TCJ Blog

In what situations do people encounter the Japanese language? Many people learn Japanese through social media or video content, especially if they do not live in Japan or have few opportunities to speak the language. In fact, some of my students mention that they use YouTube as a resource for studying Japanese. Along these lines, the word “kusa” (grass) can often be seen popping up throughout the comment sections. However, it does not actually refer to grass. It typically appears when someone makes a joke or when something unexpected happens, which can be confusing for those encountering it for the first time. Expressions like this rarely appear in textbooks, even though they are widely used on social media every day. In this article, a Japanese teacher introduces three of the most commonly encountered pieces of Japanese internet slang, explaining their meanings and origins. Let’s take a closer look together, starting with expressions that may already feel familiar from online spaces.

People not from Japan often say that Japanese is hard to understand and to learn. Is it true? Thinking about it deeply, we will realize that Japanese proper, kind minds and consideration actually make the difficulty, and more people feel Japanese is hard. This time, we will think about the ambiguous Japanese phrase with some sentences.

Matsuri (Japanese festivals) take place throughout Japan all year round. During festival seasons, towns are filled with the sounds of taiko drums and flutes as people gather in a joyful atmosphere. Matsuri have a long history and deep cultural meaning, and this article explores Japanese festival culture.

Dogs bark with a “wan-wan,” and rain falls with a “shito-shito” sound. Japanese is a language where onomatopoeia is highly developed. We often add nouns or verbs to these onomatopoeic words, creating expressions rich in imagery and meaning. Today, we introduce some of these interesting Japanese words.

When Japanese hear the word “flower,” they think of cherry blossoms (Sakura) immediately. Why do Japanese love Sakura so much? This time, I would like to introduce you to the symbol of Japan, Sakura, and the Japanese words related to it.