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Discover and Immerse Yourself in Modern Japanese Culture
Konnichiwa! I am Didier B., the founder of Hattonihongo. Passionate about Japan since my first self taught Japanese lessons, I ended up building my life there: my studies, my business, my family life.
I arrived in Japan in 2017 to study at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, after starting Japanese on my own, at my own pace. At university, the language became my daily life, up to the JLPT N2 then N1 certifications. Since then, I have never stopped exploring the country: its matsuri, its food, its traditional culture, and its rail network that I have covered extensively, premium seats included.
Hattonihongo was born from that experience: a blog about Japan without a filter, the best and the hardest of it, seen by a foreigner who lives there. Welcome!
It all starts in 2017, when I settle in Kyoto to study at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. Even before arriving, I had started learning Japanese on my own, with textbooks, series and daily reviews. University gave structure to that solitary work: grammar, kanji, speaking, everyday Japanese.
I then validated that journey by earning the official JLPT N2 then N1 certifications, the highest recognized levels of Japanese proficiency. Started alone, completed at university: my path shows that Japanese, famous for being daunting, is within reach of anyone who sticks to it regularly.
Alongside my studies, I launched my affiliate marketing business in Japan. Year after year, it grew until reaching 1 million yen in monthly revenue. Writing pages that truly speak to Japanese consumers, understanding their codes and expectations: that was only possible through deep cultural immersion.
Married, I experienced daily life within a Japanese family: home cooked dinners, seasonal dishes, the politeness that shapes each day. I discovered real Japanese food, far richer than the dishes known abroad, shared traditional culture at its most alive, and found genuine happiness in it.
Living in Kyoto, I enjoyed all the matsuri and great traditional events of the city: processions, festivals at the shrines, summer fireworks. I also traveled a lot across the archipelago thanks to the Japanese rail network, a model of punctuality and comfort, up to the premium seats of the Shinkansen that make every trip even better.
Living in Japan means falling in love with a country while discovering its shadow areas. I also know the difficulties of Japanese society, and everything a foreigner's integration can demand: implicit codes, deeply rooted habits, time before being fully accepted.
Hattonihongo therefore tells both faces of Japan, the best and the hardest, from the point of view of a foreigner who lives there. My wish: to help you understand Japan as it is, so you can love it with open eyes. Enjoy the read!
A question about Japan, an article idea, a collaboration? Talk to Makoto, my assistant: open the chat at the bottom of your screen and leave your message. She will notify me right away and I will reply personally as soon as possible.