? Let’s talk about perfect meals over drinks on Friday nights. How could we ever make this list without putting yakitori somewhere at the top? ⠀ If you’re in Korea, we’d be talking about chimaek (chicken and beer) but we’re in Tokyo — and we have to talk about the joys of skewered grilled chicken and beer. There’s only question. ⠀ しお or たれ? Salt or sauce? ⠀ This is the question you’ll get asked at every yakitori stand and the option you’ll see on every menu worth its しお It’s hard to go wrong with yakitori but there certainly are some interesting choices on the menu! I’ve tried quite a few of them and, once you muster up the courage, you’ll find that they’re all equally delish in their own right. If you are not sure what to order, you can refer to this week’s mini-lesson on recommendations. But, if you want to sound a little more pro, ask 'osusume menu kudasai' (おすすめメニューください) and voila! ? ⠀ Their best of the menu right at your fingertips. We’re always on the lookout for a good Friday night yakitori joint after work, so comment below your recommendations! Fight for the title of # yakitorichampion ?? ⠀ Here’s to more Japanese cuisine adventures with Team Japan Switch, and don’t forget to follow @weareJapanswitch for more of the best eats around Tokyo! ✌️ . . . . . #practicejapanese #orangjepang #日本語を勉強します #japanesevocabulary #lovejapanese #日本語の勉強 #japanesestudy #lovejapanesefood #tokyolunch #japanesefoods #oyakodon #japfood #japaneselesson #japonês #japaneselanguage #日本語勉強 #japanoninsta #karaage #tokyorestaurant #japaneseculture #nippon #japantravel #日本語 #jepones #japanculture #lifeinjapan #nihongo #japangram #japonais

[SWIPE LEFT] Looking for your soul mate but too busy with Japanese studies and/or work? Tired of going on several dates that are awkward and uneventful? ? ⠀ Well, Japan has got you covered with their special matchmaking services for those looking to tie the knot ASAP. ⠀ Konkatsu is the solution for anyone who hasn’t had the best of luck with dating or have passed a certain age — that point that society deemed as the prime age for marriage. There’s a huuuge focus on getting married so, from a young age, there is this pressure to settle down.?? ⠀ Is there a certain age in your country where friends/family expect you to be married by? It’s interesting to hear how this varies from country to country so let us know about yours in the comments! ⭐ ⠀ Follow @weareJapanSwitch for a better lay of the land of the rising sun, the dos and don’ts of anime body pillows, and the 5 reasons why your first impression isn’t as charming as you once thought. . . . . . #tokyolove #crazyjapan #japanesephrase #practicejapanese #日本語を勉強します #japanesevocabulary #japaneseclass #lovejapanese #japanesestudy #日本語の勉強 #japanesewords #japaneselesson #にほんご #japaneselanguage #japonês #japonaise #learnjapanese #foreignlanguage #日本語勉強 #tokyogram #japangram #japanculture #japanlover #日本語 #japanlife #japaneseculture #tokyo2020 #japanlovers #kanji

When I complain about kanji or how there are 7 ways to say the same thing, Yurika-sensei asks me to remember why I started learning Japanese. What is it that led me to my studies? ? ⠀ I thought it was just a little bit of Death Note, a couple of Murakami novels, a curiosity for what カレーパン (fried curry bread) tastes like, and a Tokyo Incidents album or two. ⠀ But, no. Actually, it was a desire to connect with the language on a personal level and be able to express myself in it. I also wanted to be able to understand the way others express themselves and explore that in meaningful ways. ⠀ But everybody’s different. Studying is important but remember to take a little time to remember why you’re doing this. Chances are that nobody is forcing you to. Something drove you here and it’s important to keep that in mind — especially during those more challenging ‘uggghhh’ moments. ? ⠀ ⭐ What made y’all start studying Japanese? Comment below! ⭐ ⠀ Yurika-sensei suggested that we take advantage of the available tech to work on our language skills using the entertainment we enjoy. ⠀ The best thing about this is that some shows/movies don’t have a wide variety of subs but now you don’t really need them. ⠀ With the Language Learning with Netflix extension, it’s easy to take a new approach to your studies and while picking up new vocab/phrases that regular texts just don’t cover. ⠀ Follow @weareJapanSwitch for more handy tips right in your feed, the must-visit locations for your post-pandemic hit list, and for a deeper look at the ins and outs (mostly ins) of Hikikomori! ✌️ . . . . . #japaneseclass #japaneselanguageschool #japanesestudy #japanesevocabulary #learnjapaneseonline #lovejapanese #practicejapanese #日本語の勉強 #にほんごべんきょう #日本語能力試験 #hiragana #japaneselanguage #japanisch #katakana #learnjapanese #learningjapanese #studyjapanese #にほんご #ひらがな #日本語勉強 #foreignlanguage #languagelover #japaneselesson #japaneseculture #japonais #nihongo #日本語 #japones #japonais #jepones

Like a lot of places around the world, drinking is a big part of Japanese culture and a lot of that happens at… You guessed it. Izakaya ??? ⠀ They’re easy to find — just look for the red lanterns ?. Many of them will also send out staff as touts to stand nearby as walking advertisements. They approach couples or groups passing by and plug the izakaya. ⠀ Not interested? You drop a quick ‘daijoubu desu’ and keep on walking or completely ignore them — they know the deal. Touts are a big part of the food industry here so, regardless of how you feel (and most of us feel the same way) about them, it’s really just one of those ‘shou ga nai’ things ?‍♀️ ⠀ Last week, we talked about のみかい. Yesterday, we talked about おすすめ. Today, we’re on いざかや. See what we’re getting at? Normally, we’d tell you to get out there and have some fun but, really, it’s probably better to keep it low key for just a little while longer. We can, however, reminisce about the good old days. Who’s got the go-to izakaya with the best gyoza? ⭐ Comment below and let us know! ⭐ ⠀ Follow @wearejapanswitch for more notes on Japanese culture, the phrases you need to know to order like a pro in Izakaya, and the delish Japanese dishes that might surprise you! DMs are currently open for requests on topics too! ? . . . . . #japanesephrase #japanesegrammar #日本語勉強中 #にほんごべんきょう #japanesecharacter #japaneselanguageschool #japanexperience #lovejapanese #japanesevocabulary #japanesestudy #japaneselanguage #hiragana #日本語勉強 #japonês #learningjapanese #japanesewords #japaneselesson #tokyogram #japanawaits #amazingjapan #日本語 #nihongo #japaneseculture #japanlife #nippon #japanculture #jepang #jepones #japantravel #japanlover

Don’t know what’s good? Ask and you shall (probably) receive. I think I ask for recommendations every time I make plans so learning this language point was huge for me in terms of stepping up my Japanese game in those early days. It opened up so many conversations from “what’s that?” to “omg that place is soooo good” to the lesser “you couldn’t pay me to go back there.” ? ⠀ Being able to ask this question found me some of the best tonkatsu in Tokyo — Tonki in Meguro! Have you guys been? Thoughts? Do you know a better place? ⠀ ⭐ Comment below and let me know if you think you know where to find better tonkatsu! ⭐ ⠀ BONUS: なにがいい？ = nani ga ii = What’s good? ⠀ This is a handy little phrase that I use when I’m looking at a range of choices I’ve never seen before. So, if a friend is showing me their absolute fave hole in the wall crepe shop, I’ll usually ask なにがいい？ (before I go with my usual order of something doused in caramel sauce or whipped cream) ? ⠀ The one thing I love about this question is that it pretty much always kickstarts the conversation. Sometimes you hit a dead end when you’re chatting with someone new but this question always leads me down new paths like “yesss let’s go there next time” or old ones that give me those nostalgia vibes. ⠀ We hope today’s phrase is useful and if you have any recommendations (hah) for things you want to say in Japanese, follow and drop us a message @weareJapanSwitch! ✌️ . . . . . #japanesephrase #japanesegrammar #にほんごべんきょう #practicejapanese #japaneselanguageschool #japanesevocabulary #learnjapaneseonline #日本語勉強中 #日本語能力試験 #japanesestudy #tokyogram #japaneselanguage #hiragana #katakana #japonês #にほんご #learningjapanese #japanisch #japaneselesson #日本語勉強 #nihongo #日本語 #japanlife # #jepones #jepang #lifeinjapan #japonais #japaneseculture #traveljapan

Winters in Tokyo have kind of gotten less intense over the years but when I got here, I remember thinking ‘how do they do this every year!?’ ? ⠀ One part of that answer is special undershirts that keep you extra warm. ⠀ The other part is… Nabe and, by extension, Sukiyaki! Generally, the Japanese looove a good nabe with a nice cold beer on the side to balance it out. ?? ⠀ There are so many delish nabe recipes out there and I hope to show you more of them over the coming winter but, for now, hopefully this will give you a good idea of where to get started to add a little Japanese cuisine to your winter routine. It’s a staple in Japanese homes and is super easy to make. You just throw everything into the pot and turn it on. Sit around your こたつ and battle it out for the big piece of meat! ⠀ I can’t imagine a winter without Sukiyaki after having it every year with friends. How about you? What’s your go-to-winter-fave?? ⭐Comment below and let me know your favorite spots and dishes to survive the winter! ⭐ ⠀ For more of the best cheap eats around Tokyo, how to tell someone they have のり (nori/seaweed) in their teeth, and the study hacks you need to pass ~that~ Japanese exam, follow @weareJapanSwitch! . . . . . #practicejapanese #orangjepang #日本語を勉強します #japanesevocabulary #lovejapanese #日本語の勉強 #japanesestudy #lovejapanesefood #tokyolunch #japanesefoods #oyakodon #japfood #japaneselesson #japonês #japaneselanguage #日本語勉強 #japanoninsta #karaage #tokyorestaurant #japaneseculture #nippon #japantravel #日本語 #jepones #japanculture #lifeinjapan #nihongo #japangram #japonais

We dug kind of deep for this one too! We spent some time chatting with our Japanese staff and I reached out to a bunch of friends to get the DL on what exactly this group date ごうこん is all about ? ⠀ ごうこん can be a hit and miss like any blind date. The wonderful thing here, though, is that you can have your friends be there for you to help reduce some of the awkwardness and give you the ol ‘go get em’ you might need. ⠀ More than that though, it’s just a fun experience to learn more about one of the old Japanese traditions that can either be a source of that cringe gold (that I love scouring the internet for) or a new twist on a classic love story. ? ⠀ Have you ever been? How did it go for you? Meet the love of your life or was it a little more ‘FOR THE LIFE OF ME WHYYYYYY?’ ⭐ We’d love to hear your story so comment below whether it worked out for you! ⭐ ⠀ Follow @weareJapanSwitch for more about the culture of love in Tokyo, the 6 Japanese words you need to know before you go on your first date, and the romantic yet affordable must-try eats around Tokyo! ⠀ P.S While Goukon is associated with group dating, it can be used as a way to expand your circle with other university students or workers from other companies. ⠀ P.S.S Buuuuuut it's mostly used for group blind dating/ matchmaking ✌️ . . . . . #tokyolove #crazyjapan #japanesephrase #practicejapanese #日本語を勉強します #japanesevocabulary #japaneseclass #lovejapanese #japanesestudy #日本語の勉強 #japanesewords #japaneselesson #にほんご #japaneselanguage #japonês #japonaise #learnjapanese #foreignlanguage #日本語勉強 #tokyogram #japangram #japanculture #japanlover #日本語 #japanlife #japaneseculture #tokyo2020 #japanlovers #kanji

[SWIPE LEFT ?] Nihongo will be a different battle for everyone. Some will spend 30 episodes charging up to an explosive hit that doesn’t get you the progress you hoped for. Some will just attack the wall, do some serious damage and hit the ground running. ? Everybody’s different. ⠀ There’s this saying, ‘You need to know at least 2000 kanji to fully understand Japanese’, meaning you have a looooong path ahead of you before proficiency. Honestly, that’s not really true. I know a bunch of N4/N3 level students who get by on the day-to-day stuff without much hassle. ⠀ HOW? They established the right foundations without even knowing it. They weren’t buried in textbooks the whole time. Traditional study is important but don’t forget what the endgame is. You want to be able to apply what you’ve learned. So, they are out there having conversations, being active on Japanese social media, consuming Japanese content, etc. The basis for their learning is grounded in real world application. ⠀ どういういみですか？ = dou iu imi desu ka = What does this/that mean? ⠀ If you don’t know, don’t be afraid to ask. Nobody is going to laugh at you or crucify you for not knowing. It’s a lot worse if you’re pretending to understand while grasping 0%. It has a compounding effect where you understand less and less as the conversation goes on and that… doesn’t feel great for anyone, right? ? ⠀ Be patient with yourself. I’m so glad I met Yurika-Sensei and I feel like my Japanese ability is owing to her in a lot of ways because she helped me look at what was wrong with my approach — I didn’t have the foundations to build on. ⠀ ⭐ What do you guys struggle with the most? Comment below what you want to ask Yurika-Sensei! ⭐ ⠀ For more on the right way to get ahead in Japanese, follow @weareJapanSwitch! . . . #japaneseclass #japaneselanguageschool #japanesestudy #japanesevocabulary #learnjapaneseonline #lovejapanese #practicejapanese #日本語の勉強 #にほんごべんきょう #日本語能力試験 #hiragana #japaneselanguage #japanisch #katakana #learnjapanese #learningjapanese #studyjapanese #にほんご #ひらがな #日本語勉強 #foreignlanguage #languagelover #japaneselesson #japaneseculture #japonais #nihongo #日本語 #japones #japonais #jepones

Curious about how the Japanese can be so hard-working? Well, it might come down to what happens after work — driiiiiinks ??? ⠀ Nomikai is how employers and employees build, maintain, and improve their relationships with their colleagues. Some might see it as simply an excuse to drink on the company dollar but it’s actually a great opportunity to get to know your team and superiors on a more of a personal level (and to clear out any bad air still lingering from a hard day’s work) ⠀ In other countries, if you’re going out for drinks with your boss, you might get accused of… Well. Something I won’t say here but it ain’t pretty. In Japan, though, it’s an important part of the culture and skipping out on the after work drinks can make you look like you’re not a team player. ⠀ ?️BONUS: せったい(settai) ⠀ If you’re invited to a せったい, this is not your standard nomikai. Think of it as a business dinner to close/finalize a deal. You’ll need to be on your best behavior for these but you can get (a little, and I mean A LITTLE) loose at the weekly nomikai with your team. ⠀ ⭐ How do you feel about nomikai? Love em? Hate em? Let us know in the comments! ⭐ ⠀ With the pandemic being what it is, this year has been tough for getting together in groups. That didn’t put a stop to the culture of nomikai, however. It adapted almost immediately into the Zoom Nomikai. These are the online nomikai you have from home in your PJs with drinks you picked up from your local コンビニ (convenience store)! ⠀ Follow @wearejapanswitch for more notes on Japanese culture, the phrases you need to know for a quick escape from a nomikai, and the Japanese dishes that are surprisingly delish! DMs are currently open for requests! . . . . . #japanesephrase #japanesegrammar #日本語勉強中 #にほんごべんきょう #japanesecharacter #japaneselanguageschool #japanexperience #lovejapanese #japanesevocabulary #japanesestudy #japaneselanguage #hiragana #日本語勉強 #japonês #learningjapanese #japanesewords #japaneselesson #tokyogram #japanawaits #amazingjapan #日本語 #nihongo #japaneseculture #japanlife #nippon #japanculture #jepang #jepones #japantravel #japanlover ⠀

☕Ready to invite your buddy, colleague, or that cutie out for a drink? We’ve got you. ⠀ In your native language, you probably know a dozen ways to ask this from a simple “drinks?” all the way to “how about a nightcap before we head out?” ? ⠀ But the nuance of invitations in Japanese can be hard to grasp from a textbook. With this series, the higher rating on the Politeness Meter, the more friendly you are with the other person. This’ll give you an idea of which phrases feel right for which situations. ⠀ REMEMBER: Japanese people can often expect a higher degree of politeness and formality when you first meet but this rule isn’t concrete — it depends on who and where. New colleague that you want to kick it with after work? Probably a little more polite. Cutie at the bar? You can err on the side of more casual. They’ll understand you’re doing your best to figure this whole language thing out. ⠀ ⭐ How do you say ‘Let’s miss the last train?’ COMMENT BELOW and let us know! ⭐ ⠀ BONUS: おさけのめる？ = Do you drink (alcohol)? ? ⠀ Drop this phrase once you’re comfortable with the other person and want to make it clear that you want something that’ll get you a buzz ? ⠀ Follow @weareJapanSwitch for more mini-lessons on everyday survival phrases, avoiding the cringe, the best and best eats in and around Tokyo, and study hacks! . . . . #japanesephrase #japanesegrammar #にほんごべんきょう #practicejapanese #japaneselanguageschool #japanesevocabulary #learnjapaneseonline #日本語勉強中 #日本語能力試験 #japanesestudy #tokyogram #japaneselanguage #hiragana #katakana #japonês #にほんご #learningjapanese #japanisch #japaneselesson #日本語勉強 #nihongo #日本語 #japanlife # #jepones #jepang #lifeinjapan #japonais #japaneseculture #traveljapan