Rosetta Stone Learning Center

Wishing you good cheer in the New Year!

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How do you welcome the New Year?  

The beginning of a new year is a time to reflect on the year gone by, and make plans for the future. Some people go to shrines and temples, hoping to change our lives for the better.  We tip a glass of sake or wine with our family.

During this special time of the year, we give and receive warm greetings to our loved ones. These inspiring messages will be especially important as we express our hopes and dreams for better days ahead in 2022 after surviving the challenging year of 2021!

 

 

There are many お正月 (Oshogatsu) New Year’s phrases in Japan, but what phrases are there to use as greetings?

Today, I would like to introduce two phrases, one commonly used at the end of the year and the other at the beginning of the year, and why they are used at those times.

　

よいお年を！

( Yoi otoshi wo! )

よいお年をお迎えください！ 

( Yoi otoshi wo omukae kudasai！) 

 

The phrase「よいお年を」 “Good New Year” is an abbreviation of the phrase 「よいお年をお迎えください」 “Please have a good New Year.” However, when greeting your superiors at the end of the year in business situations, it is common to politely say 「よいお年をお迎えください」instead of abbreviating it to「よいお年を」.

If you have been using this phrase in the sense of “Have a good New Year,” did you know that there is a difference in perception from the original meaning? As the end of the year is a hectic time with many events, the phrase is used in the sense of “I hope you will finish your various events and complete your preparations for a good new year.  It also expresses the feeling of “Let’s work hard at the busy year-end season and welcome a happy new year.”

For the above reasons, the greeting「よいお年を」is usually not used on 大晦日 (Omisoka) – December 31.

It is not necessary to say 「よいお年を」on December 31 because the New Year’s preparations should have already been made. The appropriate time to say this phrase is from mid-December to December 30. However, sometimes people say it on New Year’s Eve accidently and it might make the other person uncomfortable.  But they have no offense intended.

When greeting people on New Year’s Eve you can always use the safe phrase:

 

「来年もよろしくお願いします」

(Rainen mo yoroshiku onegai-shimasu.)

“I look forward to seeing you again next year”. 

 

明けましておめでとうございます

( Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! )

 

「明けましておめでとうございます」”Happy New Year!” is a phrase that is often used as a New Year’s greeting. It is a phrase that expresses congratulations on successfully passing the year and welcoming the new year. It has become a standard phrase you can see on New Year’s greetings and New Year’s cards.

「明けまして」refers to the end of one period or one state and the beginning of the next. In other words, 「明けましておめでとうございます」means that the last year has ended and the new year has just begun anew.  And it also expresses our feelings of quiet and holy celebration of the New Year.

The time to say this phrase is during  松の内 (Matsunouchi), when the gods of the year come and stay in each of our houses.  In Japan, this period during the New Year’s holiday is when New Year’s decorations such as 門松 (kadomatsu), the special decoration using pine trees (matsu) is displayed to welcome the gods. The end of Matsunouchi is when the gods of the year leave the house, so we put away the New Year’s decorations.

The New Year’s holiday differs from region to region, and in the Kanto region it is until January 7, while in the Kansai region it is until January 15.

 

 

Some casual ways to say Happy New Year to your friends in Japan

In more casual settings, that is to say between friends or among young people:

 

「あけおめ！ことよろ !」 (Ake ome! Koto yoro!) can be heard quite frequently.

It simply is a shorter version of “あけましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願いします”

(Akemashite omedetō gozaimasu. Kotoshimo yoroshiku onegai shimasu).

“Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing you again this year.”

 

In Conclusion

When greeting the Japanese people around you for the New Year’s holidays, why not express your gratitude for last year and greetings for this year in Japanese with all your heart?

 

 

どうぞ、よいお年をお迎えください☆

May your days be merry and bright★

 

Moving in Japan

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Summer in Japan is notoriously hot and humid, especially for expats who hail from more temperate climes. Despite the heat and humidity, it can be a prime time for movers who want to take advantage of the lower prices that are available in this otherwise unpopular moving time. With the Coronavirus pandemic carrying on and the Olympics underway, plans to move may seem like something better left for cooler weather, but there are ways to make moving less of a hassle. 

 

 

Popular Movers

The fastest way to move is to get help. Moving companies specialize in a variety of services that cater to the many needs of movers in Tokyo. There are plenty of options to choose from when selecting movers. Some of the major movers are well-known, with many services to choose from.

  • Sakai Moving Service Co., Ltd
  • Heart Hikkoshi Center
  • Nittsu 
  • Art Hikkoshi Center

Movers that are local to Tokyo may offer better choices for people in the capital as they often target the large market of foreign residents in the city, offering services in English and employing bilingual staff. Some of the popular Tokyo-based ones are the following:

  • Tokyo Move
  • Tokyo Helping Hands
  • Quoz
  • Tokyo Truck Guy

 

 

Official Requirements

There are some procedures you need to follow when moving in Japan. Doing these in a timely manner will prevent much hassle later on. 

When moving house, you have 14 days to notify your local ward office or city hall. If you will be moving outside your current ward, you will need to fill out a Move-out Notice (Tenshutsu-todoke 転出届 ) at your ward office or city hall. After filling out a Move-out Notice, you will receive a Certificate of Change of Address. Take this certificate to your new ward office or city hall. There, you will have your residence card updated to reflect your new address on the back side of your card.

If you are moving within your current ward, you need only notify your ward office or city hall and have them change the address on the back of your residence card.

Different ward offices may have different methods, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time before the deadline.

Items you will need for each visit include the following:

  • Residence Card
  • MyNumber Card
  • Certificate of Change of Address (if leaving your ward)

Aside from the obvious notifications of utilities and local government, don’t forget to register a change of address with any entity that will be sending sensitive information to your address. These include your bank, employer, and home-country tax authorities. 

Registering your change of address on time makes everything easier. Paper trails are usually permanent in Japan and bureaucratic mistakes tend to follow you for quite a while. Don’t make future moves or other big changes more difficult than they need to be by forgetting to follow these important steps.

 

Conclusion

Whether you are moving across the country or just across town, there are ways to keep the move simple and relatively painless, even considering the language barrier. New residents need not be deterred by the bureaucracy so long as they check the necessary boxes early.

All photos sourced from uplash.com

 

Hooray, Golden Week!

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Along with Obon and The New Year’s holidays, Golden Week is one of the three most important and anticipated events in Japan for parents and children alike. This is a time when businesses traditionally close and employees can finally enjoy the warmer weather and some (well-deserved) holidays.

Golden Week’s most remembered and celebrated day is probably Children’s Day, but do we always remember what the other days are ? Let’s try and revisit the origins of Golden Week and what events in history are celebrated during this period.

APRIL 29 | Showa Day (昭和の日)

On the 29th of April, Japanese people are invited to reflect on the 63 years of Emperor Hirohito’s reign – the Shōwa era.  However until 2006,  this was a day to celebrate greenery and nature since this was one of the emperor’s favourite activities. On this day, Japanese people do not have festivities as is customary with national cultural days. Instead, people usually travel back home or abroad, attend public lectures on the topic of the Shōwa era or the history of WWII, or simply hang out and enjoy the warmer weather.

 

MAY 3 | Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日)

Constitution Memorial Day on the 3rd of May is the celebration of the enactment of the 1947 constitution of Japan. Much like Shōwa day, this a day of reflection but this time on the meaning of democracy and the Japanese government. If you fancy, you can visit the National Diet building and participate in one of their tours on this day.

MAY 4 | Greenery Day (みどりの日 )

Photo by Michael Yamashita

Just as the name implies, Greenery Day is a day to appreciate nature and its blessings. There are no typical celebrations held on the 4th of May, but perhaps this is the time to petition for nationwide free entry to  botanical gardens or arboretums! Wouldn’t you dream of touring the most beautiful Japanese gardens? I know I would!

MAY 5 | Children’s Day (こどもの日)

Children’s Day on the 5th of May is the star of the Golden Week celebrations and for good reason! It used to be called Tango no Sekku ((端午の節句) and celebrated boys and fathers. Nowadays, this is a time to celebrate the growth and success of both boys and girls across Japan.
Families typically decorate their homes with carp-shaped streamers, samurai’s helmets called kabuto, and Kintaro dolls. These all represent wishes to raise strong and powerful boys (and girls). Not just a feast for the eyes, families would also enjoy delicious traditional dishes called chimaki and kashiwa mochi (check out recipes here) on this day.

Photo from discoverkyoto.com

For those lucky to be in the Kansai region, a famous festival with horseback riding shows called Kakeuma shinji is held at the Fujinomori temple in Kyoto. Reminiscent of the samurai days, riders perform breathtaking tricks on their horses displaying fantastic equestrian and archery skills. However, don’t buy your ticket just yet for 2021 as it seems that the event will not be held this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

I hope you enjoyed reading about Golden Week or learned a little more about this highlight of the year in Japan. Have a great Golden Week ahead!

6 Ways to Level Up your Japanese

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For foreigners living in Japan, the language barrier is no doubt one of the biggest hurdles to freely enjoying life in the country. Maybe you’ve had a job interview you couldn’t get through in keigo (polite speech). Or a local movie you couldn’t see in the theater because there were no English subtitles. Or a joke at a party you prayed someone would translate for you so you could join in the laughter. Whatever your experience, we can all relate that, at one point or another, the struggle is real.

Don’t be afraid of getting stuck though – build up your Japanese fluency with these language learning tips:

1. STUDY

Start your language learning journey by taking a class and building a solid foundation of vocabulary, grammar, listening skills, and reading skills. You would have to invest some time and money in attending regular lessons, but having experienced teachers to guide you is the quickest and most efficient way to learn.

Check out some language schools below and choose what class options are the best fit for you – private vs group, in-person vs online, short vs long term, conversational vs business Japanese, etc.

 

2. LISTEN

You don’t need to be in a classroom to improve your listening skills. Whatever your interests, look for Japanese media related to them and use those to immerse yourself. Watch a J-drama or anime series on Netflix without subtitles. Go to Spotify to look up the tunes your Japanese co-workers are belting out in karaoke. Keep up with what’s trending by subscribing to Japanese Youtubers. There are unlimited options to explore and enjoy.

For something more study-focused or slow-paced for learners, try starting with these:

 

3. READ

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, you will know that reading in Japanese can be notoriously difficult. However, unlocking this skill can help you navigate through daily life with much more ease. Start small by reading off menu items or train station names. Then, aim to make sense of practical things like street signs or letters in the mail. To make things more fun, also make small and big challenges for yourself like changing your phone’s language settings to Japanese or reading your favorite novel/comic in Japanese.

If kanji makes your head spin, take it easy with these websites offering articles with friendly furigana (hiragana over kanji characters).

 

4. WRITE

Whether composing a diary entry, a thank you note, a business email, or even just a simple text message, writing is a practical way to apply what you’ve learned. Have a dictionary app or translator on hand to help you build your sentences and don’t be afraid to experiment. You can go at your own pace and check if you are able to communicate your thoughts in a way that really expresses what you mean to say.

One way to polish your writing skills is to get feedback. Here are some helpful resources where you can get a native speaker to correct what you write.

 

5. SPEAK

Speaking is the best way to really build up language proficiency. Build a community of fellow learners and local friends to keep you motivated to study and practice the language in everyday life. If you aim to develop your career in the country, look for work opportunities, side gigs, or volunteer jobs that require you to speak in Japanese. While it can be intimidating at first, it’s these kinds of authentic interactions with people and culture that can connect you to the language you are studying on a deeper level.

Still social distancing? No problem! Try one of these sites to make new friends or find a language exchange partner online:

  • Meet up (local community events, online and offline)
  • iTalki (1-on-1 lessons)
  • Preply (language tutors)

 

6. KEEP LEARNING

Learning any new language is definitely not easy and is even said to be a lifelong process. On the road to mastery, it’s easy to fluctuate between periods of inspired effort and dips in motivation. However, for adult learners especially, active learning and consistent practice is key to making progress. This doesn’t have to mean drilling yourself for hours to pass the JLPT though. Instead, set clear, achievable goals and vary them based on what you need and what you enjoy. Even small steps can take you a long distance over time, so keep at it and have fun in the process!

Adapting to the New Normal

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Everywhere in the world, over the past year, we have had to drastically alter or adapt our habits due to the spread of COVID-19.  While the storm is not yet behind us, new ways of consuming products and services, getting together, traveling, working, studying, etc. have emerged. These have now become new standards for daily life and work. 

The “New Normal”

Now, with the recent news of the extension of the state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, and 8 other prefectures in Japan, we must continue to remain vigilant and be mindful of the basic rules to protect oneself and others from the spread of the virus. Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike and internet personality, Fuwa-chan, discuss some advice below:

Governor Koike Yuriko and Fuwa-chan discuss the “new normal”


What has Covid-19 changed in the education industry?

Some universities as well as a number of language schools were prompt to react as soon as the COVID-19 outbreak hit. Moving into 2021, there is a consensus among all players in the industry on what adapting to the “new normal” means for the education companies.

First, lessons and courses should be provided via online platforms in order to be able to continue delivering education services. Universities nowadays deliver 80% to 100% of their curriculum via online platforms while many language schools have had to start offering online lessons if they were not already doing so.

Students at RSLC can study English online

Second, for schools who continue to deliver face-to-face lessons, several changes have to be made to ensure a clean and safe environment for students and employees alike. At our RSLC branches, these include:

Temperature checks

Everyone’s temperature gets checked when they enter school premises

Disinfection

Teachers wipe down desks before and in between lessons

Personal hygiene

Alcohol sprays , wet wipes, and hand sanitizers are placed all around the school to help students and teachers disinfect their hands

Physical distancing

Fewer lesson booths are opened, and students and teachers are separated by thick plexiglass partitions

Face masks

Face masks are required at all times to reduce risk of virus transmission

Air quality

Air purifiers around the school help clean the air and combat dryness

More than implementing these “new normal” measures for health and well-being, paying attention to cleanliness is also important for creating a conducive study and work environment for our students and staff. Although it was a crisis that forced us to be more mindful of good hygiene habits, we are happy to have learned and improved from it as well.