Learn Japanese @ Japancast.net

http://www.iknow.co.jp

iKnow is a new language learning site with a social twist.  At the moment it only offers English for Japanese speakers and Japanese for English speakers.  The plan is to offer multiple languages in the future.

You can build your own list of courses, add friends and track your progress as you study.  At the moment they have 10 core Japanese study guides, but more will be added as the site moves out of beta.  

Overall the concept is great.  Certainly it’s a worthwhile addition to your list of Japanese study resources.

http://www.fenrir-inc.com/

From Computer World:

A Japanese software company is stepping up international promotion of its Web browser in the hope of carving out a 5% share over the next few years of a market dominated by Internet Explorer and Firefox.

The Sleipnir browser is well-known among Japanese technophiles, many of whom value the high level of customization that the browser allows. At the center of this customization is the ability to select either the Trident or Gecko layout engines for each Web site visited.

Trident was developed by Microsoft Corp. and is used in Internet Explorer while Gecko is used in Mozilla’s Firefox.

And, of course, Sleipnir also excels at Engrish by saying, ” Web Browser specializes in customization (For Advanced User) Improved further stability and speed of performance tuning.”

It is, according to their website, the number 1 browser in Japan.  Anyone using Sleipnir?

We mentioned it quite a while ago, but the site has just launched. I’ll be talking about it a bit more in the podcast later.

If you’re looking to find a Japanese friend, penpal, language partner, boyfriend or girlfriend, this is the site for you. You’ll have to create a new account, but basic accounts are free.

Head over now and check it out!

http://friends.japancast.net

From:Japan Today - News - Tezuka’s manga work to go online

Sadly for us in America, the dollar is at an all-time low versus the yen, so costs of items from Japan are much higher than before.  If you visit the site, you can click the banner at the top and there are some free sample issues available.  It’s using a proprietary online reader, but it seems to work fine.

Tags: manga, anime, e-book, Tezuka

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As I mentioned in my inaugural post, my goal with my contribution to this blog is to profile a year in Osaka and the surrounding Kansai area. To that end, I will wait until the new year to start talking about my travel and cultural experiences. But in the meantime, I’d like to talk about a few study aids that have helped me and that maybe can be helpful to you, too.

1.) 漢字そのまま楽引き辞典 (kanji sono mama rakubiki jiten)
The ability to quickly look up words is vital to the study of any language, but Japanese, with its thousands of characters, can be especially problematic. When I first started my year abroad in Chiba, I went to Yodobashi Camera and bought a Sharp electronic dictionary. Typing words in English was simple, as was looking up Japanese words in hiragana or katakana. But, what always gave me a headache was looking up unknown terms for which I had only the kanji to go by, for example: 辞書. Looking up the kanji usually involved two steps. The first was to count and enter the number of strokes in the radical. Determining the radical is a little difficult at first, but once you become more familiar with kanji, it’s fairly intuitive. In this case, the radical is the left half of the kanji, 舌, which has six strokes. Next, I had to enter the total number of strokes for the kanji which, here, is thirteen. After I put this information in, the dictionary displayed every kanji in its database with the radical in question and a stroke count of thirteen. If I was lucky, it would return only a few matching characters. If I was not so lucky, I had to go through more than a few screens before locating the correct one. Once I had finally found it, I would hit the enter button to be taken to that kanji’s page where I could see its various readings and other information. Unfortunately, the dictionary lacked the ability to input more than one kanji, so I had to rely on another button that displayed a list of common words featuring the kanji I had just looked up. Eventually, after scanning over a few, a dozen, or a few dozen words, I could usually find what I was looking for. If I then pressed the enter button the English definition would pop up. A lot of work, huh? And keep in mind this was all for one word! If I encountered several words I didn’t know in the same sentence, I could end up spending five minutes or longer just reading one sentence. And to make things worse, I would often forget the first word I’d looked up by the time I got to the end of the sentence. Needless to say, it was all a bit discouraging.

Then, last year, I discovered 漢字そのまま楽引き辞典. This program for the Nintendo DS has been without a doubt the most helpful tool to me personally in my study of Japanese. It employs the same Genius series of dictionaries that most electronic dictionaries use, but takes full advantage of the DS touch screen so that looking up kanji requires only a few seconds of your time. You simply write the kanji on the screen and the pages of the animated dictionary flip to the relevant entry. There are two side-by-side writing fields, and as soon as you write a new character, the other disappears to make room for you to enter yet another, should the word contain three or more characters. I can now breeze through sentences, taking minimal time away from my train of thought to find a definition. And if I do forget a word I just saw, I can hit the L and R buttons to cycle through recently displayed entries, which saves me the effort of re-writing it. I owe my recent surge in reading to this program, and it also has the added benefit of improving kanji retention, with all the writing practice you get inputting characters.

The only drawback to the majority of you is that this program is actually aimed at Japanese learners of English, rather than foreigners studying Japanese, and is sold only in Japan. So if you come to Japan, I highly recommend picking it up. But for those of you without immediate travel plans, the program is available through other channels. Since the dawn of the video game industry, there have been companies who thrive selling games exclusive to Japan. And since Nintendo DS games are universally compatible, anything purchased here will work on your machine. The program’s official site (http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/arjj/) is only in Japanese, but if you click on the first button (the one with the red arrow) you can see what the program looks like and even watch a demo video.

2.) Perapera-kun
While an efficient dictionary is a great tool for reading books, it’s less useful when you want to read webpages in Japanese, especially if you have a laptop. After all, no one wants to prop a DS up on their keyboard. For a long while I, like many other students of Japanese, was using Jim Breen’s online Japanese dictionary page. A simple copy and paste of any Japanese into the translation field would yield a list of definitions for all the words contained therein. While the definitions were always very good, and even translated slang and other obscure terms, the page wasn’t always perfect. Sometimes it would combine two kanji from successive terms into a single word and give you that definition instead. Sometimes it would fail to recognize conjugations. Still, it was faster than looking up the words one at a time elsewhere. But I always wished there was a way that I could simply hover my mouse cursor over a word and get a definition, bypassing all the terms I already knew and without needing a separate webpage. Then, my wish came true. I recently learned from a fellow JET about a plug-in for Firefox called Perapera-kun. Perapera-kun is actually a modified version of another plug-in called Rikai-chan. While the former slightly extends the functionality of the latter, and thus is my preferred choice, they both essentially perform the same job. When you toggle the plug-in on and hover your mouse cursor over a Japanese word, a little window pops up over the word, giving you the definition. Probably the greatest feature of the plug-in is its ability to recognize where a word begins and ends. Since there are no spaces between Japanese words, it can sometimes be difficult for programs (not to mention us!) to distinguish one word from the next. But, with Perapera-kun, it’s not a problem. I can now read newspaper articles and blogs in Japanese a lot quicker.

If you use Firefox and want to give Perapera-kun a try, follow this link to download the plug-in: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3343 Because this is a modified version of Rikai-chan which relies on the same dictionary plug-in, you have to download that plug-in for Perapera-kun to function. There are instructions on how to do so on the Perapera-kun page.

3.) Kanji Box
Now I’ve covered two really helpful ways to more quickly read Japanese by getting quick definitions. But an even faster way to read Japanese is to not have to look up words in the first place. And to do that, you need to build a large vocabulary. While I lucked out with the dictionary program on the Nintendo DS, I have yet to come across a good flash card program. I’ve tried a few programs geared at younger Japanese, and they have been helpful, but what I really want is a simple, straightforward set of flash cards, generated randomly and automatically, that I can use to quiz myself. Everyone learns differently; I am a very visual learner, and the more I see something, the better I retain it. A quick Google search will turn up a few hits, but one of the best I’ve found is a Facebook application called Kanji Box, which I only mention because seemingly everyone is on Facebook these days. Once you add the application, you can adjust it to your level, which runs the gamut from beginner to JLPT Level 1. You can run through drills and quizzes on hiragana and katakana, kanji and vocabulary and even tweak how questions and answers are displayed. The only downside is that the drills and quizzes don’t end after a set number, so if you find Kanji Box as addictive as I do, you can end up going at it for far longer than you intended! Also, because the application is dependent on an internet connection, it’s not as convenient for study-on-the-go as it would be were it a DS program – but that’s a minor complaint. http://apps.facebook.com/kanjibox/

(As a side note, if you want to cheat at the Kanji Box, simply run Perapera-kun while doing the vocab quiz and you can hover over the choices and get the right answer every time! Though, this ultimately that defeats the purpose of the flash cards, it’s fun to try!)

I hope this helps some of you in your Japanese studies. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. それじゃ、またな！

A while back I blogged about a software package called “Vocoloid”, which let you create JPop songs with a “virtual idol” that would sing your songs for you.

Well, now Mainichi Daily News is reporting the software apparently is extremely popular among the “middle-aged” (I assume they mean men).

Computer software that allows users to create their own songs and
have them performed by a squeaky voiced “idol” singer is proving a
massive hit — among the middle-aged, according to Sunday Mainichi
(12/9).

Called “Vocaloid 2 Hatsune Miku”, the software uses
computer-generated vocal sounds mixed with an actual human voice (in
this installment, provided by voice actress Saki Fujita) that can be
manipulated to perform any song.

The software, put on the market by Crypton Virtual Media, has proved
popular because people can create their own tunes and fiddle with them
however they like, apparently creating the image of being able to make
a virtual idol singer in the home.

Selling at 16,000 yen — a comparatively cheap price for the type of
software — Hatsune Miku is priced to be attractive for the teenage
market. But actually, it’s the teens’ parents who’ve fallen for Hatsune
Miku in a big way.

Niko Niko Doga, a Japanese video sharing site, lets users upload
their Hatsune Miku productions, but the most popular vids are not
mimicked versions of current (or even recent) hits, but numbers dating
back decades, from long-gone artists like YMO and Pink Lady.

“Computer music had a huge following back in the 1970s, when today’s
parents were still in junior high or high school,” a Crypton Virtual
Media spokesman tells Sunday Mainichi. “It looks like that generation
has caught the computer music bug again in a big way, only this time
around they’re having fun with their kids as they get Hatsune Miku to
sing.” (By Ryann Connell)

Niko Niko Douga (Japanese) http://www.nicovideo.jp/

Source: Idol curiosity has cybernetic songstress striking a chord - Mainichi Daily News

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Tags: Software

Christmas List 2007

So for this episode we decided to come up with our Japancast Christmas List 2007. For all your family members who always ask you “what do you want for Christmas” and you never can come up with anything on the spot - this list is for you.

First on the list would be Japanese study materials, and for me the best series you can buy is the Pimsleur Comprehensive series:

	Japanese I - 3rd Ed.: Learn to Speak and Understand Japanese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Comprehensive)
	Japanese II - 2nd Ed.: Learn to Speak and Understand Japanese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Comprehensive)
	Japanese III - 2nd Ed.: Learn to Speak and Understand Japanese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Language Program)

Yes, Pimsleur is very expensive. But I guarantee if you follow their entire program, you will be well on your way to being fluent in Japanese.

Next on the list is generally referred to as the Henshall book. This is an excellent place to start learning kanji. Obviously before you move to kanji, you want to be able to read and write hiragana and katakana - but since Japancast has already done free lessons in how to read and write all of the kana, it seems like a waste of money to buy kana books. Henshall’s book, therefore is a good place to start once you’ve mastered the kana:

Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters (Tuttle Language Library)

Of course you’ll need a dictionary (do NOT buy a Roma-ji dictionary!!):

	Kodanshas Furigana English-Japanese Dictionary (Japanese for Busy People)
	Kodansha’s Furigana: Japanese-English Dictionary (A Kodansha Dictionary)

For those of you more advanced students, I would recommend taking a peek at these books:

	How to Sound Intelligent in Japanese: A Vocabulary Builder (Kodansha’s Children’s Classics)
	Love, Hate and Everything in Between: Expressing Emotions in Japanese (Power Japanese Series) (Kodansha’s Children’s Classics)
	Modern Japanese Vocabulary: A Guide for 21st Century Students, Hiragana/Katakana Edition

How about a bit more fun way to learn?

	Mangajin’s Basic Japanese Through Comics
	Mangajin’s Basic Japanese Through Comics (Part 2)
	Japanese in Mangaland: Basic Japanese Course Using Manga
	Japanese in MangaLand: Workbook 1
	Kanji in MangaLand: Levels 1 & 2 (Kanji in Mangaland)
	The Anime Companion: What’s Japanese in Japanese Animation
	The Anime Companion 2: More What’s Japanese In Japanese Animation?

Culture & Life in Japan:

	NTC’s Dictionary of Japan’s Cultural Code Words
	Living Abroad in Japan
	A Practical Guide to Living in Japan: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Settle In
	Japan Health Handbook
	A Guide to Food Buying in Japan
	The Japanese Mind: Understanding Contemporary Culture

Vocaloid 2 is a really interesting program.  It’s similar to Garage Band in that you can take loops to create tracks, but it also has the added bonus of a “singer”.  The software has voice synthesis that allows it to “sing” the lyrics of your song.  Check out these samples:

Some more information from the Yamaha press release:

A much more realistic and natural sounding vocal
The synthesis engine of VOCALOID2 uses a different signal processing technique from Version 1, creating a clearer and more natural vocal.

Realtime Keyboard Performance (VST Instrument)
Written lyrics can be assigned a note by touch of a keyboard. Now you can “sing” using a keyboard.

New functionalities and improvements
Much easier to use functionalities are newly implemented, which reduce workloads in creating your music. Existing functionalities are also improved.

Note auditioning
If you press a note, singing with lyrics and pitch will be assigned to the note. Instantly check lyrics and notes.

Transparent control track
Control track for controlling timbre is transparent, so you can check two parameters at once.

Toggling between Playback and Rendering
You can specify playback/rendering mode for each track. By rendering the finished track, you can reduce CPU load in playback. Maximum number of tracks is 16.

Expression control
You can easily specify musical expression (attack and vibrato) with this intuitive user interface.

VOCALOID2 products
VOCALOID2 will not be released as a Yamaha product. It will be released as a package of VOCALOID singer libraries developed by third party licensees which includes Yamaha’s software, and will be sold by the licensee. 4 titles will soon be released. 

Visit the Vocaloid website HERE

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to invite all you JC Podcast listeners and website members to check out Asoboo.com. It’s a new social network that includes English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. It’s a good mix of people from Japan and the west, so you’ll be sure to meet lots of interesting people.

I just created a Japancast account last night, so be sure to find me. There is a Japanese language study group there too.

See you on Asoboo!