Educational Articles & Videos

50 Japanese School Vocabulary Words You Should Know

October 18, 2011
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50 Japanese School Vocabulary Words You Should Know

As a foreigner who is still working on his Japanese, working in a Japanese public school can present some challenges from time to time. One such challenge is getting used to new, Japanese, school-related vocabulary. Were I teaching at American public school, I wouldn’t even give issues like this a second thought because English is my native tongue. However, being at a Japanese school everyday means becoming accustomed to new words and phrases that, prior to teaching as an ALT, I didn’t hear all that often (if at all). So let’s take a look at fifty words you should know if you are working in a Japanese school. SCHOOL LOCATIONS IN JAPANESE 1. Teacher’s...

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What is Your Birthdate in Japanese Imperial Years?

October 14, 2011
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What is Your Birthdate in Japanese Imperial Years?

In our Japan Post Bank Account article, we looked at the form you need to fill out in order to get your bank account all squared away. During this process, there was one particular field that was asking for your birthday in imperial years. I never could really remember so with a little calculation, I was able to figure out what the imperial date would be. First, let me start off by saying that you’ll rarely ever have to use this, and it might be a good idea to get a Japanese friend to double check you on the date you come up with. Let’s just give it a try just for fun. Okay?...

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Using Embarrassing Moments To Help You Improve Your Japanese

June 27, 2011
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Using Embarrassing Moments To Help You Improve Your Japanese

Summer is upon us here in the land of Rising, Scorching, Hot Sun. That endearing, humid heat that’s oh so characteristic of Japanese summer is starting. Granted is not as bad as it’s going to get, but we’ve had a couple of those “more humid than normal” days already. Today, it rained ever so lightly, and then the sun started coming out. I felt kinda sticky going to to work. Do you know the kind of weather I’m talking about? The kind of weather that makes sweat in your no-no places, that weather that makes you have bad hair days (not me, because my head is as smooth as a cue ball), the weather...

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Ten Japanese Folktales You Should Know

June 15, 2011
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Ten Japanese Folktales You Should Know

TEN JAPANESE MONOGATARI (物語) YOU SHOULD KNOW *The term Monogatari can mean legend, tale or story. There are days when I feel like I’m starting to learn more about Japanese culture and then there are others when I feel like “Donald, what the hell have you been doing for the last three years?!?” Today, I feel kind of in the middle. I taught a private English lesson the other day, and we were working on pronunciation together using a children’s book. Near the end of the lesson I actually read to my student almost as I would to younger child. To some, you might think this is demeaning or even pointless, but I would...

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Be Careful With Those Chopsticks!

April 20, 2011
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Be Careful With Those Chopsticks!

A little while back, I remember being famished and I was craving a bento. I biked over to my local Seven Eleven and picked up the bento that looked the heartiest, the one that looked like it would contain the most calories, the one that would make me feel like I overdid it. I was that hungry. I found a nice one with pork (tonkatsu), tempura, rice, Japanese pickles (tsukemono), and a hint of vegetables on the side. “Atatamemasu ka?” said the clerk (would you like to warm your food?). “Hai” I replied. I got that bag and dashed home as fast as humanly possible. I rushed to the table ripped off the outer...

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How to Get a Japan Re-Entry Permit

March 24, 2011
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How to Get a Japan Re-Entry Permit

So, you’re leaving Japan, huh? You’re not alone. With the aftermath of the earthquake threatening the very safety of the food we eat, the tap water we use everyday. Coupling this with unsettling aftershocks and towns that have been completely wiped out, a number of people are deciding to leave Japan. Do you blame them for wanting to leave? I know I don’t. Japan is a wonderful place, but safety is important. Under better circumstances, the mass exodus would usually happen during Golden Week, when people have a national holiday to take that hardcore, power vacation of their dreams…the one they’ve been putting off for so long. But, sadly, that’s not the case right...

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What is an アース Cable?

March 21, 2011
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What is an アース Cable?

These katakana characters are “a” and “su.” When you put them together and add a long space in between, you get the katakana pronunciation of earth. It may not look like it, but sound it out. Ahhhhsu, see? It sounds kinda like earth, right? Earth in this case refers to an earth wire or earth cable. Appliances where you see an opening just below your main plug, that’s your earth cable or earth wire. I’m no electrician, not by any stretch of the imagination, but from what I understand this is a safety circuit that conducts electricity into the ground should something happen to you’re appliances that would cause harmful/fatal shock. Honestly, I’ve never...

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How Close Do I Live to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant?

March 17, 2011
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How Close Do I Live to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant?

I wanted to make a quick video to express my gratitude to my family, friends, colleagues, students, even people I don’t know. Thank you so much for being so supportive during a tough time. I have gotten emails, Skype calls, Facebook posts, blog comments, YouTube messages, and more. People have even been calling my parents to check on me. I am so lucky to have people like you around me. I also wanted to let you know that I am doing okay today. I’m still keeping a close eye on the situation with the TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Fukushima, Japan. There are people out there putting their heart...

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A Japan Guy Interview: My Japan Experience featuring Mad TV’s Erica Ash

January 17, 2011
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A Japan Guy Interview: My Japan Experience featuring Mad TV’s Erica Ash

This is a three-part interview that I did with my SUPER-TALENTED, elder sister, Erica Ash. I won’t talk to much about the details of the interview because I really want you to take a look, but needless to say Erica’s interview was true to form, you’re going to get some down-to-earth, knitty-gritty info about what life in Japan was like for her. PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE In the interview Erica mentions several things that she’s been doing since she moved back to the U.S: one project is the broadway play “Baby It’s You” if you’re in New York and want to catch a show, and the other is her comedic blog, www.thedeviledangel.com....

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Seijin no hi 成人の日 and Seijinshiki 成人式 2011

January 12, 2011
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Seijin no hi 成人の日 and Seijinshiki 成人式 2011

January 10th, 2010 was a holiday in Japan, Seijin no hi, 成人の日. Better known as “Coming of Age Day” in English, Seijin no hi is a day in Japan to celebrate all of those individuals who turn between April 1st of the previous year and March 31st of the current year. Interestingly enough, these very same dates are used to determine when a child enters school. The public school year begins on April 1st as well. Here in Tsukuba, I was able to catch some of the Seijinshiki or Coming of Age Day Celebration at Capio Hall (a performance/exhibition hall here). Though it was a tad frigid outside, everyone was all smiles. I saw...

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