TCJ Blog

For Japanese learners who struggle with grammar or find it difficult to improve their scores, this article provides clear and careful explanations from the perspective of a professional Japanese teacher. It brings together essential grammar points from official textbooks, introduces effective study methods and recommended learning materials, and offers a concrete study plan to help learners successfully pass the JLPT N4.

Do you think Japan is a great sports country? Students of Japanese often tell me that “Japanese people all like baseball”. It is true that baseball has long been considered Japan’s national sport, but not everyone is interested in baseball. In addition to baseball and soccer, other popular sports include marathons, including ekiden (relay races), basketball, figure skating, and rugby, which is attracting attention for the 2019 World Cup. So what sports are popular in Japan? We will also introduce some sports that originated in Japan.

This guide explains the Japanese language skills required for the JLPT N4 reading comprehension section, provides an overview of the exam, and estimates the study time needed to pass. It also introduces specific reading strategies and practical training methods to improve your accuracy. Furthermore, it summarizes how to choose effective study materials and recommends textbooks, offering a comprehensive guide to efficient study methods designed to help you pass the exam.

When I speak to Japanese learners and ask, “What is the most difficult part of learning Japanese?” most of them say, “Keigo.” Interestingly, it’s not just Japanese learners who find honorifics challenging—even native speakers struggle with it. In fact, there are specialized textbooks on keigo specifically designed for business professionals. That’s why understanding how keigo works can give you a huge advantage in mastering Japanese. Let’s dive into the world of Japanese honorifics!

In Japan, as in many other countries, cities are illuminated with Christmas lights and filled with festive music during the winter season. However, rather than being observed as a Christian holiday, Christmas in Japan is primarily enjoyed as a seasonal event. In this article, we explore how Christmas is celebrated in Japan and what makes it unique in Japanese culture.