

In Japanese, a natural connector for this situation is ということは.
This phrase is often...

Have you ever been chatting with a friend, suddenly remembered something you wanted to ask for a while, and felt like changing the topic?

Or maybe at work, you’re talking with a colleague and you think, “Oh, right, didn’t he say he was traveling thi...

What does kitto (きっと) mean in Japanese?

Kitto (きっと) means “surely”, “definitely” or “I’m sure” in Japanese. It shows a strong guess or a confident hope about something.

1. Confident guess (often with でしょう / だろう):
   明日はきっと晴れるでしょう。
   Ashita wa kitto ha...

It’s time for another tiny but mighty Japanese particle! 

This time we’re looking at を (wo); pronounced just like “o.”

Think of it as the spotlight that shows what the action is happening to.

I’m drinking… Drinking what? → Coffee! ☕

I’m studyi...

Are you fascinated by the samurai? You’re not alone! These legendary warriors from Japan's past continue to inspire people all over the world. But who were they really, and what did they stand for? Let’s dive into the history, values, and legacy of t...

So you’ve decided to start learning Japanese congrats! 🎉
It might feel a little overwhelming at first (yes, three writing systems can be a lot 😅), but don’t stress. With a few smart strategies, you can learn Japanese faster and more effectively than y...

Japan’s work culture is known around the world for being hardworking, respectful, and… well, a little intense. But there’s way more to it than just long hours and bowing!
Let’s take a look at what makes Japan’s workplace unique. Some things might surp...

Not a while ago I introduced you to Kenzo Takada, a successful Japanese fashion brand.Now, I’m here to introduce you to Naoto Fukasawa, a very bright Japanese industrial designer!

Let’s learn about him together 👩🏻‍🏫

Who is Naoto Fukasawa 深澤 直人

Let’s get to know Kenzo, his life and his most popular work😀

Japanese Roots

Kenzo Takada (高田賢三) was born on February 27, 1939, in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Kenzo’s love for fashion started early, thanks to his sisters' magazines. He started ...

We are continuing with the Yokai series!

Read about other Yokais: Kappa, Oni, Tengu and Yukionna!

(image from Wikipedia)

What is Inugami?

Ever heard of Inugami? It’s one of Japan’s spookier yokai, a dog spirit with a mix of loyalty and da...

I’m super excited to share the story of the Japanese Yokai Yukionna (雪女), known as the Snow Woman. This fascinating figure from Japanese folklore is a mix of beauty and danger, perfectly capturing the spirit of winter.

 Let's read about other Yok...

Continuing with Yokai, we'll dive into the mysterious world of Tengu.

 Let's read about other Yokai: Kappa and Oni!

👺What is a Tengu?

(image via Wikipedia)

In Japan, everyone knows what a tengu looks like. Unlike the kappa, these long-nosed mon...

In our continuing exploration of yokai, the mysterious creatures from Japanese mythology, today we’re diving into one of the most iconic and fearsome figures: the Oni. Unlike the mischievous kappa or mysterious tengu we’ve discussed before, oni are a...