430 Posts Found

Will at Nihongojouzu.com offers up his strategies for finding good Japanese video content on YouTube.

Source: Nihongojouz.com / Will | Subject: Video / Audio

Looking for some light reading material? Try the letters page of the Yomiuri Shinbun. The letters make a great read because:
* they are free of painfully difficult kanji
* the writing is conversational and straightforward
* they are not too long
* we all like to read about things going wrong in other peoples’ lives

The subject matter varies from the mundane to the depressing … [ Read more ]

Source: Yomiuri Shinbun | Subject: Reading Material

A java-based tool to review/drill the JLPT kanji by level (well, at least levels 2,3,4). Test on-yomi, kun-yomi, or meanings (english-japanese or japanese-english).

Sources: Akemi Sano, Institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo / Roger Meyer, Keiko Higuchi | Subject: JLPT Exam

Babel Fish is a well-known site that will allow you to translate a block of text or a web page. I leave it to you to decide how accurate it is…

Source: altavista | Subject: Translate

This game shows you an English word and asks you to type in the Japanese (you can hear the Japanese word and character as you click on the Kana keys).

Source: Language Express | Subject: Vocabulary / Phrases

“With over 10,000 language schools teaching 88 languages in 115 countries, [this] is the largest online directory of language courses and language schools worldwide.” Search in many languages for language to learn and location of program. Also includes information about language tests and certificates, online learning resources, and related travel material. From a company that has produced a language learning guidebook since 1985. [LII Annotation] … [ Read more ]

Source: Internet Course Finders | Subject: Schools

A download from the JapanEd site (basically a site to promote the books “Understanding Japanese Verbs & Adjectives” and “Techniques for Japanese-English Translation”) which offers, I think, a very good overview of the complexities involved with using the passive verb form in Japanese.

Source: JapanEd | Subject: Grammar

A download from the JapanEd site (basically a site to promote the books “Understanding Japanese Verbs & Adjectives” and “Techniques for Japanese-English Translation”) which offers, I think, a very good overview of the complexities involved with using the causative/permissve verb form in Japanese.

Source: JapanEd | Subject: Grammar

This is a good example of a blog-like podcast in which a Japanese girl talks about her daily life in an “audio diary.” It is a high-quality recording with no background music, making it good for language study. [Charles Kelly Annotation]

Source: 怜祈 | Subject: Video / Audio

These voice blog entries are short, so they are good for repeated listening. Background music is absent, so there’s only one person to blame for your incomprehension. Not aimed at students of Japanese, but enjoyable nonetheless. [Charles Kelly Annotation]

Source: amanegoe | Subject: Video / Audio

As its name suggests, Undecided Title’s topics are varied, but many are about Apple, iPods and technology. Helpfully, the transcripts for each show are on the website, meaning you can read along and learn some kanji, as well as looking up words that you don’t know. [Charles Kelly Annotation]

Source: Unknown | Subject: Video / Audio

Tomoaki Watanabe not only reads the stories, he usually gives a little background on them. All of his podcasts are narration only, with no background music or sound effects, which makes them easy to listen to. [Charles Kelly Annotation]

Source: Tomoaki Watanabe | Subject: Video / Audio

Just as the title implies, Kasumi Kobayashi reads classical Japanese literature in a clear soft voice appropriate for bedtime. If old-fashioned Japanese isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry: some of the offerings are translated into modern Japanese. You can even hear what’s arguably the most famous piece of classical Japanese literature: The Tale of Genji.

Note: Kobayashi-san offers a warning – that though she … [ Read more ]

Source: Kasumi Kobayashi | Subject: Video / Audio

Kasumi Kobayashi reads lists of words so you can practice pronunciation. The lists are published on her website, so you can follow along, painlessly learning the kanji for each word. This website is aimed at French speakers, but there’s a lot of good stuff here even for non-Francophones.

Source: Kasumi Kobayashi | Subject: Vocabulary / Phrases

On this LiveJournal site you can post some Japanese text and ask for corrections, suggestions, etc. Or use it to post a grammar/vocabulary question. I haven’t used it much, but a quick check looked like postings do indeed get quite a few responses so give it a try.

Source: LiveJournal | Subjects: Connecting (Groups, Forums, Language Exchange, Meetups, etc.), Language Exchange

Otokorashi (full title: 男らしい: For the questions that bug ya. Questions, commments, complaints about the ol’ nee-hon-go) covers grammar points aimed at people taking the JLPT Level 1 or 2, like the difference between わけではない　and わけがない、the various uses　for 気, how to use 限り、discussions of kanji compounds and advanced vocabulary. Very readable posts and informative comments. Worth a gander. [courtesy of Nihongojouzu.com]

Source: jljzen88 | Subject: Blogs

To communicate effectively in Japanese》o speak one’s mind and be understood, and respond appropriately to what is said（s a goal for most beginners, but not an easy one to achieve quickly. This book brings this goal within reach, teaching 142 essential sentence patterns for daily life‖ll the ones an intermediate student should know, and all the ones a beginner should study to become minimally proficient … [ Read more ]

Source: Taeko Kamiya | Subject: Books

Source: Charles De Wolf | Subject: Books

Source: Janet Ashby | Subject: Books

Morley’s 1985 novel portrays the mores of Japanese society as seen through the eyes of a traveling Englishman.

Source: John David Morley | Subject: Books