Matthew Coslett
After his 6 month stay got extended to 6 years, Matthew decided just to stay. As well as writing about his beloved Kansai, he spends hours in the middle of nowhere looking for wildlife and searching for the parts of the city most people ignore.
Articles
Here Be Monsters: An Omnibus of Demonic ‘Oni’ Usage in Japanese
The terrifying demons of Japanese lore are a surprisingly rich source of proverbs. GaijinPot investigates how to “say it with ogres."
Kooky Kanji: The Surprising Origin Stories of Some Famous Characters
Kanji is fascinating when it's used in strange or unusual ways. GaijinPot looks at how the history of kanji may be even more interesting than you thought.
Sweat the Small Stuff: 5 Tips for Passing the JLPT
Don’t be a stressed mess, learn how to pass your next level test on your journey up the Japanese language proficiency ladder.
Local Search Tips for Planning a Trip in Japan
Whether it’s a month-long vacation or quick weekend getaway, instead of jetting off abroad, how about traveling within Japan? GaijinPot gives you advice on how to research your trip and get the best out of it.
Beyond Air Conditioners: A Pro’s Guide to Keeping Cool this Summer
With a hot and humid summer already in full swing, it’s time to take some cool precautions. GaijinPot looks at “Cool Japan” from the air conditioner to other, more esoteric, devices.
Japanese Words Made for Earthquakes and Other Disasters
Following the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that recently hit Kansai, the floods and landslide in western Japan and the current nationwide heatwave, it’s time to look at some words for these terrifying natural occurrences.
World Cup Words: Talking about Football in Japanese
Following Samurai Blue’s inspiring run in the World Cup and finals about to start, there has never been a better time to master some of the unique Japanese words associated with the tournament as it nears it’s exciting finish!
He Said, She Said: How to Quote Others in Japanese
GaijinPot presents a guide to quoting what others have said — because you can't always be the definitive source.
Visa Basics: Instructor Versus Specialist in Humanities and International Services
GaijinPot investigates two common types of visas for teachers in Japan that cause the most confusion.
Cheat Sheet: Moving up to Intermediate Japanese with a New Verb Ending
GaijinPot offers advice for moving from the ない (not) to the ず (not doing) suffix — and helps you ti answer trick test questions in the process.
Get Yourself Connected: A Quick Guide to Internet Setup in Japanese
At first the words for the internet can seem somewhat easy after all — a lot of them are English. However, once you try and get online, the words become increasingly difficult. GaijinPot investigates.
How the Simplest Kanji Can Often Trick Us
With the JLPT exams just around the corner, GaijinPot takes a look at some of the weird compounds using basic kanji that examiners can’t resist slipping into their tests.
