Author Archives: Vicky

限 (gen) “boundary, limit”

We tend to think of creativity as something that is free from limits. But what if the opposite was also true? The benefit of working within limits is that it is precisely the act of pushing against these limits, stretching them, bending them, playing with them, which leads to interesting artistic expression. In other words,ContinueContinue reading “限 (gen) “boundary, limit””

Three Mindset Shifts that will Fast-Track your Japanese Language Learning

image by andsproject from pixabay Article originally published on Medium in Japonica publication Mindset Shift Level 1: Learning Japanese > Practicing Japanese. A lot. “Learning” is a misnomer. You don’t so much learn a language as practice it. Becoming fluent in a foreign language has less in common with academic study and more with learning a sport, a dance, or a martial art:ContinueContinue reading “Three Mindset Shifts that will Fast-Track your Japanese Language Learning”

The Year of the Dragon… or the Year of the Loong?

When I was a kid my teacher read a Chinese folk tale about a boy who goes on an adventure with a dragon. Being young and rather blunt-minded I couldn’t help wondering why the dragon didn’t just breathe fire on the boy and eat him. That’s what dragons do, right? Except of course it wasn’tContinueContinue reading “The Year of the Dragon… or the Year of the Loong?”

如月 (kisaragi) “February” (archaic)

Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally “Month one” 一月, February is “Month two” 二月, etc. However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar to the French Revolutionary calendar).ContinueContinue reading “如月 (kisaragi) “February” (archaic)”

Writing foreign names in Japanese

Japanese has a separate writing system for writing foreign words. It’s called katakana and it’s mostly used for foreign loan words such as kōhī (coffee), pan (bread) and gorufu (golf). It’s also used for foreign names. If your name isn’t originally written in kanji (the logographic characters used in Japan, China, and to a lesserContinueContinue reading “Writing foreign names in Japanese”

無限 (mu-gen) “unlimited / no limits”

The idea of no limits, or infinity, can represent divine eternal consciousness. It is an important concept in Buddhism, often represented by an endless knot that is strikingly similar to Celtic designs.  It can also represent samsara, the endless cycle of death and rebirth. It is similar to the symbol of the ouroboros – theContinueContinue reading “無限 (mu-gen) “unlimited / no limits””

Calligraphy tattoo commission – 珈琲 (kōhī) “coffee”

A recent commission of the kanji for “coffee”, to be rendered as a tattoo. I love seeing how my clients use my artwork 🙂 Japanese language students will notice that “coffee” is usually written in katakana these days: 「コーヒー」 , however the kanji is still used in situations where a traditional atmosphere is desired, forContinueContinue reading “Calligraphy tattoo commission – 珈琲 (kōhī) “coffee””

If You Love Studio Ghibli, Don’t Miss These 3 Anime Directors

Studio Ghibli movies aren’t the only Japanese animated movies to receive Oscar nominations. Photo by Samuel Ramos from Unsplash. Many of the most internationally famous Japanese animated movies come from the legendary Studio Ghibli. Headed by Hayao Miyazaki, Ghibli has produced such beloved masterpieces as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Awayand Howl’s Moving Castle. Miyazaki recently came out ofContinueContinue reading “If You Love Studio Ghibli, Don’t Miss These 3 Anime Directors”

Four MORE ways in which Japan is really inconvenient for foreign travellers

It looks good, but it may get you refused entry from hot springs. Image by Steven Erixon, Unsplash. Whether it’s the obscenely punctual public transport systems, the super-efficient customer service, the health system that really works, or the ubiquitous convenience stores, Japan is rightfully famous for taking convenience to a whole other level. Unfortunately, nowhereContinueContinue reading “Four MORE ways in which Japan is really inconvenient for foreign travellers”