Anna

Grad school in Japan. 3 things to consider

by Anna
If someone had told me about this in advance, I might have had a chance to avoid falling into this pitfall, but who am I kidding? I probably would have still fallen for it and been happy about it. So, if you are a foreigner considering pursuing graduate education in Japan, there are some things ... Read More

Deposit-free IC card: tourist in Japan

by Anna
On February 15th, JR (Japan Railways) announced the release of a new IC card called “Welcome Suica” designed specifically for foreign visitors to Japan who use public transportation for a short period of time. The card features a design that showcases Japanese sakura and offers a benefit of prepaid public transportation services without requiring a ... Read More

My rent contracts in Japan

by Anna
One of my colleagues recently moved into a new apartment in Japan and mentioned that she had to spend an hour reviewing the contract with the owner. This is typical for Japanese apartment contracts. It’s worth noting that Japan is a highly bureaucratic country, with a strong preference for putting everything in writing. While this ... Read More

What Japanese do you like?

by Anna
When speaking Japanese with my Japanese friends, the inevitable question arises: “What Japanese do you like most?” or, as it is said in Japanese, 好きな日本語はなんですか？ “Suki na nihongo wa nan desu ka?” I am always at a loss for how to respond. After all, the Japanese language is full of different dialects, idioms, characters, onomatopoeia, ... Read More