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Yomi
もちはもちや
Rōmaji
mochi wa mochi ya
Type
idiom
Literal Meaning
When it comes to mochi, mochi shops are (the best)
Meaning
It’s always best to go to an expert/specialist/place that specialises in something
Additional Info
“は” after “餅” is used to describe the topic, not the subject (cf. 象は鼻が長い means “Regarding 象 (ぞう, elephant), its nose (trunk) is long”.)
Example
日本人の友達（ともだち）に「に」と「で」の違（ちが）いを聞（き）いてもよくわからなかったけど、日本語の先生（せんせい）に聞いたらすぐにわかった！やっぱり餅は餅屋だね！
When I asked my Japanese friends what are the differences between に and で, I couldn’t understand them well. But, when I asked my Japanese teacher, I did immediately. Indeed, it is always best to consult an expert!
Related Post
Blog Post: Japanese Idioms about Mochi: 餅 (もち), Japanese Rice Cake!
