Ki (木) vs. Hayashi (林) vs. Mori (森): Meaning in Japanese
木 (Ki), 林 (Hayashi), and 森 (Mori) are Kanji characters that we learn in elementary school. They are similar in shape, from which you could guess the meanings. This may be off topic, but...
Recommendation of Unique Japanese Products and Culture BLOG
Kinchan Noodle: A Must-Try Instant Ramen from Tokushima
Like House Foods’ Umaka-chan (うまかっちゃん), some Japanese instant noodles are mainly available in Western Japan, and here in Niigata, they are hard to get unless bought online. The Kinchan Noodle (金ちゃんヌードル) that Tokushima Seifun/Milling...
Aquarius Newater: New Water from Coca-Cola Japan
Aquarius (アクエリアス) is a sports drink from Coca-Cola that’s long been a favorite in Japan, together with Otsuka Pocari Sweat, which recently introduced a new edition of its “water” called Aquarius Newater. Aquarius Newater...
Kameda’s New Happy Turn Cracker with Happy Spice
Happy Turn (ハッピーターン) is one of Japan’s favorite Senbei rice crackers that’s been around since 1976, known for its addicting seasoning powder called Happy Powder (ハッピーパウダー). The snack is produced and sold by the...
Why do Japanese say sorry a lot when speaking English?
I’m aware one of the mistakes we tend to fall into when speaking English is saying sorry a lot or over-apologizing, as I did in the past. Why do Japanese people apologize so much...
Abunai vs. Yabai: Meaning & Usage in Japanese
Abunai (危ない/あぶない) is a word that Japanese learners should memorize during the early stage of studying, meaning dangerous. But in everyday conversation, young Japanese generations often use Yabai (やばい) instead of Abunai to mean...
What is Locabo Noodles from Myojo?
At the end of March (2023), Myojo (明星) Foods added a new series called Locabo Noodles (ロカボ Noodles) (released on 27th March) to their cup ramen lineup, and now, you can see its commercial...
Steak Flavor Furikake featuring Vegemaca from Welcia
When I shopped at a Welcia drugstore the other day, a Furikake/ふりかけ product piqued my interest because I had never seen such a flavor before. The item had a steak flavor supervised by a...
