About

Hi, I'm Reo. Japanese is my first language, and I live in Osaka, Japan. This site explains everyday Japanese simply: what a phrase means, when people use it, and when it would sound odd.

Who I am

• English is my second language, so I've been on the learner's side too.
• For work, I run a small marketing service for local businesses in Japan. The work covers social media management, landing pages, and Google review management.
• I'm also a web developer. I built a Google review management tool (a small SaaS product) on my own, from zero.

Why this site exists

I want to explain the Japanese people actually use, one phrase at a time, in plain English. Each explanation covers what the phrase means, when to use it, and how polite it sounds.

What you can expect

• Short explanations of everyday phrases, with romaji and notes on politeness.
• Honest notes on apps and courses: what they do well, where they fall short, and who should skip them.
• A clear "(paid link)" label next to every affiliate link.
• Plain English, with no hype.

How I make these articles

English is my second language. I use AI (Claude) to help me draft and polish my articles so they read clearly. Then, for every article:

• I check every Japanese example myself, as a native speaker.
• I check claims about apps and courses, such as prices and features, against the official pages.
• When I write about an app or course, I say whether I've used it myself.

Prices and plans change often, sometimes right after I publish. Always check the company's own site before you buy. If you spot something out of date, please let me know and I'll fix it.

How this site makes money

Some links on this site are affiliate links, which I label as "paid links." If you buy something through one of them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That's how I pay for the site and the time it takes to research and test. You can read exactly how this works on my disclosure page.

Contact

Questions, corrections, or a phrase you'd like me to explain? Email me at hello@wordsoftly.com. I'd be glad to hear from you.