がんばれパンチくん：Punch-kun, Fighting!
Punch-kun is a bottle-raised baby Japanese macaque at a zoo in Ichikawa, Chiba after his mother stopped caring for him. He’s gone viral for cuddling an orangutan plush “Oran-mama” and clinging to his keepers, showing how much warmth and comfort matter as he grows.
友達：Farewell, My Friend
A heartfelt reflection on friendship – how a close friend can inspire you to live fully, even in difficult times. A dream farewell becomes a quiet source of comfort that lingers long after.
すみません、もう一度お願いします：Excuse me, can you say that again?
Not sure how to politely ask someone to repeat what they said in Japanese? Mayu sensei introduces several natural phrases and explains when each one is appropriate in this blog.
お土産：Souvenirs – Sweet Memories, Heavy Bags
Mayu-sensei shares her souvenir-shopping stories from a trip to Kanazawa, from choosing gifts for loved ones to struggling with too much luggage, and about the unexpected “souvenir” she brought home.
物語の自動販売機：Story vending machine – A drink for the Heart
In Japan, vending machines are everywhere, but a new “story vending machine” now offers short, location-themed stories at the press of a button.
作文添削と『ナミヤ雑貨店の奇蹟』：The Quiet Power of Words – When Editing Becomes Empathy
What if one carefully chosen sentence could reach someone’s future? In this blog, Ritsuko-sensei links essay editing to The Miracles of the Namiya General Store, exploring the quiet power of words written with care.
抹茶色のランドセル：A Matcha Green Randoseru – What A Choice Can Say
In Japan, elementary school students use a backpack called a “randoseru”, and its color can reflect identity, social expectations, and the surprising weight of a child’s “simple” choice.
幸運のサイン：When Good Luck Sends a Sign
Ritsuko Sensei introduces Japanese symbols of luck and shares her dracaena’s bloom as a hopeful sign.
宇多田ヒカル：Utada Hikaru – An Iconic Japanese Singer
Sensei Mayu shares her thoughts about the interesting word-use of Utada Hikaru, and how her song“Hikari” can be felt in different ways.
「出世」という言葉: What Does “Success” Really Mean?
Shusse usually means career success—but in Japanese, the word also applies to fish. What is that all it means?
またあれが食べたい！：Local Flavors and Memories from Guatemala
I Want to Eat That Again! Do You Have a Food That You Miss and Always Remember?
Chiyoko Sensei Shares Her Favorite Foods from Guatemala
Japanese Essay: 生理が戻ってきた！(I got my period back!)
Learn Japanese by reading a short essay about menstruations, women’s health and medical situations with English translation and Furigana.