正義マン (せいぎまん, seigiman) is a relatively new slang term which literally means “justice man”. It is a pejorative term which sardonically refers to “do-gooders” who are always seeking for someone who does something immoral or unethical, no matter how trivial, and revile them ostentatiously to show off their moral superiority.Read Definition
自粛警察 (jishukukeisatsu): Japan’s “Self-Restraint Police” Explained
Recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Japanese slang term has been coined called “自粛警察 (じしゅくけいさつ, jishuku keisatsu)”, which literally means “self-restraint police”. This post explains what it exactly means and also what 自粛 (jishuku) refers to during the pandemic in Japan.Read Definition
How to Memorise Japanese Kanji Efficiently with Radicals
This article explains with examples how radicals of Japanese kanji characters can help you memorise their meanings and pronunciations efficiently!Read Definition
What イチロー (Ichiro Suzuki) Means To Us Japanese People
For many Japanese people, including myself, Ichiro is more than just an athlete — he is admired as a paragon of perseverance and charisma, as a man who always strives to unflinchingly pursue what most people deem impossible.Read Definition
Reiwa, Heisei and Shōwa: Meaning, Origin and History of Japan’s Eras
This post explains Japan’s imperial era (gengō) and also briefly describes the origins, meanings and zeitgeists of the latest eras ‘Reiwa’, ‘Heisei’ and ‘Shōwa’. What’s 元号 (Gengō)? Japan’s imperial era is called 元号 (gengō). It is used alongside the Western calendar in official documents such as drivers’ licenses and health insurance cards. Usually, the era…Read Definition