29th October 2009
Japan as a nation has vigorously embraced change in the past. After Commodore Perry and the Black Ships opened Japan, Japan rushed into an era of change, seeking to grow strong and modern. Then, after the Japanese accepted defeat in World War II, they emb...
23rd September 2009
A recent article in The Japan Times was about the suspended sister city relationship between the town of Taiji, in Wakayama prefecture in Japan, and the coastal town of Broome in Western Australia. Ties between Taiji and Broome date back at least 100 year...
23rd September 2009
In late August of this year, the Osaka District Court handed President Nozomu Sahashi of Nova a prison sentence of three and a half years for participating in skimming off employee funds. The crime was committed in 2007, a little before October, when the ...
22nd September 2009
In my previous article discussing mistakes to avoid when teaching English communication in Japan, I wrote that teaching is a learning process for both students and teachers. As another step in this learning process, this article presents four additional m...
22nd September 2009
In the United States, the towering Golden Gate Bridge is the oldest, longest, tallest single span bridge. The magnificent bridge is a unique bridge because of age and construction. From the bridge, you can even see Alcatraz and Angel Island, making it eve...
16th September 2009
If you look up the Japanese word "yoyaku" in Japanese to English dictionaries, you will find the following English words and terms among others: reservation, appointment, booking, subscription, and advanced order. When Japanese communicate in English, res...
16th September 2009
At least all the way back to Zagmuk, December 25 has been a holiday for thousands and thousands of years. Zagmuk is a Mesopotamian festival that lasted twelve days, including December 25. The Mesopotamians visited their friends, exchanged gifts with each ...
16th September 2009
For both students and teachers, teaching is a learning process. Teachers may make the most progress in the first years of their career, but the learning should never stop. The learning stopping is a dangerous sign indicating that the teacher needs to be d...
11th September 2009
Writer's block is what happens to writers when they cannot think of what to write. They are unable to write. Something is blocking them from writing. Some varieties of writer's block are short-term, while some writer's blocks can be longer. Writer's block...
11th September 2009
Noodles are a major part of the Japanese diet, hot and cold. Ramen, soba, and udon are probably the three most popular types of noodles served hot with a broth, or cold without one. Wikipedia tells us that most ramen is made from wheat flour, salt, water ...
28th August 2009
The job situation is dismal. We're in a competitive market right now. The economy is floundering, so we get numerous responses from people when we post a job online. We can pick and choose among the many responses we receive simply because this is an empl...
24th August 2009
The title in this article should grab your attention for one of two reasons: you are interested in being a proofreader or you notice the language is inappropriate. "Wanna" is not standard English. Looking at this title, you probably came to one of two con...
20th August 2009
Life in Japan can be a challenge. While we have found living in Japan an enriching experience, we have seen many people unable to take advantage of all Japan has to offer. In this article, we would like to presnt our top six tips so you can adapt, learn a...
17th August 2009
Learning English communication in Japan differs from learning a foreign language in America. Many Americans have studied a foreign language, learning vocabulary and grammar, practicing all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. L...
13th August 2009
Most of us know how to live a healthy life. You may have your own definition of a healthy life. Here's our definition:
(1) Exercise at least a half hour every day
(2) Get a good night's sleep
(3) Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke
(4) Drink on...
