*歌（うた）”music with lyrics”曲（きょく）”music”→Both 歌 (うた) and 曲 (きょく) refer to music, but 歌 (うた) generally refers only to songs with lyrics. *ソロ（そろ）”solo”→Although it originally means a solo singer who has been working alone from the beginning, it is often used when a person who was originally performing in a group of two or more performs …
What do you think of when you hear the word “Japan”? If you are familiar with Japan, I am sure many things come to your mind. Then, when people in your country hear the word “Japan,” what generally comes to mind?Cherry blossoms? Cars? Ninja? How about Samurai? Samurai are warriors who serve their lord and …
In February 2023, Team JD traveled to Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, guided by the Tourism Division of the Aizuwakamatsu City Hall! We were completely enchanted by the cityscape with a sense of Japanese history, delicious local cuisine, and the warmth of the local people. Let us share the charms of Aizuwakamatsu City, which we enjoyed …
Aizu Wakamatsu – A City to Feel the History of the Samurai Period Read More »
“Miso dengaku” is a local dish of tofu and vegetables coated with a miso-based sauce and eaten throughout Japan, but the one here in Aizu is unique in that it consists of tofu, konnyaku, and rice cakes coated with red miso paste, sugar, and various spices, and grilled over a charcoal fire. Mitsutaya was a …
A “wappa” is a bento box made from thin boards of cypress or cedar that are bent into a round shape. “Wappa-meshi” is made by stuffing rice in a wappa box, topping it with various ingredients, and steaming it.Wappa-meshi is a local dish of Fukushima and Niigata prefectures. In Fukushima, the rice is unseasoned white …
Nisshinkan was a school of the Aizu Domain built in 1803 to nurture future human resources. Children (boys) of the samurai clan entered the school at the age of 10 to study academics, martial arts, and etiquette and to train their minds and bodies. The approximately 6.5-acre site included a martial arts hall, an astronomical …