Our Deep Japan storytellers, your Senpai.
Our Deep Japan storytellers,
your Senpai.
Our mission.
Deep Japan is a community-driven tourism platform offering authentic insights into Japanese culture, travel, and everyday life. Our diverse “Senpai” writers—many with over 20 years of living in Japan—share heartfelt stories, practical travel tips, and fascinating observations about the Japan they know and love.
Our mission is to shine a light on the thoughtful traditions and endearing quirks that define Japanese life, fostering a deeper appreciation for what makes this country so beautifully different.
Write for us. Tell your story.
Professional writing experience is not required—if you have lived in Japan for at least three years at any point, we welcome you to apply to join our Senpai writer community. Whether you first came to Japan to teach, study abroad, follow a partner, launch a new career, or simply chase a curiosity—we want to hear from you.
There are stories only you can tell, and at Deep Japan, we would be honored to give your voice a home.
Tegami
Tegami means “letter,” and it’s a word that’s been on my mind lately after rediscovering the song of the same name by Japanese singer-songwriter Angela Aki. It is not only one of my favorites, but one of the nation’s beloved classics. If the ocean were a melody, I would say this song is the closest I’ve found. There is a tenderness to it, interwoven with power and a kind of grit, like waves that can transform from serene to mighty.
But it’s also the lyrics that speak to something universal. It’s a story that begins from the perspective of a 15-year-old writing a letter to her future self, writing about feeling lost. The second half then transitions to the perspective of her future self, writing back to her 15-year-old self and offering words of encouragement: to listen to her own voice when she doesn’t know what to do or where she is headed, and that as long as she keeps going, she will eventually find her answers.
What I love most about the song is that it acknowledges that no matter how old one gets, there are sleepless nights and there are moments when you can feel alone. While acknowledging that reality, the song breathes room to see that there is always still light, and that we can still choose to live in the present.
Now, I leave you with this question: What would you write in a letter to your 15-year-old self?
Hello there! I’m Hana, Editor-in-Chief of Deep Japan. Every Monday, I share a Japanese word, phrase, or expression with you.
Whether it helps enrich your Japanese vocabulary or simply gives you a new idea to reflect on, I hope it offers a little inspiration as we begin a fresh new week. We got this! Gambarimasho
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