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Colorful manga-style illustration introducing Japanese dialects in anime and manga, featuring characters representing Kansai-ben, Kyoto-ben, Tohoku-ben, Hakata-ben, and Okinawan regional speech, alongside a map of Japan and traditional scenery.

How to Understand Japanese Dialects in Anime and Manga

Ever wonder why anime characters speak Japanese differently? Explore Kansai-ben, regional dialects, and the exaggerated speech patterns used in anime and manga.

Mike Viscusi

4 hours ago12 min read

Simple Gaijin featured image examining whether the JLPT is getting harder, featuring N1–N5 Japanese study books, a maneki-neko, Mount Fuji, and a graph comparing Japan and overseas certification rates from 2013 to 2025.

Is the JLPT Getting Harder, or Are Test Takers Just Not Trying Hard Enough? — Part 1

Is the JLPT getting harder, or are test takers simply not preparing well enough? Using 13 years of official Japanese-Language Proficiency Test statistics from 2013 to 2025, we investigate declining certification rates, surprising differences between Japan and overseas examinees, and the extraordinary results recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers reveal a much more complicated story than you might expect.

Mike Viscusi

Jul 21, 202016 min read

Comic-style illustration explaining JLPT results, featuring an N3 score report showing 126 out of 180 points, section scores of 40, 43, and 43, passing status, reference grades, and a checklist of scoring topics.

JLPT Scores Explained: What Your Japanese Test Results Actually Mean

Got your JLPT results but aren't sure what the numbers mean? Learn how passing scores, sectional minimums, percentile ranks, and CEFR reference levels work, with real examples.

Mike Viscusi

Mar 16, 201910 min read

Comparison of the JLPT and ACTFL Japanese proficiency assessments, featuring a JLPT multiple-choice exam with N1–N5 levels and an ACTFL Japanese speaking interview, highlighting the differences between language comprehension and communication.

JLPT vs. ACTFL: Which Japanese Proficiency Test Should You Take?

Is the JLPT or ACTFL better for proving your Japanese ability? Discover how these two proficiency systems compare, what they actually measure, and which qualification fits your career or education goals.

Mike Viscusi

Dec 23, 201714 min read