en-GB Japan Reference Japanese travel, culture, society, people, news and language discussion Mon, 26 Oct 2026 06:33:51 +0000 Mon, 26 Oct 2026 06:33:51 +0000 Japan Reference https://jref.com/forums/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Don Quijote unveils new food-focused store format Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:20:31 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/don-quijote-unveils-new-food-focused-store-format.958354/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:958354 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Don Quijote Co., Ltd. has opened the first outlet of its new grocery-focused retail format, Robin Hood (ロビン・フッド), moving into an increasingly crowded supermarket market where major retailers are competing hard for price-conscious shoppers. The first Robin Hood store opened on Thursday in Ama, Aichi Prefecture. Interest appeared strong from early on. Even an hour before opening, people were already lining up outside, and by 9 a.m., around 500 shoppers had gathered.

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Read more]]> 3 JREF Sake Industry Updates Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:15:16 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/jref-sake-industry-updates.1022100/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1022100 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Welcome to the JREF Sake Industry Updates thread! :)

This thread will provide a weekly roundup of developments in Japan's sake industry that may be relevant to the JREF database of active sake breweries or to our wider sake coverage.

Particular attention will be given to:
  • new breweries and the resumption of brewing;
  • closures, suspensions, mergers and acquisitions;
  • changes of company or brewery name;
  • relocations and changes in brewing status;
  • new manufacturing...

Read more]]> 8 Kanagawa maglev station platform unveiled to the public Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:06:40 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/kanagawa-maglev-station-platform-unveiled-to-the-public.1033002/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1033002 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas The underground platform of the planned Kanagawa Prefecture Station on Japan's Chūō Shinkansen maglev line opened to the public on 24 October, giving visitors a rare look at the construction site in Sagamihara. Applications for the tour exceeded available places by around 12 times. JR Central, which is building the high-speed railway between Tokyo and Nagoya, organised the special tour of the station, whose name remains provisional.

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The station's platform is...
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Read more]]> 0 The history of Japan Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:52:47 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/the-history-of-japan.964386/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:964386 invalid@example.com (Buntaro) Buntaro This YouTuber has put together an impressive set of videos on the history of Japan. These are so well done, I thought it would be good to start a thread just for these videos.

Video 1:

Shinto Creation Myth: Izanami and Izanagi | History of Japan 1

]]> 147 Marriage in Japan Sun, 25 Oct 2026 14:36:57 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/marriage-in-japan.744172/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:744172 invalid@example.com (JREF) JREF This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Marriage in Japan.

Click the link to read the article or add to the discussion here.]]> 2 Typhoon No. 30 batters Okinawa as rare No. 31 forms in the Pacific Sun, 25 Oct 2026 14:12:31 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/typhoon-no-30-batters-okinawa-as-rare-no-31-forms-in-the-pacific.1032454/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1032454 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Typhoon No. 30 remained almost stationary near Okinawa's Yonaguni Island early on 24 October, bringing severe weather and waves exceeding 10 metres to the Sakishima Islands. A weather front also threatened heavy rain across western and eastern Japan through 27 October. At 5 am, the large, powerful storm was centred about 60 kilometres west-northwest of Yonaguni, with maximum sustained winds of 40 metres per second, down from 45 metres per second earlier. It was subsequently downgraded from...

Read more]]> 2 Japan ties with Sweden for fifth place in Nobel Prize rankings Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:41:00 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/japan-ties-with-sweden-for-fifth-place-in-nobel-prize-rankings.1032348/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1032348 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Japan shares fifth place with Sweden in the Nobel Prize rankings, with 34 prizes each. The United States leads with 432, followed by the United Kingdom with 145, Germany with 118 and France with 80.

That puts Japan among the leading countries overall. Adjusting for population, however, changes the picture considerably: Sweden has 32.1 laureates per ten million people, compared with Japan's 2.8. Counting methods matter too, as winners associated with several countries can contribute to more...

Read more]]> 0 Japanese cult novelist Ryū Murakami dies at 74 Sat, 24 Oct 2026 21:26:32 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/japanese-cult-novelist-ry%C5%AB-murakami-dies-at-74.1032375/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1032375 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Japanese novelist and filmmaker Ryū Murakami (村上龍, 1952–2026), known for his dark, provocative fiction, died at 74. His publisher, Gentosha, said he passed away at home on 17 October. Often called the enfant terrible of Japanese literature, Murakami wrote more than 40 works exploring violence, drugs, sex and the darker sides of Japanese and American society. His novels attracted millions of readers, including Audition, later adapted into an acclaimed independent horror film.

Ryū Murakami...


Read more]]> 1 N1をN2と言う 🏷️ Naming Things in Japanese JLPT N3-24 Sat, 24 Oct 2026 16:29:20 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/n1%E3%82%92n2%E3%81%A8%E8%A8%80%E3%81%86-%F0%9F%8F%B7%EF%B8%8F-naming-things-in-japanese-jlpt-n3-24.1032499/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1032499 invalid@example.com (JapaneseLily) JapaneseLily What do you call a thing, action, or situation in Japanese? 🏷️

In this JLPT N3 lesson, you'll learn how to use N1をN2と言う to explain names and definitions clearly. You'll also see how to use a sentence in the plain form + こと before を.

Practice with clear examples, a short test, and listening exercises. Stay until the end for six more challenging examples! 🎧

]]> 0 Post Japanese-related YouTube links here Sat, 24 Oct 2026 16:25:35 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/post-japanese-related-youtube-links-here.236840/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:236840 invalid@example.com (Buntaro) Buntaro Post Japanese-related YouTube links here

Here is the latest video from Life Where I'm From on the restrictive dress codes for girls in Japanese schools and work-places.

(I like the translation of dasai as "unsophisticated".)

]]> 876 When Does Translation Become 2nd Nature? Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:38:58 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/when-does-translation-become-2nd-nature.1032324/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1032324 invalid@example.com (トレバー) トレバー When does one naturally intuit what a Japanese person is saying without translating into English in one's own head? I feel like I'm missing a link between knowing words and intuiting meaning I'm hearing. What does one need to do to get to that next level? Thanks!]]> 2 Japan Photos 2026 Sat, 24 Oct 2026 00:45:16 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/japan-photos-2026.904090/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:904090 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas These aren't mine, but is there a more auspicious way to start a new photo thread than by showing Double Diamond Fuji?

I hope you all had a good start to the New Year!

Double Diamond Fuji

Double Diamond Fuji​
]]> 256 Apple enters foldable phone race with $1,999 iPhone Duo Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:52:19 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/apple-enters-foldable-phone-race-with-1-999-iphone-duo.1014465/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1014465 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Sorry, Apple. I've used an iPhone since 2009, but I will not spend over 300,000 JPY on a smartphone! :rolleyes:

iPhone Duo​

Apple on Wednesday redefined its flagship smartphone with the launch of the Duo, a folding $1,999 iPhone, betting its design and promises of data privacy will let it leap ahead of rivals who have been selling folding phones for years. The Duo could shake up a category long dominated by Samsung ‌and Chinese companies like Huawei, whose devices have struggled...
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Read more]]> 21 Tokyo rent and condo prices soaring Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:42:15 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/tokyo-rent-and-condo-prices-soaring.620507/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:620507 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Average prices for new apartments in Japan's capital hit a record high in 2023, according to figures released Thursday by the Tokyo-based Real Estate Economic Institute, pushed up by the rising cost of land and construction. Prices of such properties in Tokyo's 23 wards, or districts, averaged 114.83 million JPY (USD 777,630), up 39.4% from a year earlier and topping 100 million JPY for the first time. The average price has rocketed 60.8% over the past five years.


In Tokyo's broader...
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Read more]]> 30 Japan's core inflation remains above BoJ's 2% target Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:32:24 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/japans-core-inflation-remains-above-bojs-2-target.1032141/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1032141 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Japan's core consumer inflation rose above the Bank of Japan's 2% target in September for the first time in nine months, according to data released on Friday. The figures pointed to growing price pressures and strengthened expectations of another interest rate rise in the near future. Higher fuel costs linked to the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, rising import prices driven by a weak yen, and strong demand for artificial intelligence have continued to push prices up. These pressures...

Read more]]> 0 Police urge tourists not to harm deer in Nara Fri, 23 Oct 2026 22:24:40 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/police-urge-tourists-not-to-harm-deer-in-nara.688582/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:688582 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Following an outcry over a viral video depicting a tourist kicking a deer in Nara Park, local authorities stepped up efforts to protect the beloved animals. On 25 July, police, government officials, and wildlife experts conducted joint patrols to educate visitors about respecting the deer. Multilingual flyers were distributed, and officers fluent in English and Chinese reinforced the message that harming the deer is illegal. The initiative aims to prevent future incidents and preserve the...

Read more]]> 16 Tokugawa Mitsukuni: The Historical Mito Kōmon Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:35:01 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/tokugawa-mitsukuni-the-historical-mito-k%C5%8Dmon.1032022/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1032022 invalid@example.com (JREF) JREF This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Tokugawa Mitsukuni: The Historical Mito Kōmon.

Click the link to read the article or add to the discussion here.]]> 1 Does Anyone Want to Buy My Art? Fri, 23 Oct 2026 07:21:54 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/does-anyone-want-to-buy-my-art.1031865/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1031865 invalid@example.com (トレバー) トレバー Hey all, me again, I was just curious if anyone would be interested in buying some art from me? Hahaha, I'm trying to save for a new car. UGH Anyway, along with my job, I thought I would speed up the ol process, maybe, and I shall post my links! Thanks for looking!


]]> 0 Ibaraki launches ninja academy inspired by Mito clan operatives Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:39:27 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/ibaraki-launches-ninja-academy-inspired-by-mito-clan-operatives.1031740/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1031740 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Ibaraki Prefecture has opened a ninja training academy in Hitachi-Ōta, drawing on the region's history and its links to the Mito clan. The city was once home to Tokugawa Mitsukuni (1628–1701), the second lord of the Mito domain, who spent his retirement at Nishiyama Goten. Better known as Mito Kōmon, he later became the central character of a popular Japanese historical television drama.

Hitachinokuni Ninja Academy
Hitachinokuni Ninja Academy (photo credit: Asahi Shimbun)


The Hitachinokuni Ninja...

Read more]]> 0 Japan considers deploying nuclear-powered submarines Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:20:02 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/japan-considers-deploying-nuclear-powered-submarines.1031739/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1031739 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Japan is considering nuclear-powered submarines as part of a defence strategy review aimed at strengthening deterrence against growing regional threats. The proposal comes as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seeks to revise the country's three key national security documents by the end of 2026. At a press conference on 9 October, Defence Minister Shinjirō Koizumi said the government was keeping all options open, although no decisions had been made. He said it was natural to discuss a wide range...

Read more]]> 0 Japan government websites partially shut down to fix PHP security flaws Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:13:59 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/japan-government-websites-partially-shut-down-to-fix-php-security-flaws.1031553/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1031553 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Just FYI: I updated our server last night, so we are safe. Based on the number of Japanese government and company websites hacked in the past few weeks, I reckon this will be a big issue in Japan:

Several Japanese government websites have been partially shut down as a precaution after security vulnerabilities were discovered in PHP, a widely used programming language. The government confirmed the suspensions on Thursday, as similar measures affected websites nationwide. Chief Cabinet...

Read more]]> 1 Dealing with workaholic Japanese girlfriend Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:01:03 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/dealing-with-workaholic-japanese-girlfriend.58038/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:58038 invalid@example.com (Bosox86) Bosox86 So I'm American military stationed here on mainland for about a year now (and not planning to leave anytime soon). I will admit before moving here I knew literally nothing about Japan, but I've been fortunate to live off base here and have worked to immerse myself when I can, as my job is still rather consuming compared to maybe other expats.

I've been dating a girl here for a little over 3 months. Thing is, she regularly spends 14-15 hours a day/5-6 days a week at work (she works in human...

Read more]]> 37 What are your interests for Japan? Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:35:30 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/what-are-your-interests-for-japan.564/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:564 invalid@example.com (Maciamo) Maciamo Thread courtesy of Wa-pedia.com

Always good to know if we are here for the same reason or not... This is a multiple answer poll, so choose as many as you want.

My interest for Japan date back from my childhood with the anime on tv. I have done judo and karate when I was respectively 6 and 14-15 years old,. I have been a video game addict as a teenager. But all this was forgotten when I met my wife and I came to Japan.Now I am interested in the culure in general (history, language...

Read more]]> 645 University of Tokyo appoints first female president Wed, 21 Oct 2026 22:03:00 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/university-of-tokyo-appoints-first-female-president.1022497/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1022497 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Great news, but it's sad it's making national headlines in 2026.

Yuko Fujigaki​

The University of Tokyo has selected professor Yuko Fujigaki, 64, as its next president, making her the first woman to head the university. Fujigaki is a professor at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She will succeed current president Teruo Fujii, and her six-year term will begin in April 2027.

Following the announcement, Fujigaki said she wanted to return to the fundamental...

Read more]]> 1 Hackers raise alarm over Japan's poor cybersecurity Wed, 21 Oct 2026 21:42:00 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/hackers-raise-alarm-over-japans-poor-cybersecurity.1026026/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1026026 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas The ransomware group Qilin, which has been linked to a series of cyberattacks on companies including Asahi Group Holdings, has warned that attacks on Japanese businesses and government agencies could increase.

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The warning came after a suspected core member of the group was detained in Osaka and extradited to Germany. Qilin said Japan's computer security was among the weakest in the world and suggested the arrest could lead to further attacks against Japanese...

Read more]]> 8 Tokuryū (匿流) - a new type of organized crime Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:51:51 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/tokury%C5%AB-%E5%8C%BF%E6%B5%81-a-new-type-of-organized-crime.660958/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:660958 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Tokuryū (匿流) refers to a type of organized crime defined as "criminal groups that recruit through social media such as dark part-time jobs and engage in loose associations, repeatedly dispersing and gathering. The National Police Agency coined the term to classify individuals involved in "black" part-time jobs and quasi-gangsters; the words tokumei (anonymous) and ryūdo (fluid) reflect the characteristics of such individuals, who often operate without knowing one another and can...

Read more]]> 6 Saigo Takamori Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:43:13 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/saigo-takamori.1031239/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1031239 invalid@example.com (JREF) JREF This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Saigo Takamori.

Click the link to read the article or add to the discussion here.]]> 1 Japan declaration card for entry Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:35:25 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/japan-declaration-card-for-entry.1031018/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1031018 invalid@example.com (carter) carter I would sincerely appreciate your guidance regarding Question 2 of Japan's Disembarkation Card for Foreign Nationals.

Having reviewed the official declaration, I noticed that the front and reverse sides contain slightly different wording, including in the original Japanese:

Front (YES/NO selection):
"Any history of being convicted of a crime (not only in Japan)?"

Reverse (Full Question 2):
"Have you ever been found guilty in a criminal case in Japan or in another country?"...

Read more]]> 3 Hikone Castle Tue, 20 Oct 2026 21:34:00 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/hikone-castle.981454/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:981454 invalid@example.com (JREF) JREF This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Hikone Castle.

Click the link to read the article or add to the discussion here.]]> 3 Osaka Castle's reconstructed keep to receive cultural property recognition Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:59:50 +0000 https://jref.com/threads/osaka-castles-reconstructed-keep-to-receive-cultural-property-recognition.1030721/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss urn:xenforo:thread:1030721 invalid@example.com (thomas) thomas Osaka Castle's main keep is expected to become the first reconstructed castle tower of its kind to be designated a nationally important cultural property. Completed in 1931, the building, one of Osaka's best-known landmarks, has since become a symbol of the city. On 16 October, the Council for Cultural Affairs recommended that the education minister designate eight buildings, including Osaka Castle's keep, as important cultural properties.

Osaka Castle
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The tower is classified as a...

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