easy essay about japan

Essays About Japan: Top 5 Examples and 5 Prompts

Japan is a beautiful country famous for its lush landscape, delicious food, and well-mannered people. Here are some examples of essays about Japan.

A developed country in Asia known as the “land of the rising sun,” Japan has become a hot commodity for tourism and business. Japan is truly a sight to behold, from its beautiful cherry blossoms, efficient public transportation system, and delicious food. 

Japan’s rich history has allowed it to develop into one of the most advanced nations in the world, and its technology is renowned worldwide. Moreover, its people are known for their discipline, hard work, and resilience, even in the face of severe natural disasters. Japan is, without a doubt, a country worth visiting. 

If you want to write essays about Japan, here are our best essay examples and writing prompts to help you begin. 

1. What Japan Taught Me About Life by Beth Louise

2. japan experience: reflection on japanese culture by rayan elhafiz abdalla, 3. what i learned about design from travel in japan by teo yu siang.

• 4.  The best time to visit Japan by Pat Kay

5. A Day Trip To Kobe by David Swanson

5 prompts for essays about japan, 1. what does japan mean to you , 2. misogyny in japanese society, 3. why visit japan, 4. japan’s history, 5. living in japan: what’s it like.

“In fact, there’s so much to see and do that it feels like a lifetime of exploring would never uncover all that’s on offer. It’s also a bright, buzzing lesson in living fast; just wandering around in the crowds is a massive adrenaline rush, and Monday nights are as mental as Fridays. But despite the intensity of a city so large, people are calm and quiet. It’s the most magical juxtaposition. Everything is moving at light-speed, but with such efficiency and thoughtfulness, that it feels like a well-oiled, intuitive machine, powering a ride that you never want to get off.”

In her essay, Louise writes about her experience traveling to Tokyo, Japan. She compares it to a machine, with all the people in the city playing their part. She is amazed by the people’s focus, discipline, manners, and sense of purpose, and she can better appreciate life’s simplicity. She is mesmerized by Japan and recommends booking a trip to Tokyo as soon as possible. 

You might also like these essays about being yourself and essays about college .

“People were very friendly, they will greet you even if they don’t know you. One shocking incident that I will not forgot, is when the cashier was trying to help me put all my coin money in my wallet with me. In America I am not used to having someone put my money inside my wallet, that is really invading personal space. However, I learned that in Japan it seems normal to just drop off someone’s coins in their wallet.”

Similar to Louise, Abdalla reflects on new things he discovered about Japan and its people during his time there. These range from trivial things such as the “Pokemon Go” rollout in the country to the Japanese’ sense of honor and discipline. He recounts an experience in which the cashier was helping him put his change into his wallet, something he is not used to back home. He provides excellent, although short, insight into Japan, its culture, and its people. 

“Everything around us is designed: from the smartphones we use every day to the tactile paving on a walkway. But it’s often hard to examine the designed environment around us with eyes as fresh as a tourist’s. So if you’ve made it to the end of this post, I’ve got a challenge for you: The next time you take a walk outside, try to become aware of the thousands of design decisions around you. What works, and what can be improved?”

Siang writes about the edge that Japanese cities and society in general have because they are well-designed. He cites innovations such as fast, automated cash register machines and aid for the visually impaired and recalls lessons such as the importance of accessibility when designing something. 

4.   The best time to visit Japan by Pat Kay

“When people ask me “When is the best time to visit Japan?”, I usually reply with “anytime”. Japan is always a good idea, at any time of year. It’s truly an all-year-round destination that provides vastly varied experiences throughout its distinct 4 seasons. Whether you’re a traveller who loves snow, or one who thrives in humidity; a traveller who wants to see beautiful nature changes, or wants to be thrown into crowds; whatever your style of travel, there’s a season and a time for that.”

Kay describes the weather and activities during the different seasons in Japan, giving readers an idea of when they would prefer to visit. Japan ranges from the ethereal but chaotic cherry blossom season to the calm, frigid snow season; however, each year’s season has its own charm. Kay’s essay gives good insight into the best times to visit Japan.

“When planning a visit to Kobe, consider the fact that the city has been completely rebuilt since 1995, following the great Hanshin earthquake that leveled much of the city. Except for a few memorials, you likely won’t be aware of the destruction at all. Instead, what you will discover is a cosmopolitan port city where foreign influences intermingle, museums are dedicated to sake, and a conveniently compact and walkable quarter showcases a robust nightlife scene that has featured jazz on the menu for nearly a century. Oh, and, of course, there is the beef.”

In this short write-up, Swanson lists the best things to do in Kobe, Japan, a place best known for its top-quality beef. However, there are many things to do in the city besides eating beef, such as viewing historical buildings, going to the hot springs, and visiting the botanical gardens. However, Swanson notes that eating is an integral part of a trip to Kobe, and one should not miss out on trying the beef. 

In your essay, you can write about the country’s significance to you. For example, are you from there, or do you have Japanese ancestry? Have you visited? Write about your connection to the country and why this connection exists in the first place. If Japan has a special place in your heart, this essay topic is for you. 

When editing for grammar, we also recommend taking the time to improve the readability score of a piece of writing before publishing or submitting

With all its glory and excellence, Japan is less evolved in gender equality. So how are women treated in Japan? First, delve into research about the treatment of women in Japanese society, and show how the culture differs from modern western gender equality ideologies. Then, discuss why Japan is behind in encouraging women’s equal rights. Make sure to cite research, statistics, and interviews to support your point. 

This topic is straightforward; whether you have been or not, try to persuade others to visit the country. Include highlights that others should visit and suggestions for places others can visit. If Japan was a bad experience for you, go the other way: why should you not visit Japan?

Japan has a dark history surrounding its role in World War II. In your essay, briefly explain these events and research their effects on Japan after the war. How did the war change Japan- for better or for worse? Elaborate on the impact and, as always, include references to strengthen your arguments. This is quite a broad topic, so you can focus on one element of Japanese society: values, city planning, relationships with tourists, race, inequality, and gender equality.

Based on reading articles and sample essays as well as any experiences in Japan, list the advantages and disadvantages of living in Japan and conclude whether it would be ideal for moving to Japan or not. Use anecdotes from travel writers or people who live in Japan to show why living in japan is enjoyable or not so enjoyable. Pick a stance for a compelling argumentative essay.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

If you’re stuck picking your next essay topic, check out our guide on how to write an essay about diversity .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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Japan’s History and Culture on a Global Scale Essay

Introduction, works cited.

Unearthing the history and culture of Japan is an intricate endeavor. Among the current major powers, Japan is the most distinctive in its environment and culture. The origin of the Japanese language is among the most disputed arguments in linguistics (Diamond par. 4-5). Such arguments are vital to the self-image of the Japanese and to the manner in which other people perceive them. This paper discusses Japan’s history and culture under the creative legacies theme while focusing on hindrances and advantages in the country’s contributions to the world’s civilization and knowledge. The increasing dominance of Japan and touchy affiliations with the neighbors make it more significant to stand against myths and get answers.

The hunt for answers is complex since the proof is exceedingly conflicting. For instance, Japanese are biologically indistinctive, and their looks and genes are comparable to the Koreans and some Asians. 1868 marked a period of the modernization of Japan, with the Meiji restoration leading to the centralization of everything about the emperor.

Historical affirmations have created the notion that the Japanese are intrinsically not creative. All through history, Japan has methodically absorbed technological and scientific principles from overseas. In the course of more than 200 years of state-enforced insulation from European rebellion and Christianity, from around 1630 to 1850, the nation’s scholars collected scientific and technological details systematically from Dutch sources (Coleman 5). A trend of American and European intrusions in Northeast Asia starting in the 1850s compelled leaders in Japan to search for more enlightenment from the West, with the objective of centering on military and engineering disciplines.

Towards the end of the 19 th century, the Meiji Period witnessed quick industrialization, urbanization, transformation, and adjustment of Western organizational endeavors. Such advancements stimulated the establishment of a higher education system in Japan. The stress on the establishment of university education, nevertheless, strongly influenced the assimilation of foreign knowledge and technology transfer, especially in sectors such as engineering that experienced instant applications.

The overall pattern of copy-from-overseas continued for some period after the end of the Second World War, as confirmed in comprehensive copyright certification and reverse engineering, taking part in the assessment of successful products from competitors (Coleman 5). Foreign language acquisition following the war, with its inculcation of reading capacity at the cost of productive proficiencies, revealed the nation’s knowledge-gathering stance.

In 1937, Sakichi Toyoda made significant contributions to the Japanese Industrial Revolution when he established the Toyota Corporation. This has turned out to be one of the most successful and biggest car companies across the globe. Though Japan has a far-reaching and interesting history, it was not swayed by foreign nations, and its culture has thrived in isolation. Nonetheless, the moment her ports began operating and trading with the US, Japan started to industrialize and develop (Tsutsui 23-27). Ultimately, the nation has risen into a mighty world power. After successfully overcoming numerous obstacles subsequent to the Second World War with the help of the United States, Japan rebuilt its financial systems and currently remains an economic power.

The traditional Jomon community existed from 14,500 to around 300 BCE. They were the early hunters and gatherers who made pottery with a complexity that still amazes to date. The Yayoi befriended the Jomon community, interacted with the Chinese, tilled the land, and erected a fundamental political formation. At the same period, the Japanese language borrowed Kanji, good-looking and charming characters, from China (Walker 19-23).

A military nation referred to as the Yamato confederation arose and took pride in having the first monarch who acted as a god. The remnants of the Jomon community, the Emishi, were subjugated by the Buddhist theocracy, who established a new center in Kyoto. In 737, an outbreak of smallpox gave room for the first immunization against such future occurrences. Numerous upheavals, volcanic eruptions, and a comparatively weak nation resulted in the leadership of Samurai in 1185. In the course of the Onin battle, Kyoto collapsed, and armed Buddhist Sectarians spread turmoil.

The 16 th century led to the connection of the three big names in the history of Japan, which included Hideyoshi, Ieyasu, and Nobunaga. Europeans’ router, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, attacked Korea two times with prospects on China. Although he was driven back from the Korean peninsula, Hideyoshi greatly expanded his Japanese territory (Walker 34-38). This made Tokugawa bring the Japanese under single rule following his conquest in 1600. In the course of the moderately stable period, Japan conquered the Ainu at a place called Hokkaido. Merchants increased in wealth, there was the emergence of a sentiment of Japanese exceptionalism, and the Americans arrived. The most recent in a sequence of occurrences and the ensuing unequal treaties assisted in the facilitation of the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

With blood taxes being charged and interests of the nation overshadowing those of individuals, increased industrialization resulted in intensive development and prosperity for some individuals while others suffered pollution, melancholy, and death. The mining of copper and coal resulted in the destruction of fertile lands. This was so intense that it made Tanaka Shozu, an environmentalist, decry the activities, affirming that the government was waging war against its people. Enhanced militarization resulted in Japan overpowering Russia in 1905 (Walker 49-53). Mistrust of the wealthy individuals with the rising industrialization was caused by the dishonesty of Taisho Democracy and the several political assassinations that followed.

After the withdrawal of the US influence on Japan in 1952, the country turned into an industrial powerhouse. In the 1960s, its economy developed greatly despite numerous high-profile pollution lawsuits revealing the ugly underside of its splendor. Japan’s success then started declining gradually in the 1990s (Walker 51-53). It is at this time that conflicts with China came up and worsened. Moreover, numerous calamities struck, and a dangerous earthquake was experienced. This sent immense waves over the densely populated regions and resulted in the meltdowns of a nuclear plant. Such occurrences are a solemn portrayal of the susceptibility of Japan as a nation consisting of Islands.

As Japan seeks to recover from past disasters, it experiences issues of over-fishing, exceedingly low birthrates, and increasing climatic changes, which it experiences along with most nations in the West. In the recent past, some Japanese have attempted to revise the victory of the Second World War into a less imperialist account of occurrences (Walker 57-59). The rising trouble with China has provoked questions regarding the wisdom in some parts of the constitution. The once ardent doctrine of passivism has developed some cracks. Nonetheless, Japan effectively promotes its popular culture across the globe and upholds an affable and largely productive connection with its greatest enemy in the Second World War, the US.

Japan’s distinctive culture started with its exclusive topography and environment. Comparisons show that Japan is far more secluded than Britain, which is just about twenty-two miles from the coast of France. Japan is more than one hundred miles from the nearest position in the mainland of Asia, which is South Korea. It also lies nearly 200 miles from the Russian mainland and approximately 500 miles from China (Diamond par. 5-6).

Moreover, climatic conditions have been found to make Japan unique. The rainfall it experiences, which is nearly 120 inches every year, results in its being the wettest temperate nation across the globe. Apart from the rains in winter that occur across Europe, Japan is also rainy during the summer growing season, which offers it the greatest plant yield than any country in the temperate region.

Just about 20% of the land in Japan does not have mountains inappropriate for farming as approximately 15% is agricultural land (Diamond par. 6-8). Nonetheless, a standard square mile of the farmland is fertile to the extent that it feeds eightfold more people than an equal ordinary area in Britain. The high rainfall in Japan also provides unparalleled support for the forests that regenerate fast after logging. Regardless of the thousands of years supporting a dense population, Japan is still in a position to give visitors a welcoming impression of greenness since over 70% of the land comprises forests.

Just as they like to emphasize, the Japanese are biologically and culturally somewhat uniform, with the exemption of the characteristic community of the Ainu in the northern island. A careful analysis appears to imply that the Japanese only got to the country recently from the mainland of Asia, not long enough to allow the development of major differences with their other cousins in Japan or displace the original inhabitants, the Ainu. Nevertheless, if that were the case, the Japanese language could be anticipated to demonstrate close similarity to a number of mainland languages as the case of English, which is comparable with other Germanic languages (Diamond par. 7-9). It is difficult to resolve the inconsistency between the seemingly ancient language in Japan and the proof for recent origins.

The Japanese culture is intricate and has both hindrances and advantages. If corporations wish to invest in Japan, they should start by understanding the main components of Japanese culture over and above its influence on the means of conducting business. If organizations fail to comprehend and make suitable adjustments, they could inadvertently offend Japanese sensitivities and fail in their endeavors.

Japan has made remarkable contributions in numerous technical and scientific domains (Mason and Caiger 48-50). Particularly, the nation has played a vital role in the digital revolution and has established various modern innovative and extensive technologies in sectors such as robotics and electronics established by Japanese entrepreneurs. Japanese popular culture, which is highly influenced by its electronic expertise, commands considerable control internationally.

Praying for practical gains is a widespread religious endeavor in Japan. It is referred to as gene teriyaki. It has an extensive nature, and a vast number of individuals pray and buy talismans for everything beginning with road safety and educational success to victory in businesses and protection from ailments. However, the practice has been largely disregarded in academic disciplines or pushed to the sidelines as an occurrence of superstition and deviation from the actual dynamics of religious beliefs. Establishing their research on a combination of textual, chronological, ethnographic, and current materials, Reader and Tanabe show the myth of such perspectives, demonstrating that, apart from being sidelined, the perception and performance of gene teriyaki are found at the core of the Japanese spiritual world (23-25).

Genze teriyaki exists just as a widespread religious practice, although it is backed by the doctrinal formations of numerous Buddhist divisions, is ordained in religious teachings, and is supported by basic training establishments, holy places, and temples. The gains are both sought and purchased, and Reader and Tanabe talk about the financial and commercial facets of why and how establishments uphold practical benefits (33-35). Concentration is drawn to the dynamism and flexibility in the spiritual settings where new products are provided in reaction to the varying demands. Interlinked in economic endeavors and stimulations are the assertions that strengthen and justify the advancement and application of underlying gains.

In the midst of the current great powers, Japan is the most characteristic in its surroundings and culture. This paper has shed light on Japan’s history and culture under the creative legacies theme. It has focused on barriers and advantages in the country’s contributions to the world’s culture and knowledge. 1868 was a period of the transformation of Japan, with the Meiji restoration bringing about the centralization of major things around the ruler.

Improved militarization led to Japan subduing Russia in 1905. Following the withdrawal of the United States control on Japan in 1952, the nation rose to become an industrial powerhouse. The exclusive culture of Japan is supported by the outstanding topography and environment. The culture and the history of Japan are complex and hold both impediments and benefits. For companies that desire to invest in Japan, there is a need to understand the main elements of Japanese culture besides its influence on the approach of carrying out business.

Coleman, Samuel. Japanese Science: From the Inside . Routledge, 1999.

Diamond, Jared. “In Search of Japanese Roots.” Discover , 1998. Web.

Mason, Richard, and John Caiger. A History of Japan . 2nd ed., Tuttle Publishing, 1997.

Reader, Ian, and George Tanabe. Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan . University of Hawaii Press, 1998.

Tsutsui, William. Japanese Popular Culture and Globalization . Association for Asian Studies, 2010.

Walker, Brett. A Concise History of Japan . Cambridge University Press, 2015.

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IvyPanda. (2021, June 2). Japan's History and Culture on a Global Scale. https://ivypanda.com/essays/japans-history-and-culture-on-a-global-scale/

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IvyPanda . (2021) 'Japan's History and Culture on a Global Scale'. 2 June.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Japan's History and Culture on a Global Scale." June 2, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/japans-history-and-culture-on-a-global-scale/.

1. IvyPanda . "Japan's History and Culture on a Global Scale." June 2, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/japans-history-and-culture-on-a-global-scale/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Japan's History and Culture on a Global Scale." June 2, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/japans-history-and-culture-on-a-global-scale/.

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Essay on Japan Visit

Students are often asked to write an essay on Japan Visit in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Japan Visit

Exploring japan.

Japan is an island country in East Asia. It is known for its mix of traditional and modern, with beautiful temples and high-tech cities. When people visit Japan, they can see tall skyscrapers, historic castles, and enjoy cherry blossoms in spring.

Japanese Culture

Japanese culture is rich and unique. Visitors often try sushi, wear kimonos, and watch sumo wrestling. Festivals happen throughout the year, showing off Japan’s history and traditions. Anime and manga are also big parts of Japanese entertainment.

Beautiful Nature

Japan has stunning nature spots. Mount Fuji is a famous volcano and a symbol of Japan. There are also peaceful gardens, hot springs, and quiet forests to explore. Nature lovers enjoy Japan’s changing seasons, especially the colorful autumn leaves.

Travel Tips

Traveling in Japan is easy with bullet trains. It’s important to be polite and follow local rules. Learning a few Japanese words can help visitors make friends. Remember to carry cash, as some places don’t take cards.

250 Words Essay on Japan Visit

Why visit japan.

Japan is a country full of wonders, perfect for people who love to see new places. It has a mix of old traditions and new technology, making it a unique spot to explore. When you go to Japan, you can see tall buildings, taste different foods, and learn about history.

Amazing Cities

Tokyo, the capital, is known for its bright lights and busy streets. It’s like a playground for anyone who enjoys shopping, eating, and playing video games. Kyoto, another city, lets you step back in time with its beautiful temples and peaceful gardens. Each city in Japan offers its own special experience.

Delicious Food

Japanese food is not just sushi. You can try ramen, tempura, and many sweet treats. Food in Japan is made with care, and it’s fun to watch chefs cook your meal right in front of you. Trying new dishes is a big part of the adventure.

Cultural Festivals

Japan has festivals all year round. These events are full of music, dance, and costumes. They are a great way to see Japanese culture up close. You can join in the fun and make memories that will last forever.

Nature’s Beauty

Nature lovers will enjoy Japan’s mountains, forests, and beaches. The cherry blossoms in spring are famous all over the world. It’s a beautiful sight that makes Japan a special place to visit.

In conclusion, Japan has something for everyone. It’s a land where the past meets the future, and every visit is an adventure.

500 Words Essay on Japan Visit

Introduction to japan.

Japan is a beautiful country in East Asia. It is known for its rich history, modern cities, and lovely nature. Many people from all over the world go to Japan to see its famous places and learn about its culture.

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is a huge city with tall buildings and bright lights. It’s full of fun things to do, like visiting the Tokyo Tower or watching the busy crosswalk in Shibuya. Osaka is another big city in Japan. It’s famous for delicious food like takoyaki, which are round snacks filled with octopus.

Traditional Culture

In Kyoto, you can see old temples and shrines that are very important in Japan’s history. You might even meet people dressed in kimonos, which are traditional Japanese clothes. There are also tea ceremonies where you can learn how to prepare and drink green tea the Japanese way.

Nature and Seasons

Japan is known for its beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring. People have picnics under the cherry trees to enjoy the pink flowers. In the fall, the leaves of the trees turn red and yellow, which looks very pretty. Japan also has mountains to climb and hot springs to relax in.

Japanese food is tasty and different from food in other countries. Sushi is a famous Japanese dish that many people like. It’s made with rice and fish. There are also many sweet treats in Japan, like mochi, which is a soft and chewy sweet made from rice.

Technology and Fun

Japan is known for its cool gadgets and video games. In places like Akihabara in Tokyo, you can find lots of electronic shops. There are also game centers where you can play video games and win prizes.

Traveling Around

Getting around Japan is easy, even if you don’t speak Japanese. There are trains called bullet trains that go very fast and can take you to different parts of Japan quickly. The signs in train stations and airports are also in English, so you can find your way.

Respectful Manners

Japanese people are very polite. It’s important to be respectful when you visit Japan. This means taking off your shoes when you enter someone’s home and saying “thank you” and “please” in Japanese, which are “arigato” and “onegaishimasu.”

A trip to Japan is an exciting adventure where you can see both old and new things. You can enjoy the food, learn about the culture, and see beautiful places. Japan is a country that welcomes visitors and offers many different experiences for everyone. If you ever get a chance to go to Japan, you will have memories to keep for a lifetime.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Japanese Colonization In The Philippines
• Essay on Japanese Culture
• Essay on Japanese Family

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Essays on Japan

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About This Page

This page introduces the variety of essays written by popular contemporary authors. Unless noted, all are in Japanese.

The author, さくらももこ, is known for writing a comic titled 『 ちびまる子ちゃん 』. The comic is based on her own childhood experiences and depicts the everyday life of a girl with a nickname of Chibi Maruko-chan. The author has been constantly writing casual and humorous essays, often recollecting her childhood memories. We have both the『 ちびまる子ちゃん 』 comic series and other essays by the author. 

To see a sample text in a new tab, please  click on the cover image or the title .

中島らも(1952-2004) started his career as a copyrigher but changed his path to become a prolific writer, publishing novels, essays, drama scripts and rakugo stories. He became popular with his "twisted sense of humour."  He is also active in the music industry when he formed his own band. He received the 13th Eiji Yoshikawa New Author Prize with his 『今夜、すべてのバーで』 and Mystery Writers of Japan Aaward with 『 ガダラの豚 』.

東海林（しょうじ）さだお

東海林さだお(1937-) is a well-known cartoonist, but he is also famous for his essays on food. His writing style is light and humorous and tends to pay particular attention toward regular food, such as bananas, miso soup, and eggd in udon noodles, rather than talk about gourmet meals. (added 5/2/2014)

Collection of Essays: 天声人語 = Vox Populi, Vox Deli (Bilingual)

A collection of essays which appear on the front page of Asahi Shinbun . Each essay is approx. 600 words. KU has collections published around 2000. Seach KU Online catalog with call number AC145 .T46 for more details. 

To see a sample text, please click on the cover image or the title .

Other Essays

Online Essay

• 村上さんのところ "Mr. Murakami's Place" -- Haruki Murakami's Advice Column Part of Haruki Murakami's official site. He answers questions sent to this site. He will also take questions in English. Questions will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2015.

Search from KU Collection

If you are looking for essays in Japanese available at KU, use this search box. If you know the author, search by last name, then first name, such as "Sakura, Momoko." Make sure to select "Author" in the search field option.:

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Japanese Writing Practice: Ultimate List of Resources for Every Level

Japanese writing can be one of the scariest aspects of learning Japanese! And there’s no shortcut to success – you simply have to get your Japanese writing practice in . Luckily there are no shortage of tools to help you with this!

Whether you are a beginner looking to practise your Japanese handwriting, or an advanced student in need of Japanese essay writing practice, there are lots of free and cheap resources out there at every level.

Here’s my roundup of the best websites, apps, printables and other tools for Japanese writing practice.

Japanese writing practice apps

Free websites for japanese writing practice online, easy japanese writing practice for beginners, japanese hiragana and katakana writing practice.

If you are new to learning Japanese, you’ll want to get your hiragana and katakana down pat before you move on to anything else.

Spending time on your hiragana and katakana writing practice not only helps you memorise the characters, it will also improve your handwriting and help you become accustomed to correct stroke order, which will be a massive benefit when you move on to learning kanji !

There are loads of free Japanese katakana and hiragana writing practice sheets online for you to download and print at home. Here’s a selection:

Free Japanese hiragana and katakana writing practice sheets pdf workbook

This free workbook from JapanesePod101 introduces all the hiragana and katakana characters and has spaces for you to trace, and then copy them out. The workbook also contains flashcards to practise your recognition. Note: you need to create a free account to access the workbook.

Japanese hiragana writing practice sheets

An alternative source to print out hiragana practice sheets, with grid lines to help your handwriting.

Japanese katakana writing practice sheets

An alternative source to print out katakana practice sheets, with grid lines to help your handwriting.

Free BLANK Japanese writing practice sheets

If you just want blank Japanese graph paper to practise writing out your characters, I have created my own in various sizes/formats for you to download and print!

Kakikata print maker

An awesome website (designed for Japanese parents/teachers to use with their children) where you can design and print your own worksheets with kana or kanji characters of your choice, in various formats. You can even choose to add stroke order! Useful if you want to practise a particular word or set of characters.

Japanese Tools: create your own kana practice sheets

Here is another useful site where you can create your own Japanese practice writing sheets with the characters of your choice, printed with a gradual fade to trace/copy.

Japanese kanji writing practice

If you are studying kanji from a textbook or course and you just need blank kanji graph paper to practise writing on, you can print that out here .

If you are looking for pre-printed kanji worksheets with kanji to copy out, the best resource I have found is this one:

This amazing website lets you download and print kanji writing practice worksheets for kanji sets according to JLPT level, Japanese school grade level, Wanikani level, Kanji Garden app level, or frequency. It’s totally free and so useful!

Easy Japanese sentence writing practice

Once you know your kana and a few kanji, you might start to think about writing out some Japanese sentences.

JapanesePod101 writing practice worksheets 

JapanesePod101 has a selection of free Japanese writing practice sheets, available as pdfs that you can download and print yourself. They currently have 16+ free writing practice workbooks on beginner-friendly topics such as daily routine or ordering food. This is a good way to get used to writing out simple Japanese sentences at the beginner level. 

However, I wouldn’t recommend them for complete beginners because they use kanji – so you should be familiar with some kanji and the basic rules of stroke order before you use them.

As soon as you are able to form Japanese sentences on your own, I recommend you start a Japanese journal and/or sharing your sentences with others using the resources in the intermediate/advanced section below!

When you are learning to write in Japanese, I recommend writing them out by hand as much as possible because it helps you learn by muscle memory and helps you develop neat handwriting! However, it’s also useful to have a great writing practice app or two on your phone so you can study on the go.

There are lots of great apps out there to practise writing Japanese characters. Here are some recommendations:

Skritter is an app for learning Japanese (and Chinese) writing and vocabulary. You can use Skritter to learn kana and kanji from scratch, or simply to review what you’ve learned. It uses handwriting recognition and a spaced repetition system (SRS) to help you learn effectively.

Under the ‘test’ settings section you can choose to focus on writing only, or add in flashcards for reading and definition too.

It works well alongside other courses and textbooks to practise your characters. They have pre-made flashcard decks from various textbooks which is great when you get on to drilling vocabulary.

As with Skritter, you can either use this app to learn kana and kanji as a complete beginner, or just to practise writing the characters you already know. In fact, it’s probably the best app I’ve found if you just want a simple flashcard-style writing practice app with handwriting recognition. It’s a little clunkier to use but once you’ve got it set up, it’s easy. If you already know the kana and you just want to practise, choose ‘Yes, but I need more practice’ during the set-up stage.

The Scripts app from the makers of Drops teaches you kana and kanji (and also has the option to learn other languages’ scripts, such as hangul or hanzi, if you’re doing the polyglot thing). You learn by tracing the characters with your finger on the screen.

It’s a good option if you are learning to write the Japanese characters from scratch. However, I could not see an option to skip the ‘learning’ stage and just review, so if you’ve already mastered your kana it won’t be for you.

Learn Japanese! 

This is a very simple and easy to use app to learn how to write hiragana and katakana. However, you only learn 5 characters at a time and I couldn’t see a way to skip to review only, so again, great for complete beginners but not if you just want to practise.

Intermediate and advanced Japanese writing practice

At the intermediate and advanced levels, you are well beyond copying out characters/sentences on worksheets, and you will be creating your own compositions in Japanese. In fact, I highly recommend doing this as soon as you are able to! 

One popular method to get your Japanese writing practice is to keep a daily diary or journal in Japanese . You can try to incorporate new grammar and vocabulary you’ve learned, or simply write whatever comes into your head just to get used to writing in Japanese.

Even jotting down a few private sentences in your own notebook will be beneficial. But if you want to step it up a notch, use one of the websites/apps below to share your writing with other learners and native speakers and receive feedback.

If you’ve been studying languages for a while you might be mourning the loss of Lang8, a site where you could post journal entries in your target language online and get feedback from native speakers. Here are a couple of Lang 8 alternatives I’ve found:

LangCorrect

LangCorrect is a site where you can practise your Japanese writing online by writing daily journal entries and getting corrections from native speakers. It’s fairly active with the Japanese learning community, and you can usually expect to get a few comments/corrections within a few hours (don’t forget to take the time difference into account!). They also have journal prompts in case you’re feeling the writer’s block. It’s free to use.

Journaly is a similar site I’ve heard, about although I haven’t used it and I have the impression its user base is smaller than LangCorrect. It’s free to use and there is also a paid version which has a few extra benefits, such as bumping up your posts to get more attention.

This is a free website offered by Dickinson College. Its main purpose is for connecting language exchange partners, but they also have a feature where you can post writing samples to receive corrections from native speakers.

r/WriteStreakJP

This subreddit is a forum to practise writing in Japanese. It’s for anyone at any level who wants to practise their Japanese writing. The idea is that you write something every day to build up a ‘streak’ and build the habit of writing in Japanese regularly.

You can write whatever you feel like; many people write diary-like entries about their day, or share random thoughts, or write about something new they’ve learned etc. There are native Japanese speaking mods who drop by to correct mistakes.

There are a lot more learners than native speakers on the forum, though, so unfortunately you’re not guaranteed feedback. But it’s still a great place to practise writing (and reading!) Japanese.

HelloTalk is a language exchange app where you can connect with Japanese native speakers, chat via text, voice or video call and receive feedback on your Japanese. In addition to connecting with people directly, you can also create ‘moments’ (write posts such as sharing journal entries, or pictures of your day) and ask general questions, and receive comments/feedback from other users.

Be warned, recently I hear a lot of users complaining that people use the messaging function like a dating app – but you may have better success using the ‘moments’ function or messaging people yourself first.

Another language exchange app where you can exchange text messages with a Japanese-speaking partner and receive corrections.

HiNative  

On HiNative you can ask questions about language usage and get feedback from native speakers. You can write your questions either in Japanese or English. This question/answer service is free. Premium paid members can also post diary entries to get feedback.

More resources for Japanese writing practice

Here’s a mixture of other useful tools and resources I’ve found for Japanese writing practice that don’t fit neatly into the above categories! This section contains a mixture of free and paid resources.

Japanese water calligraphy practice kits (paid)

Why not go old-school and practise your Japanese characters with a real calligraphy brush! In Japan, students often practise their calligraphy with these nifty ‘magic’ kits, where you paint with water on the special water-activated paper, which fades away after a few minutes so you can reuse it time and time again. This is a fun way to refine your Japanese handwriting while reviewing the characters!

Printable Japanese journals with writing prompts (paid) 

I found this printable Japanese journaling/writing practice kit on Etsy. It contains dozens of writing prompts at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, so you’ve got no excuse not to jot down a few sentences in Japanese every day! Check out the other great resources by the same author.

Japanese planner templates (free)

If you want to take daily notes or plan your day/week in Japanese, this site has loads of free Japanese planner templates to print out.

Japanese writing practice notebooks (paid)

The paper used in Japan for school compositions/essay writing practice is called genkouyoushi . There are lots of genkouyoushi notebooks with cute cover designs available on Amazon.

Free printable genkouyoushi (Japanese composition paper)

Alternatively, you can print out your own genkouyoushi-style blank writing sheets here for free.

Japanese sentence/usage databases

These databases are useful tools that I often use when writing in Japanese to check how words are used. You can search for a Japanese word and see it in context of many authentic, native Japanese sentences, to get an idea of correct and natural usage. You can also use them for sentence mining , if that’s your thing.

• Reverso – my favourite. Need to create a free account to see all sentences.
• Natsume – see how often a word is used, and which particles and other words usually follow it
• Sentence search with audio

How to Write Japanese Essays book (paid)

If you are studying Japanese to a very high level, for example to enter a Japanese university or company, you will need Japanese essay writing practice. The book How to Write Japanese Essays comes highly recommended and will train you to write in the formal academic style that is taught in Japan.

Japanese writing practice roundup

Which tools and resources do you use for Japanese writing practice? If you know any I’ve missed out, please share in the comments!

See these related posts for more useful resources to learn Japanese:

• Japanese Writing Paper: FREE Printable Blank Japanese Writing Sheets
• FREE Websites for Japanese Reading Practice (At Every Level)
• 10+ Effective Ways to Get Japanese Speaking Practice (Even if You Study By Yourself!)
• Where to get Your Japanese Listening Practice: The Epic List of Resources!
• The Ultimate List of Japanese Podcasts for Listening Practice (Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced)
• Best YouTube Channels to Learn Japanese {20+ Japanese YouTubers!}

Rebecca Shiraishi-Miles

Rebecca is the founder of Team Japanese. She spent two years teaching English in Ehime, Japan. Now back in the UK, she spends her time blogging, self-studying Japanese and wrangling a very genki toddler.

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Home > Easy Japanese > 2015 English Top > What is "Easy Japanese"

What is "Easy Japanese"

Grammar lessons (2015 version).

• Master basic grammar!
• Also－words that sound like what they describe.

"Easy Japanese" is a program of Japanese language lessons produced by Japan's public broadcaster, NHK WORLD-JAPAN. You can learn basic grammar and useful expressions. You can download texts for the lessons.

Introduction of the story

The heroine of the story is Anna, a 20-year-old Thai student who loves Japanese manga. She has come to Japan to learn the Japanese language for one year at a university in Tokyo. She will learn practical Japanese through various experiences, such as classes at the university, daily life at a dormitory, shopping, and traveling.

Main Characters

A student from Thailand. She loves Japanese manga, and her aim is to be able to read manga in Japanese without difficulties. She is of cheerful personality and has great curiosity. Even by making mistakes at times, she learns the Japanese language and customs and grow up as a person.

Sakura is a student at the university where Anna is studying. She is studying aiming to become a Japanese language teacher. She serves as a "tutor" supporting foreign students and helps Anna get used to life in Japan. She is from Shizuoka Prefecture on the Pacific coast.

Rodrigo is a student from Mexico and he is Anna's classmate. He is interested in Japanese history. He is knowledgeable and sincere, but also gets carried away sometimes.

Prof. Suzuki

Professor Suzuki teaches Japanese to Anna and other foreign students. They depend on him. He counsels them when they have problems.

Dorm Mother

She is the dorm mother of the dormitory where Anna resides. She is much liked by the students who call her "Okâsan", the Japanese word meaning "mother". She is strict but warmly watches over students from abroad.

Kenta is Sakura's cousin. He is a university student, living in Shizuoka Prefecture, Sakura's home town. At the university, he belongs to the photography club.

Supervisor of the lessons

Akane Tokunaga

Associate Professor - Kanda University of International Studies

Tokunaga has been active in various roles as a Japanese language teacher since the 1990's. From the year 2000, she has been teaching Japanese to foreign students in the Japanese Language and Culture Program at Kanda University of International Studies. She has also been involved in developing teaching materials. She has a friendly personality, and is highly evaluated for her practical lessons.

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The Saturday Profile

Documentary Filmmaker Explores Japan’s Rigorous Education Rituals

Her movies try to explain why Japan is the way it is, showing both the upsides and downsides of the country’s commonplace practices. Her latest film focuses on an elementary school.

By Motoko Rich

Reporting from Tokyo

The defining experience of Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s childhood left her with badly scraped knees and her classmates with broken bones.

During sixth grade in Osaka, Japan, Ms. Yamazaki — now a 34-year-old documentary filmmaker — practiced for weeks with classmates to form a human pyramid seven levels high for an annual school sports day. Despite the blood and tears the children shed as they struggled to make the pyramid work, the accomplishment she felt when the group kept it from toppling became “a beacon of why I feel like I am resilient and hard-working.”

Now, Ms. Yamazaki, who is half-British, half-Japanese, is using her documentary eye to chronicle such moments that she believes form the essence of Japanese character, for better or worse.

To outsiders, Japan is often seen as an orderly society where the trains run on time, the streets are impeccably clean, and the people are generally polite and work cooperatively. Ms. Yamazaki has trained her camera on the educational practices and rigorous discipline instilled from an early age that she believes create such a society.

Her films present nonjudgmental, nuanced portraits that try to explain why Japan is the way it is, while also showing the potential costs of those practices. By showing both the upsides and downsides of Japan’s commonplace rituals, particularly in education, she also invites insiders to interrogate their longstanding customs.

Her latest film, “ The Making of a Japanese ,” which premiered last fall at the Tokyo International Film Festival, documents one year at an elementary school in western Tokyo, where students align their shoes ramrod straight in storage cubbies, clean their classrooms and serve lunch to their classmates.

In an earlier documentary, “ Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams ,” Ms. Yamazaki showed high school baseball players pushed to physical extremes and often reduced to tears as they vied to compete in Japan’s annual summer tournament .

In the schools highlighted by Ms. Yamazaki, both films show what can at times seem like an almost militaristic devotion to order, teamwork and self-sacrifice. But the documentaries also portray teachers and coaches trying to preserve the best of Japanese culture while acknowledging that certain traditions might damage the participants.

“If we can figure out what good things to keep and what should be changed — of course, that’s the million dollar question,” Ms. Yamazaki said.

“If we don’t have those what seem ‘extreme’ parts of society — or more realistically as we have less of it, as I see happening,” wrote Ms. Yamazaki in a follow-up email, “we might see trains in Japan be late in the future.”

Some extreme scenes show up in her films. In “The Making of a Japanese,” for instance, one first-grade teacher strongly chastises a first grader and makes her cry in front of her classmates. But the film also shows the young student conquering her deficiencies to proudly perform in front of the school.

Ms. Yamazaki “showed the reality as it is,” said Hiroshi Sugita, a professor of education at Kokugakuin University who appears briefly in the film lecturing the school’s faculty.

Having grown up in Japan and then trained as a filmmaker at New York University, Ms. Yamazaki has a one-foot-in, one-foot-out perspective.

In contrast to a complete “outsider who is exoticizing things, I think she is able to bring a perspective that has more respect and authenticity,” said Basil Tsiokos, senior programmer of nonfiction features at the Sundance Film Festival who selected two of Ms. Yamazaki’s films for documentary showcases in Nantucket and New York.

Ms. Yamazaki grew up near Osaka, the daughter of a British college professor and Japanese schoolteacher, and spent summers in England. When she transferred from a Japanese school to an international academy in Kobe for her middle and high school years, she was surprised that janitors, not the students, cleaned the classrooms. Relishing the freedom to choose electives, she enrolled in a video film class.

She decided to leave Japan for college partly because, as someone of multiracial heritage, she was tired of being treated as a foreigner.

When she arrived at N.Y.U., most of her classmates wanted to direct feature films. Ms. Yamazaki enrolled in a documentary class taught by Sam Pollard , a filmmaker who also worked as an editor for Spike Lee and others, and embraced the medium.

Mr. Pollard spotted her talent right away. “You have to apply yourself to figure out what the story is,” he said. “She had that.”

While she was still an undergraduate, Mr. Pollard offered Ms. Yamazaki some editing work. After graduation, she said, “a lot of my friends were smoking pot and were these artist dreamer people with grand ideas.” But she took on multiple editing gigs to support her passion projects. Even now, editing helps support her documentary work.

She attributed her work ethic to her years in Japanese elementary school. “People would be like, ‘you’re so responsible, you’re such a good team player, you’re working so hard,’” she recalled. She regarded her efforts as “below average in terms of a Japanese standard.”

She met her future husband, Eric Nyari, while interviewing for a job to edit a documentary about the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto that Mr. Nyari was producing. She didn’t land the job, but the pair became friends. Mr. Nyari, who describes her as “a dictator — in a good way,” is now the primary producer of all her documentaries.

Ms. Yamazaki made the leap from editing to professional directing with a short film for Al Jazeera, “ Monk by Blood ,” that examined the complicated family and gender dynamics at a Buddhist temple in Kyoto.

Next she chose a subject that had nothing to do with Japan. “ Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators ” brought her more attention as it screened at film festivals in Los Angeles and Nantucket.

Ms. Yamazaki and Mr. Nyari rented an apartment in Tokyo seven years ago and Ms. Yamazaki began work on “Koshien.”

One of the high schools she wanted to use in the film is where the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani had trained, but his former coach, Hiroshi Sasaki, was wary after years of media requests.

Mr. Sasaki softened when he saw how Ms. Yamazaki showed up with her crew in the morning, often before the players arrived, and stayed late at night to film the team cleaning the field.

One afternoon, after he had barred her from a particularly dramatic practice and then ribbed her for not filming it, she burst into what she said were tears of frustration because her cameras had missed such a great scene.

“I thought this person really is serious about this and I was so moved,” said Coach Sasaki in a video interview with The New York Times. The morning after the practice, he invited her to turn on the camera while he watered his collection of bonsai plants and answered questions about his coaching philosophy. That episode became a pivotal scene in the documentary.

Ms. Yamazaki, who films her subjects for hundreds of hours, captures vulnerable moments that reveal as much to her subjects as to audiences.

In one scene in “Koshien,” the wife of another high school baseball coach says she resented her husband’s career because it often took him away from their three children.

“Seeing the movie, it was my first time knowing these feelings,” said Tetsuya Mizutani, the coach, whose old-fashioned, hard-driving style is highlighted in the film.

Such discomfiting moments distinguish Ms. Yamazaki’s storytelling from most Japanese documentary filmmakers, said Asako Fujioka, former artistic director of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. Filmmakers in Japan try to treat subjects “kindly, like a caring mother or friend,” whereas Ms. Yamazaki “is very bold in the way she creates drama.”

Seita Enomoto, the teacher who chastises a student in “The Making of a Japanese,” said that although some viewers have criticized him, he appreciated that the film also showed the child learning that “she should work hard, and how she changed and succeeded.” Ms. Yamazaki and Mr. Nyari hope next to make a documentary about new recruits at a large Japanese employer, where young staff start with training that can lead to lifelong work at the same company.

For now, they are raising their young son in Tokyo and have enrolled him in a Japanese nursery school. Although human pyramids have been banned by schools because of parental complaints, Ms. Yamazaki hopes her son will absorb some of the values that exercise taught her.

“It was a weird personal experience,” she said, “that I look back on fondly.”

Kiuko Notoya contributed reporting.

Motoko Rich is a reporter in Tokyo, leading coverage of Japan for The Times. More about Motoko Rich