Officially founded in 1978 by the National Confectionery Industry Association in Japan, White Day is the official holiday for boys to give return gifts to the girls in their lives.

One of the things I did learn while reading Fruits Basket was the personalities of the Chinese zodiac as well as one legend of how the zodiac came to be.

In the culture of Japan you'll find an interesting piece of furniture that many a manga have built warm or humorous scenes around. The kotatsu is a table that is about the height of an English coffee table, and is meant to be sat around on the floor.

Undoubtedly, those who have read manga or watched anime for quite some time will have determined that Japanese school systems are organized somewhat different than in native English speaking countries. The most marked difference is the fact that upper secondary education (high school) is not mandatory in Japan.

For a long time I knew the honorific of senpai, but didn't realize that the "underclassman" also has the honorific of kōhai. There's only been one instance in which I've seen kōhai used. This made me wonder why the English publishing companies don't keep ALL the honorifics.