Read the article: https://tfg.li/2yrOp3K

When living in or visiting Japan, there’s one simple thing you can do to make good relationships with Japanese people: omiyage.

This art of gift-giving is steeped in tradition and has lots of rules to follow. Get it right and you’ll get off on the right foot with your host family and smooth over relations with co-workers. Get it wrong and… well, just don’t get it wrong.

In this episode, Koichi and Michael talk about omiyage etiquette, where to buy, and 6 steps to achieving Japanese gift-giving greatness.

Improving Relationships in Japan Through Omiyage

For people who want to visit Japan, live in Japan, and learn Japanese. Please excuse the tangents.

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In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and Nick, discuss how "but" in Japanese, けど (kedo), is often used at the end of sentences in real-life conversations.

For more details, check out Kanae's article: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/kedo/

けど: Why Are Japanese Speakers Always Ending Their Sentences with "But"?

Language exchange is a fun and free way to improve your Japanese. But to do it successfully, you should consider a few things.

In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and Ian discuss tips and practical expressions you can use for language exchange sessions.

For more details, check out: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/language-exchange/

How To Language Exchange Successfully

In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and David discuss why e-books can be great materials for Japanese learners, all their tips for buying Japanese e-books, and their favorite Japanese e-book stores.

After listening to the episode, check out: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/how-to-buy-japanese-ebooks/

How and Where to Buy Japanese E-Books

よつばと！ (Yotsuba&!) is a Japanese slice-of-life comedy manga series that's become very popular in the Japanese learning community.

In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and Ian talk about how much they love Yotsuba&! and why it's such a great manga series to pick up for Japanese learners, especially beginners.

After listening to this episode, check out Ian's review article about "Yotsuba&!": https://www.tofugu.com/reviews/yotsubato/

Why Is Everyone Raving about "Yotsuba&!"?

In this episode, Emily and Kanae discuss “yuri,” the Japanese genre of women-loving women (wlw) romantic relationships.

Check out this episode to learn a brief history of yuri, famous examples of yuri, and Emily’s yuri/LGBTQ+ recommendations, such as:

    少女革命ウテナ (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
    やがて君になる (Bloom Into You)
    しまなみ誰そ彼 (Our Dreams at Dusk)

… and more!

Improving Relationships in Japan Through Omiyage

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