Hi! This blog is no longer updated, but on this page you can find an archive of my blog posts, 2016-2022. Click here to view the blog index (a list of all posts).
For the latest news about Step Up Japanese, sign up to my newsletter.
Search this blog:
A Brief Guide to Japanese Emoji: Food
Do you remember the first time you used an emoji?
I do. It was kind of overwhelming. I scrolled and scrolled through my new Japanese phone, and wondered what all these little pictures could possibly be for.
Because emoji originated in Japan, some of them are quite specific to Japanese culture.
Some are obvious - but others might not mean what you think! Let’s take a look at some specifically Japanese emoji.
Do you remember the first time you used an emoji?
I do. It was kind of overwhelming. I scrolled and scrolled through my new Japanese phone, and wondered what all these little pictures could possibly be for.
Because emoji originated in Japan, some of them are quite specific to Japanese culture.
Some are obvious - but others might not mean what you think! Let’s take a look at some specifically Japanese emoji.
せんべい Rice Cracker
(Emoji images from emoji.ichinoku.com)
"What's that brown circle with the square on it?" せんべい (senbei, or sembei) are crispy, crunchy rice crackers. Usually savoury, they're made from Japan's staple crop - rice.
This one in the emoji picture is partly wrapped in a sheet of dried のり (nori) seaweed. Yum!
弁当 Bento Box
A 弁当 (bentō or bentou) is a boxed lunch containing rice, usually with fish or meat, and often with pickled vegetables.
Look closely - this bentō box has sushi in it too!
団子 Dango
Dango are Japanese sweets made from sticky rice and sugar. They're chewy and squishy. I'm a big fan!
Dango are served on a stick to make it easier to eat.
These coloured ones are also called 三色 (sanshoku or "three-coloured") dango, or 花見 (hanami or "flower-viewing") dango.
エビフライ Fried Prawn
エビフライ (ebi-furai) or "fried prawn" is a specialty food of Nagoya, where I lived from 2011-2014.
I can't eat prawns though, so it's not my favourite food. You can have mine.
マンガ肉 Manga Meat
マンガ肉 (manga niku) is meat on the bone stylised like the cartoon meat you see in anime and manga.
Also known as あの肉 (ano niku) "that meat".
In a glorious case of life imitating art, you can actually get manga niku some places. We had it in the Capcom bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo a few years ago:
おでん Oden
A classic winter comfort food, おでん (oden) is a hot-pot made by simmering various ingredients in
dashi fish broth.
Some of the ingredients are skewered - again, to make them easier to eat.
The triangle on the top of the skewer in this emoji is こんにゃく (konnyaku), a gelatinous speckled grey food that tastes better than it looks.
Next time you're scrolling through the emoji on your phone, see if there are any Japanese food emoji that are new to you!
First published Dec 2017
Updated Sept 2021
2021 Student Summer Picnic!
Thank you to everyone (including those not pictured) who came to our student picnic at the weekend!
We had fun meeting up outdoors, drinking tea, eating Japanese snacks and talking about Japan-related (and non-Japan-related) things.
It was so good to see students in person after such a long time!
Thank you to everyone (including those not pictured) who came to our student picnic at the weekend!
We had fun meeting up outdoors, drinking tea, eating Japanese snacks and talking about Japan-related (and non-Japan-related) things.
It was so good to see students in person after such a long time!
Although all my teaching is online now, I still plan to run occasional social events in Brighton for students. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again soon.
2017: A Round Up
I'll let you into a secret.
I wanted to write an end-of-year "round-up" post last year, but I didn't think I had enough to talk about.
This year there's too much! It's been a busy, brilliant year.
Here's what my students and I got up to in 2017.
I'll let you into a secret.
I wanted to write an end-of-year "round-up" post last year, but I didn't think I had enough to talk about.
This year there's too much! It's been a busy, brilliant year.
Here's what my students and I got up to in 2017.
I started the year off with a chilly trip to Namayasai, Sussex's very own organic Japanese vegetable farm.
↓ Photo by Shino. Daikon radish by Namayasai.
In March, students and I were invited to the Brighton & Hove Japanese Club Open Day.
We tried calligraphy, made kanji name badges, and ate a lot of Japanese sweets.
The first term of 2017 flew by. In the Easter break we had an impromptu school outing to Hove Park for hanami (cherry-blossoming viewing)...
...and to E-Kagen for noodles and Japanese beer.
May in Brighton brings the Brighton Festival and Fringe Festival. And this year there were a few Japanese events on!
We saw a show by the incredible Rakugo (traditional Japanese comic storytelling) performer Katsura Sunshine...
...and enjoyed the sunshine with a trip to the beach.
Students in my new Pre Intermediate class had an end-of-year visit from a special guest.
Haruna came to chat Japanese with students during the Free Talk section of class.
↓ Haruna-san, arigatou gozaimashita!
In July I also went to the Hyper Japan festival in London for the first time.
That was a frantic day full of shopping, different performances, and Japanese street food.
↓ Domo-kun (NHK mascot) and me at Hyper Japan.
Over the summer I also attended a number of brilliant workshops, as part of Ride the Wave, a business support programme run by the council and the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce.
It was a great opportunity to meet like-minded small business owners!
↓ And I got to wear this red and white badge.
Students and I also went to the Japanese Summer Festival organised by Ohisama Ahaha, a Japanese kids group in Brighton and Hove.
We watched Japanese storytelling, made wishes for the Tanabata festival, and ate even more Japanese sweets.
Summer rolled by and I rolled off to Berlin on holiday.
This holiday is significant because its the first trip I've taken (since starting Step Up Japanese) where I put the "out of office" on and didn't check my emails while I was away.
Working hard is important, but we all need time off too.
Many of my students were off on holiday too, including Step Up Japanese student Daniel who spent the whole month of August in Japan. He documented his travels by taking over my Instagram with the hashtag #DanStepsUp.
In August we also had the first Step Up Japanese barbecue! Students brought lots of tasty food to share.
In October I attended the Language Show London for the first time, including language teaching seminars...
...and Japan Foundation events including a talk from Paralympic Gold Medallist (and fluent Japanese speaker!) Noel Thatcher.
In October half term we had the first Step Up Japanese Origami Night, a relaxed affair in one of my favourite pubs.
In November I went for Japanese Afternoon Tea at Portslade's Café an-an. This was a special event for World Vegan Day.
And before you know it, it's nearly the end of the year!
Students met for noodles and festive fun at the Christmas Party.
Like I said, it's been busy.
I'm really, really looking forward to see what 2018 brings!
Thank you so much to everyone who came to classes, took part in events, and supported me at Step Up Japanese this year.
良いお年を！
Have a good new year!
Christmas Party 2017!
Brrrrrrrr, it's cold. Or as they say in Japan, ブルブル "buruburu".
We escaped from the cold snap on Friday night with a Christmas noodle party!
Brrrrrrrr, it's cold. Or as they say in Japan, ブルブル "buruburu".
We escaped from the cold snap on Friday night with a Christmas noodle party!
↓ Off to E-Kagen on Sydney Street. Spot the Step Up Japanese students...
We started the night off with a film title quiz: guess the (non-Japanese) film title from its Japanese translation.
Everybody did well, but there were a few tricky ones in there too.
↓ Intense concentration.
↓ Special thanks to Phil for making an appearance despite having to rush off to host his own event the same night!
It wouldn't be a Christmas party without crackers - these ones had Japan-themed jokes in them too.
I have just realised I didn't take any pictures of the food. Pictures of people are much nicer, don't you think?
The food was great though!
E-Kagen has a real family-style feel, and an open kitchen so you can see your dinner being prepared.
↓ Full bellies. Massive thanks to all the staff at E-Kagen for hosting such a big group of us.
↓ Excellent Christmas jumpers.
↓ Off to the pub for a mulled wine. Or as they say in Japan, ホットワイン ("hotto wain").
↓ Impromptu kanji practice.
Thanks for another great year everyone! It's an absolute pleasure to work with such wonderful students.
メリークリスマス (Merry Christmas) - and stay warm!
Afternoon Tea at Café an-an for World Vegan Day
I was a vegetarian for ten years…then, I moved to Japan. I lasted about two weeks as a vegetarian in Japan, before swiftly abandoning my principles in favour of late-night ramen and fish for breakfast.
That's not to say that being vegetarian - or even vegan - in Japan is impossible. It just wasn't for me. But did you know that lots of wagashi (Japanese sweets) are naturally vegan?
I hadn't really thought about it, until I learned that Cafe an-an in Portslade was running an Afternoon Tea event for World Vegan Day on 1st November.
Here are some pictures of the tasty food I managed to take on the day - before I ate it all.
2021 update: Cafe an-an has moved! Now at 94 Boundary Rd, Hove BN3 4EF. Make sure to pop in and chat some Japanese with Noriko-san while you buy your sweets. She's always very welcoming! The cafe’s opening hours are changeable, so check their Facebook or Instagram before making a trip.
I was a vegetarian for ten years…then, I moved to Japan. I lasted about two weeks as a vegetarian in Japan, before swiftly abandoning my principles in favour of late-night ramen and fish for breakfast.
That's not to say that being vegetarian - or even vegan - in Japan is impossible. It just wasn't for me.
But did you know that lots of wagashi (Japanese sweets) are naturally vegan?
I hadn't really thought about it, until I learned that Cafe an-an in Portslade was running an Afternoon Tea event for World Vegan Day on 1st November.
Here are some pictures of the tasty food I managed to take on the day - before I ate it all.
I got there super early, partly because I got the bus, and partly because I was trying to run on "Japan time", i.e., if you're not early, you're late.
Cafe an-an is run by the lovely Noriko-san, who you can see selling Japanese sweets at lots of events around Brighton.
I meant to get a picture with Noriko too, but she was very busy cooking! Next time...
Anyway, we arrived and were presented with this cute handwritten menu.
Today's reading practice for you! ↓
We started the Afternoon Tea with a little soy milk and pumpkin soup. Then chestnut rice, nasu dengaku (glazed aubergine), and ganmodoki (tofu fritters) with lotus root.
You can see from the picture how small the aubergine is. It's a proper tiny Japanese one - sweet and delicious.
I haven't had aubergine that good in a long time...
Next, the sweet bit!Tsukimi dango ("moon-viewing dumplings"), and steamed chestnut yōkan (a jellied sweet made with agar) - that's the purple triangle below.
And pumpkin kintsuba - that's the orange slice that looks a bit like a piece of brie.
Kintsuba is another type of Japanese sweet, popular with people who like their sweets a bit less sweet.
The last little course was i-no-ko mochi ("baby boar rice cake"). Tasty, and of course it doesn't contain any boar...baby or otherwise.
And lastly, we had an awesome little maple leaf shaped sweet. Isn't it pretty?
Finally, my little rabbit manjuu (steamed bun) filled with anko (red bean paste).
He was almost too cute to eat, but I ate him head first.
I felt pretty sorry for the cute bunny. But at least he's vegan! Unlike me...
2021 update: Café an-an has moved! Now at 94 Boundary Rd, Hove BN3 4EF. Make sure to pop in and chat some Japanese with Noriko-san while you buy your sweets. She's always very welcoming! The cafe’s opening hours are changeable, so check their Facebook or Instagram before making a trip.
First published November 2017. Updated August 2021.
Like many people in the UK, I studied French in school. I liked French. I thought it was really fun to speak another language, to talk with people, and to try and listen to what was going on in a new country. (Still do!)
When I was 14 we went on a school exchange to the city of Reims, in northeastern France. I was paired with a boy, which I’m sure some 14-year-olds would find very exciting but which I found unbearably awkward. He was very sweet and we completely ignored each other.
That was nearly 20 years ago, and I didn’t learn or use any more French until, at some point in lockdown, I decided on a whim to take some one-to-one lessons with online teachers. Here are some things I learned about French, about language learning, and about myself.