The Nihongo Master Blog

Learn interesting topics about Japanese language, entertainment, culture and more.

• The 3 Parts of the Japanese Railway System

  One of the most impressive things about Japan is its transport systems. If you see yourself coming to Japan pretty soon, whether it’s next month or next year (fingers crossed the borders are open by then), then be prepared to be on Japanese...

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• Basic Japanese Grammar: The Conditional ”If” (と・ば・たら・なら)

  One of the most important grammar in any language is the conditional form. In our Season 3 Episode 13 of the Nihongo Master Podcast, we looked at how to express the conditional form “if” in Japanese. There are four ways to express “if” in j...

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• Japanese Funeral Etiquette

  Funerals in any culture are solemn occasions, and especially so in Japan. Japanese people have a set of practices to follow to give the dearly departed a proper sendoff. Unlike most other occasions in Japanese culture which follow Shinto tr...

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• The Top 4 Types of Japanese Entertainment

  It’s no secret that Japanese people love their entertainment. A lot of their modern-day practices came from ancient times when the Japanese people back then needed to fill their time with something to entertain themselves. And we’re here to...

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• The Basics of Japanese Wedding Etiquette

  Weddings are without a doubt a big event. For some, it’s one of the biggest celebrations of their lives. I must admit, mine would be. Some of us are at the stage in life where we’re getting invites to our friends’ and colleagues’ weddings....

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• Basic Japanese Grammar: Express Needs with 必要がある and 要る

  Expressing wants and needs are one of the most important things to know how to say in any language. After all, we need to know the difference between what we desire and what we require. We covered how to say “I want” in Japanese in Season 2...

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• We tried Sakuraco's authentic Sakura Festival snack box!

  We at Nihongo Master understand that learning Japanese is much more than just understanding words and grammar. It's also getting a knowledge and appreciation for the culture and a part of any culture is its food! We tried Sakuraco's Cherry...

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• Tips to Mastering Survival Japanese!

  Before I moved to Japan, I had already started learning Japanese for a few months. So when I got to Japan, I thought I would have enough Japanese language knowledge to have conversations and go through day-to-day interactions without any is...

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• Essential Etiquette in Japan for Foreigners

  Japanese mannerisms are abundant, and some might say that there are a bit too many to remember in a short period of time for those travelling to the country for just a short trip. In our Season 10 Episode 7 of the Nihongo Master Podcast, th...

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• 3 Things To Take Note of When Packing for Japan

  Who else is rusty when it comes to traveling, particularly packing for traveling? I have never been an expert at packing – even before the whole pandemic. Who’s with me? As we prepare for the world to open up again and book our flights to J...

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