Japanese Language Learning Resources 2024
What’s in my Japanese learning toolbox. Using these resources helped me pass the N1 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
Language
Hana Kimura, Her Mother’s Petition and The Rigging of Terrace House
we translate an article from the Shukan Bunshun that outlines how Hana Kimura’s mother, Kyoko Kimura, is petitioning Japan’s broadcasting watchdog to examine how the show Terrace House was set up in a way that ultimately led to Hana’s demise.
Along with the text, we read the article in Japanese, then in English, then sentence by sentence in both languages.
New Japanese Indie Music Platform Minna Kikeru
I introduce the new Japanese indie music platform Minna Kikeru, which is an amazing treasure trove of alternative music from Japan.
I translate some of the band bios and play some of the songs by tenniscoats, Yuko Ikema and My Pal Foot Foot.
Nigo & James Lavelle 1997 Japan Interview Translated
A complete translation of a 1997 interview between Nigo and James Lavelle.
Japan’s Most Famous Anti-War Folk Song? Wataru Takada’s Jieitai Ni Hairo
You probably know something about the anti-war folk music of the United States in the 1960s. But do you know much about the parallel movements in Japan?
Today I’m taking a look at one of the most representative songs of the time, Wataru Takada’s 自衛隊に入ろう Jietai in hairou or, as I’ve translated it, “Why don’t you join the army?”
Black Lives Matter In Japan – A Look At The Language
How have people been talking about Black Lives Matter in Japan? We translate language from various discussions on social media and other areas from Japanese into English, with a special focus on the amazing, brave work of Cocoa Lizzy and other Black Japanese commentators.
Samurai or CEO
Who said which quote?! Samurai or CEO?! 誰がどの名言を言ったか？！!侍か社長 ？！
We’ve translated quotes of famous CEOs and Samurai leaders from hundreds of years ago and mixed them up. Can you tell which said which?
Spoken in English and Japanese.
社長と昔の侍の名言を訳して混ぜました。どっちがどっちを言ったか分かりますか。
日本語と英語で話します。
What does it mean to be “Ugly” In Japan
What does it mean to be “busu” 「ブス」or “minikui” in Japan?
In a world that worships at the altar of kawaii 「可愛い」, at saucer sized eyes and at double skinned eyelids. What is it like to feel like you don’t live up? And how can you live a life so that it doesn’t overwhelm you.
Twitter writer and Youtuber “Todoron” painfully, graphically and courageously lays bear her experiences of this situation for all to see on Twitter, and later Youtube. Her first tweet was a single Hiragana character. Her third tweet got 150,000 likes and 30,000 retweets.
She seems to having something that resonates with contemporary online Japanese society. She mixes simple-truth observations of the state of the world, and her own inner state. Topics she tackles include her history of cosmetic surgery, concepts of beauty and mental health.
Today I want to have a look at the language she uses around the issues.
What are the words that killed Hana Kimura?
Why did Hana Kimura die? We translate and analyze the social media from Japan that led to, and then attempted to deal with, the Terrace House, wrestling star’s death.
木村花を殺した言葉は何？日本のSNSのコメントなど英語に訳して分析してみました。
Learn Japanese Through Death Poems Part 3
Can you learn Japanese by studying Japanese Death Poems? Let’s find out! In the post we have a look at a death poem by Koha 香波 from 1897. We analyse the language, and have a think about what it might all mean.
