Tsundoku (積読, tsundoku): The Art of Buying Books You Haven't Read (Yet)
A Japanese word led me down a linguistic rabbit hole, and back to my own ever-growing pile of unread books. Why do we buy books we aren't ready to read yet?
Is 八 (hachi) the same as ハ (ha)?
八 and ハ look almost identical, but they are not the same character. Discover their surprising connection and how brush writing can help you see the difference.
Learn Japanese with Punch
Learn Japanese through the story of Punch the monkey. Discover words for empathy, support, guidance, growing up and the difficult art of letting go.
Tea Color, Blue Traffic Lights, and the Poetry of Japanese Colors
Why is brown “tea color” in Japanese? From 茶色 and blue traffic lights to poetic names inspired by nature, discover how Japanese colors can change the way we see the world.
The Strong Ones Under the Stage
縁の下の力持ち means someone who quietly supports others behind the scenes. For me, it perfectly describes the often invisible work of orchestra stage managers.
photo by Vincent Callot
Snow falls in Japanese
In Japanese, snow doesn’t “snow”—it falls. Discover 雪 (yuki), 降る (furu), and some wonderfully expressive Japanese words for the sounds and textures of snow.
The last day of the year
December 31 is Ōmisoka, the last day of the year in Japan. From deep cleaning and toshikoshi soba to temple bells and New Year’s greetings, this is how I remember celebrating it.
What is -yoku?
What does -yoku mean? From sunbathing and onsen to forest bathing, discover the Japanese words built around 浴 and the idea of immersion behind Nihongo-yoku.
Wind carries the cold
In English, we catch a cold. In Dutch, we are verkouden. But in Japanese, you “pull” a cold. Why? A little language curiosity about 風邪を引く.
Cold, not Cold
Is cold always cold in Japanese? Learn why Japanese uses 寒い (samui) for chilly weather and 冷たい (tsumetai) for things that feel cold to the touch.
Madogiwazoku
What happens when work is taken away from someone who finds meaning in being useful? A story about madogiwazoku, work and the connection with ikigai.
Ta, Chi, Tsu, Te, To
たちつてと looks like it should be Ta, Ti, Tu, Te, To. So why do we learn Ta, Chi, Tsu, Te, To? A little Japanese language mystery.
There is no hot water in Japan
What do you call hot water in Japanese? A Sunday morning conversation with my son led to a small but fascinating discovery about the Japanese language.
Kondo is Kondo
Kondo is a common Japanese surname, but my family name is written 今渡. A story about names, kanji, family, coincidence and a little Japanese wordplay.