EDITORIAL POLICY

Context first. Certainty only where it is earned.

Research and sourcing

We distinguish dictionary definitions, examples in teaching material, observed usage, editorial interpretation, and claims supported by outside sources. Language guidance prioritizes primary and authoritative references such as the Japan Foundation and Japanese government cultural or educational resources.

Every substantial language or culture article includes a source note. Sources support factual claims; they do not replace the article’s original explanation and analysis.

Variation

Japanese varies by region, generation, setting, and relationship. Articles avoid presenting one speaker’s experience as a universal rule.

Use of AI

AI tools assist research organization, drafting, editing, illustration, and technical production. Claims are checked against the references cited in each article, and AI-generated text is never treated as a factual source. Generated illustrations are editorial images, not documentary evidence of a specific event or person.

Review checklist

• Japanese spelling, reading, register, and example translations are checked for internal consistency.
• Broad cultural claims are narrowed or qualified when usage varies.
• Titles describe the article without promising a single secret or “untranslatable” truth.
• Sources are linked so readers can inspect the underlying material.

Corrections

Substantive corrections are made promptly. When a correction materially changes an article’s conclusion, the article should disclose the revision and update its modification date.