What Japanese expression is your top favorite? That was the theme of an essay contest in Japanese for students of the language around the world.

Entries were received from 97 countries, and award winners were announced recently. Let me introduce just a few examples here.

“Tadaima” (I’m home) has completely charmed Sara Esmaeli, 21, an Iranian university student who noted that this salutation can be used only if you have a home to go back to, complete with someone who’s there to welcome you.

This, she said, is something extraordinary that is to be truly cherished, never just taken for........

© The Asahi Shimbun