It is a Japanese custom to give shussan iwai (出産祝い) to the mother and father of a newborn child with whom one has a relationship, such as family, friends, etc. to celebrate the birth of the child. Shussan iwai can consist of cash only placed in an envelope specially made for that purpose called Goshuugibukuro (ご祝儀袋), […]
スミス英会話高円寺 The Changing Face of Japan
Over the last few years I have noticed many changes taking place here in Japan. the ever changing skyline, the introduction of many new abbreviated English katakana words (no wonder the Japanese cannot be understood when they travel overseas and use such words thinking that they are everyday English words) and the way women appear to […]
Halloween Fun at Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi
Halloween is coming up on Sunday, so this week I have something special that is often made at Halloween time in the entrance of my English conversation (英会話) school, Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi (スミス英会話塚口校) in Tsukaguchi(塚口), Amagasaki(尼崎市), Hyogo Prefecture (兵庫県). I show it to students after their lessons before they leave and ask them what it’s […]
