First, please look at the image. Several men and women are standing in a line. Now, here are two questions. Q1. How many men are there? Q2. From the left, which number is the woman wearing a kimono? How would you answer these questions? A1. 男の人は、3人います。(Otoko no hito wa, san-nin imasu) There are three men. A2. 着物を着ている女の人は、左から5人目です。(Kimono o kite iru onna no hito wa, hidari kara go-nin me desu) The woman wearing a kimono is the fifth from the left. Now, let’s stop and think for

When I talk with Japanese learners, I often notice that their grammar is correct and their sentences are clear, yet the conversation feels a little flat. Very often, the missing piece is aizuchi  — Japanese backchannel responses.🗣️ By reacting as we listen, we show engagement. Without aizuchi, even grammatically correct conversations can feel uncomfortable. Speakers may wonder if they are being understood or if the listener is interested, making the listener seem distant or

Have you ever wondered how to say “I don’t know” in Japanese? You may have heard both “しりません” and “わかりません”. Even though they seem similar in English, they actually carry different meanings and nuances in Japanese. In this post, we’ll break down when to use each one, what they really mean, and how to sound more natural in everyday conversation.🗣 【①The basic meanings of  “しりません” and “わかりません”】 👩‍🏫“しりません” means “I don’t have any information about that.” / “I’m not familiar wit

Today, we’ll look at 4 common Japanese phrases that use 「気(き)」 😊 They are all very common in daily life, especially in Japan and Singapore. If you study Japanese, you’ve probably seen many words that use the character 「気(き)」. At first, they all look similar and confusing...😵‍💫 But once you understand the feeling behind each one, they become much easier to use!! In Japanese, 「気(き)」 often relates to your mind, attention, feelings, or awareness. Let’s look at some very common

If you’re learning Japanese, you might have seen both「へ」and「に」used when talking about direction. They can both be translated as “to”, but there’s a small difference! Let’s take a look 😊 Imagine you’re going to Tokyo. You can say: 東京へ行きます。 東京に行きます。 Both mean “I’m going to Tokyo.” But here’s the trick: 👉「へ」(pronounced “e”) focuses on direction — like pointing toward a place. 👉「に」shows the final destination — where you actually arrive. So if you say: 学校へ行きます。= I’m heading tow

Every year around this time, I start listening to Christmas songs and putting up my Christmas tree. 🎄 Do you have a favorite Christmas song? For me, December is a cold month when I look back on the year and reset myself so I can welcome the new year with a clear mind. This is my first December in Singapore, and it feels strange to spend the end of the year in short sleeves.😂 While I’m excited for Christmas, I also feel strongly that I want to finish everything I can before

If you love Japanese ramen, you’ve probably heard of Kikanbo, the famous miso ramen shop from Kanda, Tokyo. When I found out they had opened a branch in VivoCity, I couldn’t resist visiting.✨ 　Their signature dish, karashibi miso ramen, lets you choose your preferred levels of kara (spice) and shibi (numbing heat from Japanese pepper). It’s a simple idea, but it makes the experience surprisingly personal — you can find your own balance of warmth and kick.😋 　I went for the T

みなさんはうどんが好きですか？ (Do you like Udon?) わたしは大好(だいす)きです🫶 でも、シンガポールにはおいしいうどん屋(や)さんがあまりないですよね😭 However, it’s actually really hard to find authentic Udon restaurants in Singapore…! Today, I would love to introduce a new restaurant serving real Udon in Singapore.🇸🇬 You can have a very high-quality Udon here👍 🌟Udon Shin https://share.google/pw3qALmqaTxwTjBBd 🍽11:00-14:30 🌙17:00~19:00 This restaurant is located on the basement 2 of the Takashimaya Shopping Centre. It was my firs

In Japan, many restaurants and cafes offer special limited-time menus in autumn 🍁. One of the most famous is the “Tsukimi Burger” from McDonald’s Japan 🍔. “Tsukimi” means “moon viewing,” a traditional Japanese custom to enjoy the beauty of the autumn moon 🌕. The burger has an egg inside that looks like the moon, and it’s sold only in the autumn season! Other fast-food chains also have autumn menus 🍠. For example, Starbucks Japan sells drinks with chestnut 🌰 or sweet pota

When people think of Japanese noodles, most imagine ramen 🍥🍜 or udon 🍲—both delicious and popular worldwide. But there’s another noodle that deserves the spotlight: soba (buckwheat noodles) 🌿🥢. Light, earthy in flavor, and deeply rooted in Japanese culture, soba is both comforting and healthy 🌸. Since I’m from Tokyo 🗼, let me share a fun detail about how Edo people (Tokyo natives) eat soba 🤫. Unlike the way many enjoy noodles by soaking them fully in broth or sauce, E