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.

Christmas looks quite different in Japan. From KFC and strawberry shortcake to romantic Christmas Eve traditions, here’s how Christmas became a Japanese winter celebration.

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.

“The departing bird does not muddy the water behind it.” A Japanese proverb about leaving gracefully, taking responsibility and not leaving a mess for others.

Giving up your seat sounds simple, but it can become surprisingly awkward. A small lesson in Japanese thoughtfulness, dignity and omoiyari.

In Japanese, you don't always need a full sentence to communicate. A conversation with my teenage son shows how much meaning can fit into just a few words.

What does ハイキュー (Haikyū) actually mean? A look at the creative Japanese kanji names for volleyball, baseball, basketball, soccer and more.

In Japan, losing your job can be described in very different ways. Explore リストラ (risutora), 解雇 (kaiko) and 首切り (kubikiri), and the different tones behind each word.

In Japanese, アットホーム means more than simply “at home.” A story about Japanese homes, home parties, hospitality and creating a welcoming space for learning.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 a common Japanese surname, but my family name is written 今渡. A story about names, kanji, family, coincidence and a little Japanese wordplay.

Ikigai can be big or small, serious or casual. For me, noticing the small things that made each day meaningful became part of my path to recovery.