Resources

Key words and phrases: work on: improve, become better at ebb and flow: the continuous pattern of coming and going, like the ocean tides...

Key words and phrases: context: the form in which a word or phrase is used bile: an acidic liquid produced in the liver to help with...

Another month has elapsed and now we are in the peak of summer. For those who know me, you know that Tokyo summer is always a challenge...

July 1 is Canada Day. Canada was established as a country just one year before the start of Japan’s Meiji period, making Canada 154 years...

After a shaky start, we can now see that Japan is heading in the right direction with its vaccine rollout. To be sure, Japan did have a...

Hello friends. As mentioned in last March’s installment, This Too Shall Pass, kiki (危機), the kanji character for crisis is intriguing....

Hello friends. You may remember that in last month’s installment it was suggested that we take advantage of the extra daylight to...

You may have noticed that the daylight hours are getting longer as we head toward spring. A new month is upon us and the cherry blossoms...

As a part of mindfulness, which to me means staying focused on the moment in order to better appreciate the small things in life, I like...

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to a brand new year. It’s New Year and a common expression around this time of the year is “Out With The...

December is here. A month from now we will be into a new year and many people are saying that they can’t wait. There is no question that...

After all, language is a tool used to exchange ideas. Communication in a second language is not easy, but we must remember that the aim...

When talking about happiness in life, we should always focus on what we have, not the things we lack. Similarly, in the current pandemic,...

“I can see the light at the end of the tunnel” is an expression used in English to express that a challenging time is almost over. In...

With all the great things Japan has to offer, deeply-rooted culture, fine foods, unparalleled services, and outstanding craftsmanship, it...

Happy July, everyone! It’s a brand-new month. July 1st is Canada Day. Normally, Canadians would be celebrating this day with barbeques...

Does money bring happiness? Always a great discussion question. You could certainly argue that it does, but not directly. In other words,...

There are no shortage of expressions of encouragement to help people deal with hardships, “Turn defeat into victory,” “Every cloud has a...

Life is full of mystery. Perhaps this brief moment in time will act as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of the many...

Stay the course, despite what lies ahead! “This too shall pass,” is an ancient Persian saying that originated from Sufi poets. It first...