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The YouTube sensation PewDiePie has always intrigued and entertained his millions of fans worldwide. Lately, with his move to Japan, newfound fatherhood, and deep dive into Japanese culture and language, interest has spiked even more. Given his new life in Japan, a particular query repeatedly arises among his fanbase.   Does PewDiePie Speak Japanese? PewDiePie …

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Anime fans know there are some seriously overpowered characters out there, especially in shounen shows like One Piece and Naruto Shippuden. Another great example is the mysterious Yoriichi from the show Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Let’s dive into the in-universe history behind this awe-inspiring demon slayer.   Who is Yoriichi? Yoriichi Tsugikuni is a …

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If you’re an anime or gaming fan and you’ve been on the internet for any period of time, you’ve probably heard the word “weeb”. Weeb is the result of many different variations of internet slang evolving into a brand-new term, and they aren’t all flattering! Let’s get to know the meaning, origin and the current …

Read More about Weeb 101 — From Manga Enthusiast to Internet Meme

Let’s take a look at one of the more distinctive physical acts many people recognize from Japanese culture: dogeza. While the term itself is probably unfamiliar, you’re probably at least passingly familiar with its meaning, that of prostrating yourself on the ground, in an extreme form of bowing. In this article, we’ll cover the full …

Read More about Dogeza — Meaning, Context & Usage

Let’s look at a word that it seems like everyone loves to use in Japan. Tread carefully, however, this word (like, it seems, all words in Japanese) carries more nuance than you might at first expect. Those pitfalls are pretty easy to overcome, though, and in this article I’ll be guiding you on how to …

Read More about Daisuki (大好き) — Here’s What It Really Means

Ramen. Sushi. Sake. Some Japanese words are immediately recognizable, even if you don’t speak the language at all. Others are still heavily used in non-Japanese media but aren’t quite as easy to understand. Let’s look at the Japanese phrase “kawaii desu.”   What does “kawaii desu” mean in Japanese? The phrase “kawaii desu” (可愛いです) means …

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Japanese has a reputation as an insular language, and beginners are often convinced it’s earned. but regular readers of the Linguaholic blog won’t be surprised that its chock full of words borrowed from other languages. Some of these, like 天ぷら (tempura), have been around in Japanese for so long they masquerade as native Japanese words. …

Read More about The Meaning of Naisu (ナイス) — Revealed!

Like countries the world over, Japan has a robust group of subcultures. The obvious example is anime and video game fans, known in Japan as otaku. These people have many traditions, jokes and cultural references that will make literally zero sense to your average Japanese person. It goes without saying that there are thriving communities …

Read More about Padoru (Meme): Meaning & What It Has to Do With Christmas!

Some Japanese words are complicated to use, but easy to understand. Others are simple to use but have complicated contexts. In this post, we’ll look at one of the latter, the word 黒人 (kokujin).   What does the word 黒人 (kokujin) mean in Japanese? The word 黒人 (kokujin) means a person with black skin. It …

Read More about The Meaning of “Kokujin” (黒人) in Japanese