There's no doubt about it: the most complex part of learning Japanese is kanji, unless you're fortunate enough to already be fluent in Chinese, and if you are, I envy you. An educated Japanese person generally uses around 2000 kanji, compared with 3500-5000 for the same person in China. Because the Chinese writing system was basically grafted onto the existing Japanese language in the 5th century, there are fundamentally two ways to read any character, the on (rhymes with bone) or Chinese reading, and the kun (rhymes with spoon) or Japanese reading, the latter being an existing Japanese word that's been assigned to a kanji based on the character's meaning. As a general rule, you use the Chinese reading for compound words made up of two kanji (for example, the word for "hibernation," toumin, written with the characters for winter + sleep), and there are quite a few Chinese and Korean words that are the same in Japanese for this reason. The Japanese reading is usually used for characters that appear by themselves (e.g. the character for winter written all by itself, fuyu), or in special cases like names of people or places. It's hard to believe, but it's easier to memorize Japanese vocabulary words through kanji than, say, learning from a book which prints Japanese in the Roman alphabet. For example, the character for "most" can be combined with a variety of other kanji to describe ideas like tallest, shortest, etc., like saikou (most + high = highest, also meaning the best), saitei (most + bottom = the lowest, meaning a real jerk when applied to a person), saisho (most + begin = the first), saigo (most + after = the last), and saishin (most + new = the newest). Memorizing these words in kanji only takes two "bytes" of your brain's memory once you've gotten used to the characters themselves, but memorizing the words in the Roman alphabet would be harder since they're just a jumble of letters.
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One of the themes of being an American living in Japan is discovering how much the country has taken various cues from Britain. It starts out with cars, getting used to "strange" car-related words, like the hood of the car being called a bonnet, or seeing your first Toyota Super Saloon, a car with a name that makes Americans think of the Old West until they learn that saloon is just the British word for sedan. Americans might make a visit to the bathroom or the restroom, but in England (I'm told) they are more likely to use the word "toilet," which is the same in Japan -- and I've gotten some funny looks in stores in the States asking the cashier where the "toilet" was. Then there are clothing-related words that the Japanese imported from Britain, like a jacket or sweater being called a "jumper," and of course the infamous word "pants," which refers to trousers, jeans or slacks in the U.S. but underwear in Britain and Japan. It seems that the Japanese have looked to Britain in other ways, too. For example, I can't think of a single situation where I'd call a friend or acquaintance by his last name, but it's common for classmates in Japanese schools to do this, for example saying, "Nagashima, let's go" instead of using the person's first name of Takeshi. When reading the Narnia books with my son, I saw characters referring to each other by last names, and it made me think that Japan and Britain were somehow closer than it seemed on the surface.
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What if you met a Japanese person who went around telling "knock knock" jokes in English all the time? It would be pretty strange, I'd wager, and you might not know what to make of them. But that's essentially what I do in Japanese: making wry Japanese jokes called dajare (da-jah-reh), although in my family we call them dadajare, since I'm the Dad. As a strange side-effect of learning Japanese, my brain has developed the subconscious ability to come up with strange jokes whenever I hear a word or phrase that acts as a trigger, quite unrelated to what I'm thinking about at the time, and when the family does something together they know I'll probably be making little puns until they're groaning for me to stop. For example, one way to say "I don't have it" or "there aren't any" in Japanese is nashi, which also happens to be what those delicious Japanese pears are called, so naturally I might reply "Japanese pear" if my wife asks me if I have her car keys. In Japanese, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is called Pisa no Shato, and since the final word sounds like the French word for castle, I might make a bad joke about how I've always wanted to go see the famous Chateau di Pisa. The other day I was watching TV and needed to switch the sound from Japanese to English, and as I looked around for the remote control, my wife asked me what I was searching for. The Japanese word for "sound" is onsei (OWN-sei), which my brain told me is similar to the word for "eleven" in Spanish (once). So I said, "I'll give you a hint," and proceeded to count from one to ten in Spanish. The next number was eleven, and suddenly everyone knew that I was looking for the remote control so I could change the sound on the TV. For some reason, telling dajare jokes is the domain of middle-aged men in Japan.
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Here are today's "really cool products" that I've picked out for you, out of the 30+ new items we've added to the J-List and JBOX.com sites today. Note that some products may be "not safe for work" but that all links will allow you to redirect yourself either to the J-List or JBOX.com websites. To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link. Japanese T-Shirt - Lucky Eva Twins. J-List is known for our wacky and fun T-shirts, which blend anime characters and art with cool kanji writing. This new shirt for guys and girls combines the dynamite twins Kagami and Tsukasa from Lucky Star with the iconic plugsuit costume from Evangelion. Lucky Eva! Rin & Ren Kagamine Nendoroid Figures. Miku Hatsune is the super-popular character created to serve as mascot for Yamaha's eerily beautiful voice synthesis software that can recreate a human singing voice. Now you can own the awesome backup characters, Rin and Ren, in awesome Nendoroid form! Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea 2009 Schedule Book . In addition to our great lineup of anime, JPOP, cute idol and other calendars, we carry the outstanding schedule books by Studio Ghibli, which are among our most popular sellers. Today we're posting the 2009 Ponyo schedule book, which features a complete weekly and monthly calendar, a diary and address book, and more. More Anime Calendars for 2009. We've gotten in two new gorgeous large-format 2009 calendars for anime fans, which you should snap up before they're gone. Today we're posting the gorgeous fighting manga and anime Sekirei, as well as the new Fullmetal Alchemist. To LOVE-Ru 2009 Calendar. Also, dig this great 2009 calendar for fans of To LOVE-Ru, a popular manga and anime about an average Japanese boy who finds himself betrothed to an alien princess from another planet. This calendar is fantastic, and is shipped in a protective box. S Cawaii Mar 2008. Remember that J-List offers the most popular magazines from Japan, including anime, manga,toy & hobby and more. We also have a great lineup of popular fashion magazine for both guys and girls. Here's an issue of S Cawaii! (the "s" meaning "super" or the highest possible class), loaded with pictures of fashion in Tokyo today. Louise 1/8 Figure by Kotobukiya ~ Zero no Tsukaima. Zero no Tsukaima is about a girl in a magical world who is so bad at magic, she accidentally summons a human from Japan to be her familiar (tsukaima). Saito turns out to be quite useful, as he has the ability to use any weapon, including, well, you might be able to guess from the title. This fabulous figure is finally in stock. Hip Parade Plus Lovely Waitress The Hip Parade line of "trading torsos" is an incredible concept that could only come from Japan: extremely sexy and detailed lower torsos from females wearing skimpy underwear. This deluxe version adds a new twist: "skirts" that cover the top of the torso figure, allowing you some interesting viewing angles. Both full sets and individual boxes are in stock. Makes a great wacky gift! Totoro Nap Pillow. We love Studio Ghibli's high quality Totoro products, and this year the company released two amazing "nap pillows" that are just perfect for catching some Z's on a Sunday afternoon. They feature the same soft construction as the other Totoro cushions we posted today, but have more support for your head for sleeping. Two different designs are available. Back in stock today! Electronic Mini Hand Whipper for Milk. Here's something fun we picked up: an electric "whipper" that turns boring milk into foamy, creamy goodness. Even the most boring cup of coffee is fantastic to drink with one of these. New Japanese Snacks. J-List customers really love our Japan-only Kit Kat, and if they're based on an extremely traditional Japanese taste like today's Azuki, so much the better. Also, enjoy a fantastic "Black Plum Candy" made with sugar from Okinawa and tangy plum on the outside. Also, we've got a new flavor of Cube Gum from Lotte, Pineapple Mint. Hot Pot (Nikomi) Ramen -- Miso Flavor. This is something I've wanted to carry for a while, and I'm glad we have it back. It's one of my favorite foods, basically everything you need to make a big pot of delicious hot miso ramen with tons of vegetables for the family to eat. I am not kidding when I say that this is my favorite Japanese food, and now it can be yours! Monster Hunter Illustrations Fabulous dual set of artbooks for the popular Monster Hunter game series, which is taking Japan by storm right now (my son had me drive him to more than ten stores before he found his copy). This is back in stock today. Japanese Plush Beanie - "Domo-kun Face." J-List loves Domo-kun, the official spokesmonster for NHK, Japan's version of the BBC, and we've brought the joy of Domo-kun to many all over the world. In addition to T-shirts and hoodies that are great, we've got these fantastic plush beanie hats in stock for you! DX Kumon Katakana Card Set. Kumon is a chain of study centers in Japan and around the world that has developed incredibly effective techniques for learning any material. Here is their official deluxe Katakana card set, a great way to learn to read the character set used for writing foreign-derived words like "ice cream" and "amenity communicator." Hello Kitty Pink x Brown Nylon Lunch Bag. A fun bag for carrying your bento in (or anything else), featuring Hello Kitty on the side. Traditional Items from Japan. We could all use a little good luck, and we've restocked our Super Micro Lucky Cat Pair, which you can carry with you anywhere. Also, check out our Lucky Kimono Rabbit Display, a really nice item for your home. Restocked Urban Photobooks. I'm always fascinated at what Japanese fans can get turned on to, and photobooks about old run-down factories or "modern ruins" are simply amazing. Today we're restocking several of these items, including a book for fans of danchi, the large-scale apartment units in Japan, which certainly are beautiful in their lack of beauty. Includes paper-craft you can cut out and build! Moe Encyclopedia Books Restocked. Moe (mo-EH) is, of course, the ultimate expression of super cute female anime characters, roughly describable as the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when contemplating your favorite anime females. We've restocked the outstanding Moe Moe Encyclopedia books, which explore girls wearing various uniforms, lingerie, cat girls and more. DX Bento Box, Accessories. Also, see fresh stock of the Simple Man's DX Bento Set, the excellent bento made with a man in mind, one of our most popular items. We've also restocked our popular Easy Gyoza Makers for making "pot stickers" (as they're called in the U.S., or so we hear) and a great Green Tea Cup. Kaori Kanzaki 1/8 Figure ~ To Aru Majutsu no Index *Preorder*. Then from the popular anime, manga and light novel A Certain Magical Index, this is Kaori, who looks darned good with her long katana sword. Dig the hair flying all around! Restocked StitchLock Zn, One of the coolest items in J-List's history is the Sun-Star Paper StitchLock Zn, the super heavy-duty paper stitcher that takes sheets of paper and "knits" them together so you never need staples. Also, see fresh stock of the Sarasa Ball Point Pen set of 3 colors (the best pen in Japan!) and the Pentel Handy Line S Click Marker Set. Popular Japanese Snacks. Finally, enjoy some awesome restocked snack items from Japan, including Glico Winter Pocky (available by the case, too!), Peko-chan Milky Candy, super-tart Shigekix Melon Soda flavor, Sake Candy and more. Ero Lovers -- Minashika Works. This is a really nice artbook featuring the works of highly talented "ecchi" illustrator Minashika. Thrill to page after glorious color page of the artist's super females, doing all kinds of naughty things. I've never seen an artbook that was as bold as this -- every page is in color! Bible Black DVDs. The Bible Black series is a fantastic exploration into the world of demonic possession in the best hentai tradition. We've lowered our prices on all the Bible Black DVDs, in stock in San Diego now!
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Announcing the 2009 PC Dating-Sim Game Sale. We thought it'd be a great time to do something nice for our customers who play Japan's amazing PC dating-sim games, and so we're having special sale just for you. First, take $5 off the price of shrinkwrapped package versions of dozens of great games from G-Collections and Peach Princess, our way of saying thanks for your past and future support. Then, we're going to give you free games from Hirameki with every two titles you pick up, which are fun to play. Of course, the discount you get for buying multiple games together still applies. This is a great time to pick up an interactive PC dating-sim game or six! Browse all items now!
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The Chinese writing system, kanji, is an inseperable part of the Japanese language, the same way Latin or Greek is a part of Western languages, and this relationship with the written word pops up in the language in interesting ways. In Sazae-san, the long-running anime that captures in calming, peaceful tones the happiness of a traditional Japanese family, Sazae and her husband Masuo sleep on futons with their son, Tara-chan, sandwiched in between. This is called sleeping in kawa no ji style, literally "sleeping like the character for river" since it imitates the three flowing lines that make up the character for river. Similarly, my daughter, rambunctious tomboy that she is, usually sleeps in a dai no ji, or the shape of the character for "big", with her arms extended and legs spread as far as possible, the better to take up as much room as possible when sleeping with her mom and dad.
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If you go to Tokyo's Shibuya Station right now you can see an incredible piece of art created by late Japanese artist Taro Okamoto. The sprawling 30-meter wide mural is called Myth of Tomorrow, and it depicts the terrible event that was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, right down to images of fire engulfing a giant skeleton in the sky while small people flee with their bodies on fire. The painting, which had been missing for a quarter-century, was found in a warehouse in 2003 and restored, and is now on display for everyone to see. It was interesting to see it shown in such a public place, since the subject of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki isn't exactly something that's openly discussed even after more than six decades. I can't think of a single conversation I've had with a Japanese on the subject that didn't immediately turn into a long silence with a change of subject at the end. I'm not sure what it is about the bombings that makes it almost impossible for Japanese to voice an opinion or show an emotion one way or the other, even if it were to berate me or express anger or even thanks, since they did bring the war to an end. Maybe the display of the mural is a sign of more openness in this area in the future.
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(Note: we had a problem with the site right after the last update, with many products not appearing in product categories for several hours. We fixed the issue, and are sorry if you were inconvenienced. You can see Monday's update, and browse the items in that update, here.)I've written before about how effectively studying a language requires certain things. A real desire to learn is important, as is being inventive enough to figure out how your own brain learns best. It's also useful to have what the Japanese called kan (kahn, 勘), a word which means perception or intuition, and which refers to the ability to figure out meaning in abstract situations. If you're kan ga ii then you're good at make sense of something from very little information, but someone who is kan ga warui is terrible at picking up meaning from a few threads. Because I'm married to a Japanese woman whose English is less than perfect (which is my fault, since frankly my Japanese is "too" good for her English level to grow -- sorry, honey), my American family has had to develop these sixth-sense abilities if they want to communicate with her. For example, when my wife added "gross lipstick" to her Christmas list, my sister was able to guess that she probably wanted gloss lipstick instead, and get some for her, and when my wife sends my mother information on what time my "fright" arrives at the airport, it's not hard to figure out that she's talking about my flight. Someone who is kan ga ii will probably be able to intune out that a Japanese person asking for "potato" at a fast food restaurants would like French Fries, or that someone who's about to "take a bath" to your house is really going to catch a bus, but if they're kan ga warui, well, who knows what could happen. I love languages because they really give you a chance to get to know your own brain in new and interesting ways.
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Here are today's "really cool products" that I've picked out for you, out of the 30+ new items we've added to the J-List and JBOX.com sites today. Note that some products may be "not safe for work" but that all links will allow you to redirect yourself either to the J-List or JBOX.com websites. To see all the J-List products, check out J-List or the JBOX.com updated products link. Hai Hai Daisuki Akachan (Crawling Baby). In Japanese, the most common word for baby is akachan, literally "little red one." We're adding new versions of the cute crawling babies. They're based on the iconic Cupie Dolls that are so popular in Japan. New Anime Calendars. See a slew of great 2009 anime calendars from Japan on the site, including Soul Eater (manga), Code Geass Lelouche of the Rebellion, Mobile Suit Gundam Seen Destiny and Gundam 00, Blue Dragon, and more. Also, my own current favorite show, Macross Frontier, which has a beautiful large-sized glossy calendar for 2009. Remember that calendars are only available for a limited time, and when our stock is gone, it'll be gone forever. Totoro Cushions. The new large-size Totoro soft cushion have been extremely popular this year -- so much so that we ran out of them. Both versions are back in stock now, and they're so soft to touch and lie on you'll treasure them for years. They make great gifts, too! Totoro Blankets. Also, see fresh stock of the soft Totoro blankets on the site. Now, I can tell you how soft and luxurious you are, and how my own family fights among themselves for rights to the Totoro blankets. But really, you need to touch them and feel them for yourselves. A highly recommended item, and in stock now. This is the largest and most luxurious blanket we carry. Chronicle ~ Hiro Suzuhira Artworks. Here's a wonderful collection of works from Hiro Suzuhira, an artist who is as famous for his eroge works as he is for making beautiful illustrations in anime magazines. Enjoy this hardcover artbook with fabulous glossy pages, and 124 works included! Delicious New Japanese Snacks. Mmmm, it's a good time to be a J-Snack fan. Today we're posting Alfort, the popular Japanese chocolate + biscuit that features a painting of a ship on the reverse side -- see Milk Chocolate and Milk Caramel flavors on the site. Also, Dars chocolates in Vanilla Ice Cream flavor, plus the new Strawberry Pocky for 2009! White Stone Cow Strap ~ 2009 's Animal for New Year. 2009 is the Year of the Cow, and this is a super item designed to bring you good luck: a "Lucky Cow" strap you can attach to your phone, keys, Nintendo DS or camera which will bring you luck in the new year. Nikyoro Sandwich Bento Box. Prime Nakamura is bringing us a cool new bento box, this one specially made for sandwich eaters. The large bento box features two sections, one for rice or other conventional bento-stuff, and an upper section that's great for holding a sandwich. Hello Kitty Vibrating Shoulder Massagers. One of the wackiest products we've ever sold is the Hello Kitty, er, vibrating massager, which of course is for your shoulder. It makes the ultimate joke gift for anyone. We've lowered our prices on these most excellent wacky items, so order yours now. In stock in San Diego, but when they're gone, they'll be gone for good. Play Japanese Money Set. A fun item for kids (or bigger kids) that gives you replicas of Japanese money to play with, both coins as well as Japanese bills. Fun! Men's High School Uniform. Here's the ultimate otaku item, guys: your very own authentic high school uniform, called a gakuran in Japanese. Custom made to your size measurements by the famous Matsukameya of Nagoya, and only available through J-List. Click to see our selection of winter and summer uniforms for girls, our men's high school uniforms, and authentic Japanese school bags. Kairo ~ DX Large Warming Pad (Individual). While I like Japan, the San Diego boy in me just can't get behind the cold winters here. To keep warm I use kairo, the amazing heat pads that stay warm for hours. If you hate being cold, or if you engage in any outdoor activity, you must try these. Available individually or in quantity. "Understand Through Pictures" Japanese Dictionary. Learning Japanese is hard, and sometimes you need to trick your brain into remembering the words you're learning. This is a great dictionary that uses pictures to help you learn. Re-Ment Falling Love with Kyoto Miniatures. Re-Ment is the company that makes those incredibly detailed miniature toys that are so much fun to play with. Today we've gotten in set that's just perfect for gaijin who love Japan, called Falling in Love With Kyoto, which I talked about last time. All the famous icons of Japan's most beautiful city are here, from famous foods to Kyoto gifts and more. SHODO ~ Natural Stone Mini Calligraphy Set. Shodo, or Japanese brush calligraphy, is a famous traditional art form that you can try with this set that includes everything you need -- telescoping brush, sumi ink and a stone to hold the ink that you will write with. Back in stock! Megami MAGAZINE Reserve Subscription. If you don't have a subscription to Megami Magazine, you really should. It's the #1 "reserve subscription" magazine we carry, because of the very high quality of each issue. Amazingly, they manage to shoehorn up to *20* double-sided anime posters in each issue, all with original art of the best anime characters for you to enjoy. For most of our magazines you have the option of pre-paying for a year or going month-to-month, so you can quit at any time. Revoltech Street Fighter Zangief *Preorder*. For old school gamerz, the Revoltech Street Fighter series is really awesome, since you can put the figures into any pose and make them fight each other. Preorder this cool item now. Revoltech Street Fighter Ken *Preorder*. Then feast your eyes on the new Street Fighter II figure of Ken, who can do hadoken ("wave motion fist") and shoryuken ("climbing dragon fist"). He'd look great on your desk at work! Built-In Mechanical Pencil. Mechanical pencils, which are called "sharp-pens" in Japanese, don't ask us why, are very nice to use, but keeping extra leads with you is a pain. Well, this pencil has 40 leads inside the pen -- outstanding! The most popular mechanical pencil we've ever carried, and it's back in stock. Also see the Natchan! Juice Flow Pencil Case. Restocked Japanese Snacks. Then we have a bunch of back-in-stock snack items for you, including Glico Walky Walky, which looks like a cup of Starbuck's coffee but is filled with delicious chocolate cookie bits, the *amazing* Green Apple and Grape Mochi snacks that's just .75 cents, Hi-Chew in Gold Apple flavor, and one of my own favorite items, Lotte Cube Plus X Pink Grapefruit Mint Gum. More and More! -- Mihiro. We are big fans of the Japanese photomgazine More and More! because each issue focuses on a single red-hot Japanese AV star, with no other girls to get in the way. This special issue features Mihiro, the sweetest thing in the industry today. Glossy magazine also features a DVD inside! The 2009 Bishoujo Game Sale. We're having a huge sale on the best PC dating-sim games from Japan. You can get $5 off the shrinkwrapped CD-ROM version of select game titles, making this a great time to pick up your favorite title or six. Also: with every two games you buy, you get free Hirameki games sent to you! Multi-game purchasae discounts still fully apply. Princess Waltz Visual Fanbook. Princess Waltz is the epic eroge coming soon from Peach Princess (really, it's coming, we promise!), and it's one of the best games ever to be brought out in English. See fresh stock of the official artbook today, or preorder the game and get free shipping when it's ready. Nanael 1/8 Cast-Off Figure Excellent Model Core ~ Queens Blade. Here's a really elegant figure. It's Nanael, the gorgeous fighter from Queen's Blade. Rendered in all her gorgeous beauty in this cast-off figure for Queen's Blade fans. This figure is extra special since it's super detailed (just check out her hair and wings!), and because it's "cast off."
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I was in Tokyo the other day, passing a sprawling stand selling various omiyage (OH-me-YAH-gei), or gifts given as souvenirs after a trip. The Japanese are master gift givers, and have many customs related to giving and receiving them, which provides a valuable "social lubrication" that makes all manner or personal and business relationships work more smoothly. Whenever a Japanese person goes somewhere, they will be compelled to spend plenty of money on gifts to give to whoever was left at home, and taking a trip in Japan always includes setting aside some time to see what the gift shops have for sale. In July and December there are two special gift-giving seasons, when people will give gifts to thank teachers or others in the community to thank them for their past assistance. Predictably, these specially made gift boxes containing anything from coffee to cooking oil to laundry detergent are often passed on to others, with some gifts changing hands many times before they're actually used. Incidentally, if you ever come to Japan, it's probably a good idea to bring some items to give out as gifts to people you might encounter here, as it will really make things so more smoothly -- something representative of wherever you're from, or even a carton of cigarettes from your home country, always a popular item. (The smoking staff of J-List says that Newport Menthols are a good brand, since they're not sold here.) Incidentally, remember that J-List now carries a lot of these fun gift-able boxes of snacks, the perfect thing to get the Japanophile on your list this year. A popular box of gift snacks, Tokyo Banana
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Clang clang! Clang clang! Right outside my window right there's a fire truck driving by slowly, ringing a bell and playing a recorded voice: "This is the community volunteer fire-fighting brigade. Please remember to extinguish all flames before going to sleep tonight." Japan lacks American-style central heating in its homes, with the majority of people using kerosene heaters to warm individual rooms, although there are other options such as "fan-heaters" which use kerosene to heat the room but electricity to run a fan and regulate the temperature, and shut off the flame every three hours for safety and ventilation purposes. With so many heaters like this in use, it's not uncommon for fires to occur, and the Japanese are extremely cautious about making sure they don't, which is why when it gets cold out, our small local fire department will make the rounds and remind people of how important it is to make sure heaters are turned off before bed. Fire has long been the bane of Japan, a country with a high population living in homes of wood and paper, and the tradition of fighting fires goes back to the Edo Period. Over the past few years, Japan has -- finally, from my American-centric point of view -- gotten more serious some of the public safety concepts that we take for granted, and now requires that smoke detectors be installed in all new homes.Surprise -- Japanese fire engines (and similar vehicles) are small and efficient
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