List: Japan | Curated by Alvin T.

Aug 29, 2024
50 stories
4 saves
JapanMy writings on Japan, Japanese culture, language, and society
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
Japan Is Not the High-Tech Paradise You Think It IsFor all the engineering marvels that Japan is known for, the country lags in digital technology
Aug 28
30
Aug 28
30
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
Is Japan Turning into a Poor Country?The cheapening yen, declining real wages, and aging population are accelerating Japan’s economic fall — could it get worse?
Jul 3
20
Jul 3
20
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
6 Made-in-Japan “English” Expressions You’ll Encounter in JapanA cursory look at Japanese-made or repurposed English in Japan
Mar 5
6
Mar 5
6
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
Kicking off the New Year with a Massive Earthquake in JapanEarthquakes are never welcome, of course, but they hit harder on New Year’s Day
Jan 4
2
Jan 4
2
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
I Made 6 Predictions for Japan in 2023 and Only 4 of Them Were CorrectGuess which ones I got wrong? (Hint: it’s got to do with inbound tourism and the Japanese yen)
Jan 2
1
Jan 2
1
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
6 Predictions for Japan in 2023Let’s see which ones will turn out to be correct at the end of the year!
Jan 18, 2023
2
Jan 18, 2023
2
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
I Was Completely Destroyed on Twitter for Writing ThisI knew it was a contrarian take on Japanese companies, but I didn’t expect such a strong negative backlash.
Nov 10, 2022
13
Nov 10, 2022
13
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
Working in Japan Makes You Realize Why Japan Doesn’t Need EnglishI was one of the ignorant until real-life working experience in Japan changed my mind.
Nov 21, 2023
64
Nov 21, 2023
64
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
What Western Writers Won’t Tell You about the Real Okinawan DietAnd why there isn’t anything really remarkable about it.
Nov 9, 2023
39
Nov 9, 2023
39
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
Why Japanese Companies Prioritize Language When Hiring ForeignersFor Japanese companies, cultural fluency trumps work experience
Sep 24, 2023
9
Sep 24, 2023
9
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
How I Managed to Pass the JLPT N1 without Any PreparationNo textbooks, no tuition, and no memorizing kanji lists — but there’s a twist.
Jan 25, 2023
5
Jan 25, 2023
5
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
How I Moved to Japan at the Age of 31 without Being an English TeacherThe path was not easy and required some major sacrifices early on in my life.
Aug 21, 2023
21
Aug 21, 2023
21
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
Why Foreign Companies in Japan are Not Really “Foreign”According to a former Tokyo-based foreign consultant
Jul 19, 2023
3
Jul 19, 2023
3
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
3 Myths Non-Japanese Speakers Still Believe about Katakana WordsMisconceptions about katakana words come from a place of misguided linguistic purism
Jun 27, 2023
27
Jun 27, 2023
27
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
The Dark Side of the Japanese Virtue of “Gaman”Working in Japan showed me the negative side of this often-praised Japanese cultural idea.
Aug 14, 2023
26
Aug 14, 2023
26
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
The Essence of Japanese Culture: An Intense Obsession with Form?Japan’s fixation with doing things the proper way begs a deeper dive
May 14, 2023
20
May 14, 2023
20
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
This Is the Japanese Idiom Everyone Needs to Learn in the New YearIt teaches you to cherish every moment — for it is never coming back.
Jan 11, 2023
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Jan 11, 2023
19
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
Why More Foreigners in Japan Should Work for Japanese CompaniesSix reasons why you should consider working for one
Oct 24, 2022
6
Oct 24, 2022
6
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
How Foreigners from East Asia Experience Japan DifferentlySome things are definitely less exotic for an East Asian
Oct 9, 2022
9
Oct 9, 2022
9
Alvin T.
in
Japonica Publication
Why Is Politeness in the Japanese Language a Hard Concept to Grasp?The desu/masu form is often translated into English as formal or polite Japanese — but does that fully capture its meaning?
Sep 30, 2022
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Sep 30, 2022
2