Go! Go! Nihon blog

Tag: culture

Japanese Culture
Why should the living get to have all the fun anyway? Every 7th month of the year, Japan celebrates Obon お盆, one of the biggest holiday periods of the year. But what is Obon? In short,...
Japanese Culture
Buddhism is one of the two main religions in Japan and has co-existed with its counterpart, Shintōism (神道) for many centuries. Buddhism was officially brought to Japan from China and Korea during the 6th century...
Japanese Culture
If you’re living in Japan and have a calendar at home, you may have noticed that there is some additional information under the date in black or red letters. This is the traditional Japanese six-day...
Japanese Culture
When you think about spring in Japan, surely the first thing that springs to mind (no pun intended) is the cherry blossoms that draw large crowds of locals and tourists alike. The tradition of hanami...
Only in Japan
Japan is famous for its stunning cherry blossom season, or sakura (桜) season, during spring. Each year, from late March to early May, the country is awash with pink and white petals, drawing crowds of...
Japanese Culture
Celebrating the new year in Japan is a fantastic experience. Unlike many western countries you traditionally don’t shoot fireworks during New Year (except maybe at Disneyland).  Rather, it is customary to place a shimekazari (しめ飾り)...
Japanese Culture
Have you ever visited a temple or shrine in Japan and seen large amounts of wooden plaques hanging on display at the temple grounds? These wooden plaques, so called ema (絵馬), have a long history...
Only in Japan
The Shintō 神道 religion is an integral part of Japanese life, informing much of the culture, beliefs, and ways of life that are practiced in modern-day Japanese society. Originating in Japan, Shintō revolves around nature,...
Japanese Culture
Every year on August 11, people celebrate Mountain Day, or Yama no Hi 山の日, in Japan. This is the country’s newest public holiday, enacted in 2014 with the intention to encourage people to pay homage...
Life in Japan
As an archipelago, Japan has close cultural and economic ties with the ocean – you only need to look to Japanese cuisine to see how important the sea is to Japan! It’ll come as no...
Only in Japan
A peaceful city full of friendly deer walking freely like in a Disney movie. That’s what many people imagine when they think about Nara. But Nara City has way more to offer its visitors. And...
Japanese Culture
What’s in a name anyway? Well, if you grew up in Japan, a lot. A rich history lives behind every Japanese family name. Each one tells a story linked to a historic clan of ancient...
Only in Japan
The Shōwa era (1929-1989) is a unique period of Japan’s history that is marked by both great devastation and miraculous growth. Arguably, the events of this 63-year period made Japan into the country many of...
Japanese Culture
What are those interesting-looking, red Daruma dolls anyway? You’ve likely seen them in Asian restaurants around the world or hiding just about everywhere in Japan. But few know the interesting and somewhat dark history behind their...
Japanese Culture
They’re an absolute must-see whether you’re religious or not. Japan’s temples and shrines are some of the most beautiful in the world. Most of them are nestled into gorgeous locations across the country. Think secluded cliff-side...
Japanese Culture
Japanese pop music, or J-Pop, is popular all around the world thanks to movies, anime and the internet. But did you know Japan also has an incredibly rich and long history of traditional music and...
Food&Drink
Light and crispy tempura, rich and hearty curry rice, delicate omurice. There are so many classic dishes that come to mind when we think of traditional Japanese food. But, you might be surprised to know...
Japanese Culture
The word omiyage お土産 translates to “souvenir”, but the practice of giving omiyage in Japan is much more nuanced than your typical western ideas of what a souvenir is.  Giving omiyage is deeply ingrained in...
Japanese Culture
If you watch anime or read manga, you’ll probably have come across the word senpai 先輩. This is usually someone older, such as an older student at a school. But what a senpai is and...
Japanese Culture
Shibori is a Japanese tie-dyeing technique that has been used for centuries. Famous for its blue dye, shibori is the result of experimentation with more interesting approaches to textile production, rather than just colouring clothes...
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Who we are

Go! Go! Nihon Live and Study in Japan!

In 2009, after meeting and studying at a Japanese language school together, Davide and John start working on a project that will make the process of living and studying in Japan much easier. The idea for Go! Go! Nihon is born. The service and website is launched with Italian, Swedish, and English language support. There is an immediate positive reception to the service and the first long-term students start the October session that year.