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Last week I saw Kore-eda's After Life for the second time in 20 years, and I think I loved it even more on this viewing. I was happy every minute it was on the screen, and after leavin...

I've been thinking about life after death. That's largely the influence of two TV shows, The Good Place and Forever, both of which make it clear that after we die, not muc...

I've just finished another Skype chat with Kensuke, my Japanese-language partner, and this one was good. I notice that whenever we talk about feelings, relationships, or health problems, I thor...

Consider the following expression:

話の腰を折る (はなしのこしをおる: to interrupt someone's conversation)

You likely know 話 as "talk," 腰 as "waist,"...

In the beginning you were an egg. Well, anatomically, that's not quite right. You were an egg plus a sperm (if I may speak in such a familiar way about something going on inside your mother). B...

I am always bemused by how the Japanese identify years. Whereas 1742 (as one example) gives everyone ample information, the Japanese sometimes opt for this sort of explanation: ...

There are many ways to refresh the mind and body. My favorites include going for a walk, heading to the woods or beach, disappearing into the world of a movie, or traveling. Sleeping is also a...

Every December, the Japanese choose a kanji that best represents the feeling of the past 12 months. For 2018, the "...