Japanese culture: traditions and songs for learners
Tea ceremony, mizuhiki, the zodiac and martial arts, plus learning Japanese through songs with vocabulary and grammar.
Traditions japonaises
Budō: nine disciplines to discover Japanese martial culture
Jūdō, kendō, kyūdō, sumō, karatedō, aikidō, Shōrinji Kempō, naginata and jūkendō: discover their differences, their history and the spirit of the prac
The twelve animals of the Japanese zodiac: history, tales and differences between countries
Discover the eto in pictures: the twelve animals, the sixty-year cycle, the tales of the Rat and the Cat, and the traditions of Japan, China, Korea an
Mizuhiki: the meaning of knots and colours, its history, and the JAPANITIES logo
The history of mizuhiki, the meaning of the knots (musubi-kiri, awaji, butterfly, ume) and colours, the production regions, and why we chose mizuhiki
The way of tea (chanoyu): history, schools, utensils and how it unfolds
The history of the way of tea, the schools (the three Sen houses), koicha and usucha, the utensils, the difference between chaji and chakai. With a ce
Learn Japanese through songs
Momiji: lyrics, autumn colours and Japanese vocabulary
Discover “Momiji”, a song about autumn mountains and leaves floating on the water. Japanese lyrics with furigana, an English translation and explanati
Oborozukiyo: lyrics, background and Japanese vocabulary
Discover a song evoking the gentleness of a spring night: video, lyrics with furigana, an English translation and explanations of the old words.
Learning Japanese with Kenshi Yonezu’s “Chikyūgi”: words and grammar
The words and grammar of Kenshi Yonezu’s “Chikyūgi”, explained simply. Without the lyrics: meaning, the thread of the song and the official video.
Latest news
Manga artist Tetsuya Chiba, author of “Ashita no Joe”, dies aged 87
NHK reports that manga artist Tetsuya Chiba, best known for “Ashita no Joe”, died on 22 October in a Tokyo hospital at the age of 87, of myelodysplast
“Kaiju No. 8: The Movie” to be released in 2027 as the anime’s finale, announced at an event in Tachikawa
On 24 October, at an event in Tachikawa, it was announced that the film “Kaiju No. 8”, the conclusion of the anime, will be released in 2027.
First part of the “Made in Abyss: Mezameru Shinpi” film series: released 23 October, with the soundtrack the same day
The first part of the film series of the popular anime “Made in Abyss” was released on Friday 23 October. Here are the theme song, the staff, the voic
Autumn 2026 anime: 73 series in October, with many sequels including season 3 of “The Apothecary Diaries”
According to the list of autumn anime launched in October, 73 series (new shows and sequels) are on the schedule. Sequels such as season 3 of “Kusuriy
USJ × “Kusuriya no hitorigoto”: from 10 February 2027, tied to the film
USJ, in Osaka, announces a collaboration with the anime “The Apothecary Diaries” from 10 February 2027. Content, the work’s timeline and other program