The Nihongo Master Blog

The Best Cherry Blossom Festivals Around the World

Discover cherry blossom festivals worldwide and explore Japan's hanami traditions, symbolism, and cultural significance beyond borders.

Bo-Taoshi: The Craziest Japanese Sport You’ve Never Heard Of

Discover bo-taoshi, Japan's wildest sport with 300 players battling to topple poles. Explore its military origins and chaotic rules.

Japanese Sports: From Sumo to Soccer

Discover Japan's most beloved sports beyond sumo. Explore why baseball dominates, plus soccer and other favorite pastimes that captivate Japanese fans today.

Learning Japanese Holidays: Coming of Age Day

Discover how Japanese celebrate Seijin no Hi, the Coming of Age Day at age 20. Explore kazoedoshi traditions and what this rite of passage means in

Juku and the Japanese Education Culture

Discover why Japanese students spend 240 school days yearly. Explore juku culture, education statistics, and how Japan's academic system differs from

How to Make Origami with Tadashi Mori

Master the art of Japanese origami with Tadashi Mori. Discover the history, techniques, and traditional washi paper behind this centuries-old craft beyond

Learning Japanese Etiquette: Drinking Culture in Japan

Discover Japanese drinking etiquette, sake traditions, and cultural customs. Explore the rituals, terminology, and proper ways to enjoy nihonshu in Japan.

Learn Japanese Traditions: New Year in Japan

Explore Shogatsu traditions and discover how Japanese New Year celebrations symbolize fresh starts, from Bonenkai parties to meaningful rituals lasting

Christmas in Japan: Learn Japanese Christmas Traditions

Discover how Japan celebrates Christmas differently despite only 1% Christian population. Explore unique traditions, Santa culture, and festive customs.

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test and you!

Master the JLPT: Discover which proficiency level matches your Japanese goals and whether the test is right for you.

Anime and Japanese

Discover how anime became a global phenomenon and explore its role in Japanese language learning through iconic series like Naruto and beloved manga

White Day and Valentine's Day in Japan

Discover how Japanese Valentine's Day flips Western tradition\ufffdonly women give gifts to men. Explore White Day customs and dating culture differences.