Anime
A young ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village who wants to become Hokage.
ナルト
Who is - Naruto
Traditional Japanese robe worn on special occasions like tea ceremonies
着物
What is - Kimono
This Japanese snack is a long, thin, crunchy biscuit covered in chocolate (over 50 flavours!)
ポッキー
What is - Pocky
This is the capital city of Japan
東京
What is - Tokyo
The word for "Thank you" in Japanese
ありがとうございます
What is - Arigatou / Arigatou Gozaimasu
By day, she’s a clumsy, crybaby teenage girl — by night, she’s the magical warrior destined to protect the Moon Kingdom.
セーラームーン
Who is - Sailor Moon / Usagi / Serena
These paper folding designs are traditional Japanese art
折り紙
What is - Origami
This sticky rice treat is often wrapped in seaweed and filled with fish or veggies
おにぎり
What is - Onigiri
This busy city in the Kansai region is famous for its street food like takoyaki and a historic castle
大阪
What is - Osaka
The Japanese writing system that uses characters borrowed from Chinese
漢字
What is - Kanji
This Japanese filmmaker and co-founder of Studio Ghibli directed iconic films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro.
宮崎駿
Who is - Hayao Miyazaki
This festival in summer features large fireworks displays
花火大会
What is - Hanabi Festival
A popular Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, often eaten for breakfast.
納豆
What is - Natto
This northernmost main island of Japan is known for its snowy winters, Sapporo city, and fresh seafood
北海道
What is - Hokkaido
This term refers to the set of polite and humble expressions in Japanese, used in formal situations.
敬語
What is - Keigo
This anime movie by Makoto Shinkai became the highest-grossing Japanese film worldwide in 2016
君の名は
What is - Your Name
Traditional Japanese puppet theater using intricate wooden puppets.
文楽
What is - Bunraku
These very thin, white wheat noodles are usually served cold with a dipping sauce during summer months in Japan
素麺
What is - Somen
This period in Japanese history (1603–1868) was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate
江戸時代 What is - Edo period
Polite phrase meaning “thank you for your trouble” when leaving work
おつかれさまでした
What is - Otsukaresama deshita
This 1988 anime film is considered one of the most influential cyberpunk anime worldwide and inspired many Western creators
アキラ
What is - Akira
Japanese custom of visiting shrines/temples at the start of the new year
初詣
What is - Hatsumode
A Japanese sandwich snack made of a sweet red bean paste between two soft cakes
どら焼き
What is - Dorayaki
This Japanese era is known for the rise of the samurai class.
平安時代
What is - Heian period
Japanese cursive style for writing kanji
草書 / くずし字
What is - Sōsho / kuzushi-ji