Nagasaki's Premier English Language Magazine
By William Morgan and Dan Cohen Many people become interested in Japanese because of アニメ (anime) and 漫画 (manga). They can be a window into Japanese culture and understanding them in the original Japanese is a compelling carrot to motivate language study. More than anything, manga and anime expose you to tons of 単語 (tango… Continue reading
By Kane Pride Kagoshima. Let’s be honest, it’s probably not the first place you would think of visiting when COVID-19 clears up. However, both the city and prefecture are one of the most underrated locations in the entire country. Nestled away in the southernmost region of Kyushu, Kagoshima has plenty to offer those willing to… Continue reading
By Deidre Foley Move over Kumamon, it’s the Nagasaki mascots’ time to shine. Although the Kumamoto Prefecture mascot is very well-known, he is just one of thousands of yuru-kyara (mascot characters) in Japan. Generally speaking, mascot characters can be split into two groups: gotochi-kyara (regional characters) and company characters. Regional characters are usually created by… Continue reading
By Abbie Philpott Nagasaki might not have the excitement of Tokyo or the charm of Kyoto, but it is blessed with a variety of awe-inspiring flowers. Whatever the season, use our calendar and location recommendations to enjoy some beautiful flowers every month of the year! January: Daffodils, Camellias February: Ume, Camellias, Tulips, Sakura March: Ume,… Continue reading
By Elizabeth Barlow Self-care gets a lot of media attention and rightly so; it is of crucial importance. In the past few years you have probably seen the term thrown around the internet, used as a hashtag on Instagram underneath photos of bath bombs and face masks. In the wake of COVID-19, it’s a term… Continue reading
By Ivy Jenn The phrase “when life gives you lemons” has always been a source of confusion for me. I remember the first time I ever heard it, that fateful day in Ms. Reid’s kindergarten class. She introduced the proverbial phrase “when life gives you lemons” to be a metaphor for unexpected hardship. Why this… Continue reading
By Ronnie Augusto Triminio With winter comes not only holiday cheer and presents (COVID-19 notwithstanding) but also the bi-annual Nihongo Noryoku Shiken, or Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). The JLPT is the most well-known metric for Japanese learners to expand their educational and career opportunities. The test ranges from levels 1 to 5, with 5 being… Continue reading