Go! Go! Nihon blog
Tag: language
Learn Japanese
Learn Japanese online with one of Tokyo’s largest Japanese language schools, Akamonkai. Together with Go! Go! Nihon, Akamonkai offers a 12-week online Japanese course, designed to teach you the fundamentals of the Japanese language, entirely...
Learn Japanese
Whether it’s to send a postcard from your travels or a box full of goodies to your friends back home, you’re bound to need to visit the post office while you’re living in Japan. It...
Life in Japan
You’ve made the decision and you’re ready to move to Japan: awesome! Out of all the countries in the world, you have concluded that Japan is the place you want to be. But what about...
Learn Japanese
Studying Japanese in Japan might be your dream but what comes after that? Starting a job hunt can seem daunting but you’ve already taken a step in the right direction by deciding to learn a...
Life in Japan
If you’ve finished a Japanese language course, graduated from a university, have the right qualifications, and are dreaming about finding a full-time job in Japan, there is a lot to learn about the process. Job-hunting...
How to
It can be very difficult to start studying for JLPT N1 (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). This is because the gap in difficulty from N2 to N1 is huge and it can take students between one...
How to
If you are studying Japanese it is highly recommended to aim at passing the JLPT N2. The test is hard, but there are many benefits to passing. Having a JLPT N2 certificate makes you linguistically...
Japanese Culture
Having the opportunity to work full-time in Japan is truly a dream come true for some. It offers a glimpse into a dynamic and intricate work culture. From punctuality and team collaboration to professionalism and...
How to
If you’re planning to pursue further education in Japan or if you are in search of employment, having a JLPT (Japanese Language Certificate Test) certificate will come in handy. JLPT N3 is the intermediate-level test...
How to
Whether it’s calling your hairdresser or a dental office for your yearly dental checkup, you’re going to need to make an appointment in Japanese at least a few times while living in Japan. Talking on...
How to
If you are studying Japanese, chances are that you’ve come across the term JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). The JLPT is a nationwide standardized Japanese test for foreigners and is recognized in all of Japan....
How to
If you’re learning Japanese, you’ll probably have heard about the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). In this five-part series, we will break down each test level, what they test you on, how they’re scored, and...
Learn Japanese
Embark on a new and unique language adventure by learning Japanese slang with Go! Go! Nihon! In the past, we’ve teamed up with renowned language institutions to bring you the best online Japanese courses from...
Learn Japanese
If you’re a fan of anime and have watched the latest season of Dr. Stone, you’ve probably heard the protagonist, Zenku, saying the phrase “sosoru-ze, kore wa.” (唆るぜ、これは, this is exhilarating). This is one example...
Learn Japanese
Have you ever struggled with memorizing kanji and felt that you forget old ones as quickly as you remember new ones? To speak and write fluent Japanese, it is often said that you need to...
Learn Japanese
Learning adverbs in Japanese is very useful if you want to become better at expressing yourself. But what is an adverb and what adverbs are especially useful to learn? In this article we will look...
Learn Japanese
Expressing love in Japanese is probably very different to where you’re from, particularly if you come from a western society. If you’re familiar with Japanese culture, you’ll know that a lot of the language is...
Learn Japanese
Are you perhaps studying Japanese? Or maybe plan to study Japanese, and want to know what to expect on the journey ahead? I’m going to share my experiences and thoughts on being “fluent” in Japanese....
Learn Japanese
Particles in Japanese are like the building blocks in a sentence and crucial for constructing sentences. In this article we will review some functions of the particles に/へ, で, と, から/まで, as well as the...
Learn Japanese
Particles in Japanese are like “building blocks” and decide the role of the word it is preceded by in a sentence. That’s why understanding particles in Japanese is key to being able to construct sentences,...
Learn Japanese
Knowing how to best prepare for JLPT N1 is not obvious. This is because the jump from N2 to N1 is huge and can easily feel overwhelming if you don’t have a proper study plan....
How to
Whether you’re building strength, working on your cardiovascular health, or wanting to join some group fitness classes, signing up for a gym membership can help you achieve your fitness goals in Japan. Chances are, there...
Learn Japanese
Kansai-ben, or Kansai dialect, is probably the most well-known and common Japanese dialect. You’ll often hear it on Japanese TV comedy shows and you’ll hear it all around you if you travel to the Kansai...
Learn Japanese
Business Japanese is on a whole other level in terms of formality, but it is essential to master if you ever plan to work in Japan. Your grasp of formal Japanese language, business etiquette, and...
Learn Japanese
Starting to learn a new language can seem like an overwhelming task. It seems like there’s a lot to learn and you don’t always know the best way to start. Even more difficult with a...
Life in Japan
You’ve done your research, picked a city you think you’d love, and even started hunting online for good schools or jobs in the land of the rising sun. There’s just one question burning in the...
Learn Japanese
For those with dietary restrictions or needs, navigating food labels in Japan can feel daunting. Particularly for those whose health and wellbeing rely on being able to know exactly what is in their food, it’s...
Learn Japanese
When thinking about the similarities and differences between Japanese and English, more differences probably come to mind than similarities. From their origins to the way they’re written and how they sound, there are plenty of...
Learn Japanese
Spring is without a doubt the most popular time of year in Japan. The weather is warming up, the flowers are starting to bloom and cherry blossom-flavoured snacks are making their way into cafes and...
Learn Japanese
If living and working in Japan is a dream of yours, then there’s a good chance you’ll need some essential Japanese words and phrases for a job interview. Interviews (mensetsu 面接) are an essential part...
Learn Japanese
Given the geographic proximity of Japan and Korea, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that these two countries share many things in common. One of those things is the language – although different in many...
Learn Japanese
Free Japanese language resources can be a great learning accompaniment, or give you a good taste of the language before you commit fully. We’ve got some great free resources, from our blog articles to online...
Learn Japanese
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is seen as the gold standard of Japanese language tests for non-native speakers. But did you know there are actually many other tests you can take aside from the...
Learn Japanese
If you’re a Japanese learner, you might have already come across words like rashii らしい, sou そう, mitai みたい and ppoiっぽい. These words are used to express “seems like” or “looks like”, or to express...
Learn Japanese
It’s true! You already know some Japanese even if you’ve never studied the language before. From emojis to zen, Japanese culture is a global influence that is a part of daily life everywhere. You might...
How to
Being able to speak and hold a conversation in Japanese is often a major hurdle many learners struggle to overcome. But it’s an important one because once you start to speak Japanese more, your language...
Learn Japanese
Opening a bank account in Japan is essential if you plan on staying long-term. Luckily for newcomers, there are English-friendly options where you don’t need to know much Japanese in order to conduct your banking...
Learn Japanese
Since 2020, Go! Go! Nihon has been working with Japanese language schools to create online language courses. We’ve got a 12-week beginner online Japanese course, business Japanese courses, and even a Kansei dialect course. And...
Learn Japanese
Last year we launched the Akamonkai online 12-week beginner Japanese language course to help those of you who couldn’t come to Japan to start learning the language. Now, we’re excited to launch the Akamonkai pre-intermediate...
Learn Japanese
As you go about your life in Japan, you’ll notice that there are certain words and phrases that you will hear people use all the time. Of course, knowing the language will add so much...
Learn Japanese
As a beginner Japanese learner, it can be hard sometimes to get all the different pronunciation rules right. Especially challenging for beginner learners is the double consonant and long vs short vowels, which – when...
Life in Japan
Depending on where you live in the world you may or may not be familiar with the seasonal sniffles of hay fever, but hay fever in Japan is very common. With distinct seasons comes strong...
Learn Japanese
Going on a date can be nerve-wracking enough without having to worry about the language barrier as well. If you’re in the dating game in Japan, then chances are you’ll want some Japanese that you...
Learn Japanese
Why study Japanese? Well let’s start with you. Why are you interested in learning Japanese? There’s a number of reasons why there’s a growing number of people interested in learning Japanese, and each have their...
How to
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is the most widely recognised Japanese proficiency exam. Foreigners who want to work in Japan sweat blood and tears to pass the coveted JLPT N2 exam – the level...
Learn Japanese
You’re excited and ready to start your new Japanese language lessons, only to begin class and discover that everything is being taught in Japanese. You’re just a beginner! How are you supposed to understand anything?...
Life in Japan
Long hours, unpaid overtime, traditional working culture, and hierarchical structures – these are some of the things that often come to mind when people think about what it’s like to work in Japan as a...
Learn Japanese
Visiting your local ward office is a necessary, but sometimes burdensome, part of living in Japan. Most of the time, you’ll get by with basic Japanese, but it’s always better to go equipped with some...
Learn Japanese
Kore, sore and are are some of the first pronouns you’ll learn as a beginner Japanese language student and at first, they seem fairly straightforward. But, the difference between kore, sore and are is often...
Learn Japanese
From introducing yourself to someone for the first time, to asking another person for a favour, the phrase yoroshiku onegaishimasu, よろしくお願いします is an essential part of Japanese language. You hear and use it everywhere, but...
Learn Japanese
Is learning Japanese from anime really an option? Or will you just learn a lot of slang and fighting talk? Well actually anime can be a great accompaniment to your Japanese language studies (although definitely...
Learn Japanese
You know you’re on your way to Japanese proficiency when you can use Japanese onomatopoeia in everyday conversations. When used correctly, they will inject colour and flair to the way you express yourself. Read on...
Learn Japanese
Everyone from Ariana Grande to your best friend’s dog is on TikTok right now and it’s easy to spend countless hours enjoying the creative, funny – and sometimes outright weird – content. But did you...
Learn Japanese
Finding a place to live is a significant step in your move to Japan. If you want to tackle this in Japanese, you will need to know a few specific words in order to successfully...
Japanese Culture
It’s hard to imagine communicating these days without the use of emojis – but do you know their history? Read on to learn more about the history of emojis and the significant role that Japan...
Learn Japanese
If you’re looking for a way to learn more Japanese, then look no further than your Netflix subscription. Whether you are in Japan or not, there are a range of shows available on the popular...
Learn Japanese
There are many reasons why you might need, or want, to self-learn Japanese. It might not be possible for you to study in Japan at the moment. Regardless of the reason, these are great opportunities...
Learn Japanese
We all feel under the weather sometimes. Whether you’re visiting on a trip or studying abroad in Japan, in the case you are feeling ill, it’s important to know how to take care of yourselves...
Learn Japanese
We’ve prepared a list of Olympics vocabulary you can study to be in the know once the Games officially begin. Learn game terminology, and phrases used to discuss the Games with friends or express joy...
Learn Japanese
We make the process of applying for a student visa and going to a Japanese language school super easy, but there are still some basics you should know about how Japanese language schools work, what...
Learn Japanese
Is it really possible to learn Japanese from manga? Well, maybe not completely but it can actually be a very effective tool for practicing reading. Just make sure that you combine it with some properly...
Life in Japan
You’ve settled into your new home in Japan and your Japanese language lessons have started, so it’s time to get down to business and start studying hard. Of course your school and your home are...
Learn Japanese
Japanese cuisine is delicious and one of the best ways to get an understanding of it is to visit restaurants and try the food. However, you’ll need to navigate your way around it with some...
How to
Japan’s weather can be variable across the year with its 52 micro seasons. What’s more, with the country stretching from Hokkaido to Okinawa, there’s a range of temperatures from city to city. It’s no surprise...
Learn Japanese
Apps are a great learning tool to supplement your Japanese lessons. In this article we explore some of our favourite and best apps to learn Japanese with. Note that we recommend using these apps together...
Learn Japanese
It’s often said that Japanese is a complex language to learn and one of those reasons is the use of keigo, or honorific speech in Japanese. You might think you’ll never need to learn Japanese...
Learn Japanese
Are you familiar with the saying “kill two birds with one stone”? Well, it turns out that it’s quite the universal phrase and even exists in Japanese too. This Japanese proverb is written as: 一石二鳥...
Learn Japanese
It can be very useful to learn things like parts of the face when starting a new language. Particularly in Japanese where the parts of the face are often used as general descriptors in everyday...
Learn Japanese
If you’ve ever come across any manga or anime, you’ve probably already heard people referred to as –san, –chan, –sensei, or maybe even –kun. These are Japanese honorifics and they are used in the same...
How to
Congratulations! You’ve got an interview scheduled. As with interviews anywhere else in the world, you should be prepared to answer some of the most common questions asked in a Japanese job interview. We’ve listed the...
Learn Japanese
When you’re in Japan, you’ll hear a variety of apologies in many situations. Respect for others is a valued virtue in Japanese culture, and apologizing plays a large part of it. As you may know,...
Learn Japanese
Greetings are important in many cultures and languages and Japan is no different. There are plenty of Japanese greetings, each with their own unique set of usage rules. It’s essential to master how to greet in...
Learn Japanese
Many Japanese words and phrases are hard to translate into different languages, including English. As an English speaker, you may not have a specific greeting for before and after a meal, or before and after...
Life in Japan
While looking back into one of the best months in his life, Zachary decided to share with us his eventful month on Go! Go! Nihon’s Summer Course in Japan. (Go! Go! Nihon staff): Could you tell me...
Japanese Culture
Whether you’re at school, work, a sports game or going on a date, the word ganbaru (頑張る) and its imperatives ganbare/ganbatte are used so frequently in Japan. But it’s a difficult word to translate into...
How to
Much like in other countries, applying for most jobs in Japan will require a resume, regardless of part-time/full-time or industry. However, Japanese resumes have a fairly strict structure so be sure to adhere to the...
How to
If you’re moving to Japan to study Japanese, chances are you’ll be looking to take the JLPT—the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (日本語能力試験). It may sound like I’m just trying to get you to take tests...
Learn Japanese
The Japanese writing system consists of two types of characters: the syllabic kana – hiragana (平仮名) and katakana (片仮名) – and kanji (漢字), the adopted Chinese characters. Each have different usages, purposes and characteristics and...
Life in Japan
The Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU), or nihon ryūgaku shiken (日本留学試験) is used to evaluate the Japanese language skills and basic academic abilities needed for international students to study at the...
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.
