Uchikura & Co Blog
2026-10-20
猿真似 — Imitation Can Be the BeginningIn Japanese, 猿真似 (saru mane) literally means “monkey imitation.” It is usually used negatively to describe someone who simply copies what others are doing without ...
2026-10-20
身だしなみ — Fashion Is for You, Grooming Is for OthersThere is an English saying: “You cannot judge a book by its cover.” That may be good advice, but in reality, people often do. In Japanese, we hav...
2026-10-19
Japanese Buddhist Wisdom: 諸行無常 — Everything Changes The Buddhist expression 諸行無常 (shogyō mujō) teaches that all things formed through causes and conditions are impermanent. Everything changes. We...
2026-10-19
Sharing Food, Building Relationships At a Japanese izakaya, people often order several dishes for everyone to share. Sashimi, grilled chicken, fried chicken, and salad arrive at the center of the t...
2026-10-18
うたかた (Utakata) — Nothing Lasts Forever A bubble forms on the surface of the water. For a moment, it catches the light. Then it disappears. In Japanese, うたかた (utakata) means the bubbles floating o...
2026-10-18
東雲 (Shinonome) — The Beauty Before Sunrise Some of the most beautiful Japanese words describe moments we can easily overlook. 東雲 (shinonome) means dawn—the time when the eastern sky begins to bri...
2026-10-17
What Is the Main Dish? Look at this typical Japanese meal: grilled fish, rice, pickles, a small side dish, and miso soup. What is the main dish? Many people outside Japan would point to the fis...
2026-10-17
$70,000 for OPT? A Costly Proposal for International Talent The Trump administration has proposed a substantial new fee for Optional Practical Training (OPT), the program that allows international ...
2026-10-17
社交辞令 — Friendly or Just Polite? “We should have dinner sometime.” “Please visit us when you are in town.” “Let’s do business together.” These expressions sound encouraging. But are they actua...
2026-10-17
営業中・準備中Open or Closed?When you walk past a restaurant in Japan, you may see a sign that says: 営業中（えいぎょうちゅう）— Open for Business But when the restaurant is not serving customers, the sign may not s...