Japanese tongue twisters are called hayakuchi kotoba (早口言葉), which translates to “fast mouth (hayakuchi) words (kotoba).” Just like Japanese slang, learning these tongue twisters is a fun and exciting way to practice speaking the language. Specifically, it helps condition you to make that Japanese pronunciation you’ve wanted to nail. You can make it your daily routine to repeat one tongue twister daily. That’s right — we want you to start saying “Kono kugi wa hikinukui kugi da” while brushing your teeth and doing laundry. Totally normal stuff. There are many popular tongue twisters in Eng ..read more

Have you ever considered visiting Japan? Now is the perfect year to do it. The Japanese Yen is weak today, making traveling to Japan more affordable for people from other countries. Let’s discuss why this is happening and how it can benefit you. Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo and Yokohama. With its small class sizes and flexible course schedule, we ensure the students find their community here in Japan and learn practical and useful daily-life Japanese by focusing on conversational practice. Quick Jump To… Why is the Yen Weaker? Benefits for Travelers Things ..read more

At Coto Japanese Academy, we want you to enjoy your Japanese study experience! If you’re looking for affordable accommodations in Tokyo during your time with us, we’d happily recommend a few agencies. We’ve lined up a few examples of prices and locations below. Please inquire to them directly! Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo and Yokohama. With its small class sizes and flexible course schedule, we ensure the students find their community here in Japan and learn practical and useful daily-life Japanese by focusing on conversational practice. Accommodations in To ..read more

What Are the Top 100 Basic Japanese Words? Have you learned hiragana and katakana? You can step up your Japanese learning game by learning basic Japanese words and vocabulary. We have selected the top 100 Basic Japanese words you need to know and sorted them into eight lists. If you think you’ve mastered them, head to our top 101 basic Japanese adverbs to make your conversation more interesting and dynamic.   This blog is meant to help you learn the words to form basic Japanese sentences with these basic Japanese words. Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo an ..read more

Learning Japanese can be a fun and exciting journey. It helps you understand a rich culture, connect with people from Japan, and enjoy a language with unique characters. The best part is you don’t have to spend much money to get started. Many free online resources exist for all levels, from beginners to advanced learners. Here’s a guide to some of the best free tools. Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo and Yokohama. With its small class sizes and flexible course schedule, we ensure the students find their community here in Japan and learn practical and useful daily-l ..read more

Japan has unveiled their new Japanese banknotes for the first time in two decades, injecting fresh air into the nation’s cash flow. Launched in July 2024, these redesigned bills not only boast new faces but also incorporate advanced security measures and improved durability. Let’s look into these innovative notes, delving into the stories behind the new portraits, the reasons for the redesign, and the process of acquiring these shiny new yen. Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo and Yokohama. With its small class sizes and flexible course schedule, we ensure the studen ..read more

For Japanese language students who took the JLPT in July 2024, otsukare sama deshita! We’re proud that you took it and did your best. The JLPT results are available online around two months after the test day. The online test result announcement will be viewable for only a certain duration. With that, we thought we would give you a step-by-step guide on how to check your results for the JLPT. Remember that due to traffic, there may be a delay in connection during the announcement date. The physical result certificate will be delivered on a specific date for international residents in Japan. Yo ..read more

Are you eager to unlock the world of Japanese language and culture? Do you dream of conversing with native speakers, but textbooks and dry grammar drills leave you feeling uninspired? Learning Japanese through listening to podcasts can be a great way to help. Get ready to ditch the flashcards and plug in your headphones because Coto Radio, a Japanese learning podcast, is here to be your ultimate Japanese learning companion! Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo and Yokohama. With its small class sizes and flexible course schedule, we ensure the students find their commu ..read more

Tokyo is a city that can be the perfect place for learning Japanese. Whether you’re dreaming of a long-term stay in Japan or looking to enhance your career, studying in a Japanese language school in Tokyo offers an experience like no other. To help you on this journey, here are ten of the best Japanese language schools in Tokyo that we recommend. Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo and Yokohama. With its small class sizes and flexible course schedule, we ensure the students find their community here in Japan and learn practical and useful daily-life Japanese by focusi ..read more

Okay. So you’ve studied the JLPT for months, reading grammar books, making flashcards and taking mock exams. You feel like you’re all set to take the test. There’s nothing that can go wrong when you have all that knowledge locked in, right?  Wrong. While we focus most of our attention on studying Japanese, we tend to overlook the practical elements of taking the JLPT: what to prepare, what to bring, and what to anticipate. They’re less talked about but just as important.  Coto Academy is a Japanese language school located in Tokyo and Yokohama. With its small class sizes and flexib ..read more