Don't forget to sing your heart, in place of me your song forever

みんな！元気！？

Hello there! How are you?

Today's topic is about something I get a lot of questions about. The evil that is known as KANJI DUN DUN DUN!!!!! For those of you that are new to studying and don't know anything about Kanji let me teach you about it. Kanji (漢字) is the Japanese word for "Chinese Characters" What Kanji literally means is "Han Characters" as Kanji was introduced to Japan from China during the Han Dynasty. Because the Japanese didn't have a writing system they adapted the Chinese way of writing for hundreds of years. A question that I get asked often is "Can Japanese people read Chinese?" Keep in mind that the Chinese writing system has gone through many changes over thousands of years but to some extent they can. Its much like if a native English speaker is looking at a Spanish or French document. You might recognize a few words because they look very similar to English because of their Latin roots.

Because the Chinese simplified their characters many Japanese can't read them in their simple form. Example: 車 is car in Japanese "kuruma" When the Chinese simplified the kanji it turned into this 车 Which is very different. Some characters where simplified by the Japanese but not Chinese. 佛 means Buddha in Chinese but in Japanese its 仏. Some characters were simplified in both languages but not the same. 氣 use to mean air in simplified Chinese it is 气 but in Japanese 気 its the ki in "genki". Some kanji simplified both ways and created lots of cognates 國 use to be country but it has been simplified to 国 (read as "kuni" in Japanese) in both Chinese and Japanese. Click here to see a better explanation on the differences and similarities of Chinese and Japanese characters

Another question I get a lot is "How important is it for me to learn Kanji?" The answer is "VERY!!!" I've met people that have said "I'm not going to worry about learning Kanji until I'm better at speaking." I can't say this point enough. "DO NOT BLOW OFF KANJI!" After you master Hiragana and Katakana I suggest that you immediately work on learning Kanji. The truth is that Kanji is part of the everyday language and I think that a lot of foreign classrooms ignore it until upper levels. Which I feel is a mistake.

What rate you learn Kanji is up to you but what I find is best for me is to learn 5 a week. One a day more or less then giving you the weekend to review them. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T LEARN HIRAGANA OR KATAKANA!!!! You can learn one sound a week. "a i u e o" "ka ki ku ke ko" "sa shi su se so" and so on. If you use this method you can learn up to 250 kanji a year!

How many Kanji do I need to learn? There are three lists and I don't want to go into TOO much detail about them so here are the lists and explanations of them. Kyouiku, Jouyou, and Jinmeiyou

Tools: Here are some good kanji tools for you.
Online:
http://japanese-kanji.com/ - You can drill yourself on the kanji (allows for different lists to be selected)
DS: If you have a DS and understand hiragana I suggest getting the game なぞっておぼえる大人の漢字練習(nazotte oboeru otona no kanji renshuu) There are three versions and it teaches you how to write the on-yomi and the kun-yomi as well as stroke order. Each version adds another mini-game as well as updates the list of kanji.

Well this was a long post. I'll make another one about on-yomi and kun-yomi and talk about Kanji (without references to Chinese) at another time.

SEE YOU NEXT ROUND!

~Lala~

back and alive

おひさしぶり！みんなげんき？

Hello everyone! Its been a while! How are you all? I've been busy with a lot of things so I haven't really had time to update this blog. I think about it more then I actually blog >_<. Anyways I wanted to bring up some topics for discussion. I get a lot of questions about how people can "rate" their Japanese skills. The truth is there are tests that can help you. Today I'm going to talk about them.

JLPT
The first test is one that many people have heard of. Its called the "Japanese Language Proficiency Test" or JLPT for short. Its Japanese name is 日本語能力試験 (nihongo nouryoku shiken) which translates to "Japanese Ability Test" This test is give twice a year in Japan and soon to be twice in the US. Originally the format was there were four levels and they go backwards. Level 4 being the easiest and level 1 being the hardest. Until this year. The levels have been renamed and split apart. They also added a new level. The format now is levels N5 to N1. N3 being the new level. This is a standardized test and multiple choice. You are graded on your ability to read kanji, understand basic vocabulary, reading, conjugating, and listening comprehension. The JLPT is administered in over 50 countries. The new N5 level is for those who have completed at least 1 year of Japanese language learning. Applicants for Japanese citizenship are screened based on JLPT achievements. Until 2003 the JLPT was the standard test given to students who wished to study in Japan
To find out more about the JLPT please visit http://www.jlpt.jp/e/ or http://www.jflalc.org/

Japanese Kanji Aptitude Test. Its Japanese name is 日本漢字能力検定試験, (nihongo kanji nouryoku kentei shiken) thankfully it has a short name "kanji kentei" This test is given to students starting from the 1st grade up. Like the JLPT the levels go backwards. Level 10 being the easiest and level 1 being the hardest. There are "pre-levels" for 2 and 1. The kanji kenti is not as well known as the JLPT and doesn't really have an value as far as work and school go. It does however give you an idea of how much kanji one knows and studying for it is the greatest benefit you can get. You are graded on the on-yomi and kun-yomi (Japanese and Chinese readings) stroke order, and voiced sounds. For more information contact a Japanese teacher who can help you find the nearest test center. http://www.kanken.or.jp/index.php (Japanese only)

BJT
For those who want to enter the Japanese work force, the JLPT is not enough. Many business require that a person take the BJT or Business Japanese Proficiency Test. Known in Japan as "ビジネス日本語能力テスト" (BIZUNESU nihongo nouryoku TESUTO) Offered in only a few countries the BJT is split in to two sections. The first in multiple choice and the second is an oral interview. You are placed in a mock business scenario and must interact as if you were interacting with a customer. The test is given completely in Japanese so having passed at least JLPT N2 would be a pre-requisite.
For more information: http://www.kanken.or.jp/bjt/english/index.html

Last but not least - EJU
The EJU is the "Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students" Which that long of an English name are you scared to see the Japanese name? 日本留学試験 (nihon ryugaku shiken) LOL shortest one yet! Depending on your major you are given certain tests. If you are studying Japanese you have to the the JFL Test. (Think ESL but in Japanese) Others include Maths, Sciences, and Arts. The test is offered in English and Japanese unless you are taking the JFT test. Then its only in Japanese. In Japan you have to take a test before you are allowed into a university. This is for foreign students looking to attend any higher education facility.
For more information: http://www.jasso.go.jp/eju/index_e.html

Well that's all for tonight. I've got US history II homework to finish tomorrow as well as keeping up with Japanese studies of course!

SEE YOU NEXT ROUND!
~Lala~

Looking for answer way!

Today's list is JAPANESE TEXT BOOKS!
Want to learn Japanese? Can't afford a class? This list is for you. You can pick up these text books at a local book store or even on amazon.

Here is what I have judged the books on.
Functionality
Accuracy
Interest
Price


4. NAKAMA
The Nakama series spans two books and is used by many schools in the US. Even so I find many flaws with it. It can be very confusing at times and can be very dry. The culture lessons are brief one to two page paragraphs and doesn't elaborate on kanji. The format of the chapters I find confusing and overly detailed on unimportant things. An example is that for the explanation of transitive and intransitive verbs the Nakama book only uses one paragraph with very little examples but, in depth explanation of　ている. Putting the vocab list at the end of that chapter works for some subjects but not for language. You need to be able to familiarize yourself with words in the chapter especially if they are going to be used in the grammatical examples. Unfortunately, Nakama also puts the vocab list in the back and usually goes 5 - 6 pages. The final blow to bring it to the bottom of my list is the price. The text book without the workbook rings up as $70 - $100 USD. The workbook at $50 - 80. Though if purchased through a school the set can be bought at $100
NO WEB PAGE AVAILABLE.

3. Minna no Nihongo
The number one text used in Japan, Minna no Nihongo is a strange twist of events. The reason it appears low on my list is also the reason I love the book. Completely in Japanese. Now I KNOW that defeats the purpose of learning a language if you don't understand it but, I do feel comfortable with it. You can purchase a second book with explanations. The beauty of it is that regardless of what you native language is you can buy the corresponding core book in Japanese and then the translation & grammar notes book in your native language. Currently the book is offered in these versions: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Russian, German and Indonesian. The Japanese book gives you the grammar point and how its used. The explanation book gives you the grammar point and in depth explanation using two to five examples. The vocabulary list is one to two pages. While no formal kanji instruction in the book, the user will learn to read many kanji. The price I would say is fare. The core book goes for $25 - $28 USD, The translation and grammar book for another $20 - $23 USD and the workbook for $8 - $12 USD. Having three books is annoying but combined they weigh what one Nakama book weighs. A romaji version is available for those who can't read Kana. (book I only)
HOME PAGE: http://www.3anet.co.jp/english/books/books_01.html

2Japanese for busy people:
When I first came across this book I was disgusted with it. It lacked direction and any sort of functionality. But, times have changed and so has the book. Now it actually resembles something of a textbook. The lessons are VERY clear and there isn't a specific grammar list at the end or beginning of the chapter. The vocabulary list is continuous at the bottom of each page. I was so surprised at the new change to the book that I almost bought the first level book for myself. Kanji is not formally taught in the first book but is introduced into the second book. Its very un-attached however not really ingrained into the user. Despite that the book's attention to detail from the perspective someone who's never learned anything outside of English brings a sense of relief to those intimidated by the language. An excellent book for people just starting out. Unlike the other books in the list this one comes with the audio CD if you wish to do the listening exercises. The book sells for $17 - $25 USD the workbook from $15 - $22 USD. Romaji version available for those who can't read Kana (book I only)
HOME PAGE: http://www.ajalt.org/e/publications/textbooks1.html

Genki
So here we are the #1 book. Genki. This book is steadily growing popular amongst US colleges and universities. Genki offers many things that other books don't have. Consistency. The truth behind GENKI is that the actual name is "An integrated course in elementary Japanese" Called "Genki" for short. This is important to know because the Intermediate version of the book is called this. Anyways. What is really amazing about the Genki series is how it simply teaches you what many other books try. In an interesting and almost ... fun way. Many of the other books have group or pair activities. Both Genki and Intermediate Approach to blah blah blah Japanese, have solo, pair and group activities. Remember the transitive/intransitive whine I had? In Genki they take a page and a half to explain it in layman's terms. Then in the activities section they use pictures to help explain how it works as well as a suggestion to use a game of charades to explain if a verb is transitive or intransitive. Each lesson follows the same pattern as the previous one. Another plus is that it utilizes the internet and has an extensive resource page called "Genki Online" with video lessons from the book as well as quizzes. The back of Genki also has a whole kanji book in it. The kanji coincides with the kanji that appear in each lesson. It includes reading print font and written font. Each textbook runs about $30 - $40 USD. The workbook at $15 - $20 USD
HOME PAGE: http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/index.en.html
http://ij.japantimes.co.jp/en/about.jsp

Well of course this is all my personal opinion and stuff. Anyways
That's it for today.

See you next round!

Like a hard rain, like a night train

Hello there again readers!!! It is I Lala posting again from Japanlands. Today I`m going to talk about buses.

There are a few rules about transportation in Tokyo.

1. The trains go everywhere.
2. Where the trains don`t go the subways go
3. Where the subways don`t go the trains go.
4. You walk anywhere else.

Japanese buses are usually designed to seat about 30 people. That may seem like a lot but most American buses can seat 60 people. This isn`t to say that Japanese buses can`t hold 60 people. Japanese buses use most of its space to hold people standing up. The proceedure to ride buses doesn`t change. You get on in the front, pay, then get off in the back.

Now I would like to talk a little about long distance buses.

Much like greyhound Japan has buses that travel all over. I recently rode a bus from Tokyo to Osaka. JR (Japan Railways) owns a series of "highway buses" The most popularly ridden ones are the night buses. Since traveling by auto is very lengthy people often take the night bus to a distant location. The trip from Tokyo to Osaka lasts about 8 hours (by bullet train it is 3). The seats recline really far back and the lights are dimmed giving for a perfect relaxing aura. Its great to fall asleep in Tokyo and wake up in Osaka. Plus the buses don`t smell of angry bum urine.

These buses are usually double deckers and can hold lose to 70 people. This method is great for people who arn`t in a hurry and don`t want to worry about a place to stay for the night! Another advantage to the Highway bus is that it is half of the cost of a bullet train ticket.

Well it appears I am almost out of time at this manga kissa again. I might travel to temple town (AKA Kyoto) today.

See you next round!
~Lala~

JR Highway bus information http://www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/bus_route_e/ (English)

Fire shadow

Hey everyone its me again!

How are you?

I only have one week left in Japan!　；＿；
Its been really fun so far. I`m going to miss it again but I also miss my kitty. ;_;

Today I`m going to teach you some words to remember for when you are having fun!

盛り上がれ（もりあがれ）－moriagare
やり過ぎる　（やりすぎる）- yarisugiru

These are both words that don`t really translate well but I will make an attempt to explain them.

moriagare littlerally means "To Swell" but when you hear this at a concert it means "GET EXCITED!! access often use this term.

yarisugi is a more commonplace word so I`m going to spend a little more time on this one.
sugi at the end of yarisugi means "too much" yarisugi means "to go overboard" but sugi can be added to almost verb. It turns the word into a ru word. Like adding -suru to a word.
example:
tabesugi - to eat too much
nomisugi - to drink too much (usually referrs to liquor)
nesugi - to sleep too much (usually means overslept)
kaisugi - to buy too much

To make this compound simply take a verb in its masu form and drop the masu and add sugi.
Try it out!

yari in yarisugi is the inpolite form of to do - suru you are saying I did too much litterally.

Well thats all for today. I better stop before I kakisugi!

See you next round!!!!

Melt

Its been a long time since I've wrote here. I learned a lot in Japan. Not only Japanese but life lessons. So what have I been doing since then? Many things. Looking for work and now I am taking care of my father who has unfortunately been diagnosed with cancer. I have more hobbies now! I've gotten back into Gundam and my new love is Vocaloid.

For those unfamiliar with Vocaloid let me give you a quick run down.

Vocaloid (ボカロイド) is a synthesized vocal program created by Yamaha. At first the program wasn't very popular amongst the public but it quickly grew an audience after the creation of Miku Hatsune. Miku's character design gained a following and became more popular after a video on Nico Nico Douga (Japan's answer to youtube) displayed Miku waving a Leek to the song "Ievan Polkka" Miku and other Vocaloids such as Kaito and Meiko (who were the first character Vocaloids) became popular. Since the rise in the Vocaloid's popularity more character Vocaloids have been released. Rin and Len Kagamine, (Len is rumored to be designed after Daisuke Asakura) Gakupo Kamui (the voice is sampled from J-pop singer Gackt) and the newist addition Luka Megurine. There are officially seven character vocaloids. However there exsists upwards of 30 fanmade vocaloids. only three of those are reconized by the devloping company Crypton which devolped the character vocaloid series.
Hachune Miku
Yowane Haku
Akita Neru
and Kasane Teto.

Hachune Miku was the one who starred in the video that made Miku famous. She is an SD version of Miku Hatsune.

Yowane Haku devolped by 2chan users, represents the "not so well made" songs. Haku instead of Miku sings these. She will appear as a costume for Miku in Project Diva the PSP game.

Akita Neru also devolped by 2chan users, represents people who like vocaloid but give up using it. She will also appear as a costume for Miku in Project Diva.

Kasane Teto, While not reconized by Crypton is reconized by KEI the artist who created the Vocaloid character designs. Teto appears in his manga "Hatsune Mix" which is a collection of stories about the vocaloids. Teto was created in 2chan to be an April fool's day prank for Vocaloid fans. The prank blew up in their face as Teto became popular and people wished to save her from dissapearing. The video "uso no utahime" (The fake Diva) tells the story of Teto. She sings with a rival software called "Utau" (which means "Sing")

Well that concludes today's post. I leave with you with a few Vocaloid videos.

Dancing Samurai - Gakupo's song. Features all official as well as Neru and Haku


Honey - Vocaloid Allstars. A song released before the creation of Gakupo and Luka. Features Haku, Neru, and Teto.


and Triple Baka - Miku, Neru, Teto. A cute song


See you next round!

Just a new day is coming awake, Any dream will do

So it has been one month since my last post. Sadly we still don`t have internet. I am posting from an Osaka manga kissa. (Comic Cafe) These are all the rage these days. When people are cheep or cannot find a room for the night they start to search for these places. For 3000 yen (30 bucks) a night you are promised a booth with a computer and a TV. Unlimited broadband internet use, 12 channels, the all you can drink buffet (no liquor sadly) snacks and sometimes food to order (though those are a seperate charge) most manga cafes have showers to use (for another charge) You can get booths with a "soft floor" which has a mat to lay on. I like these kind. Others have reclining chairs as well as massage chairs. Many have playstation 2s as well. Its not a bad deal when you have no where to stay. 3000 yen gets you a 10 hour pack. (at this one) I have sayed at a place where the 10 hour pack was 1400 yen (14 bucks) It veries depending on the chain. My favorite chain is Manboo (named after the Japanese sun fish) Gera Gera is my second (Gera Gera is the sound a frog makes much like the word "Ribbit") and Media Cafe Popeye is my third. Well that being said it is almost 9 am and I have to get ready to go.

See you next round.
-Lala-

LINKS:
http://www.manboo.co.jp/
http://www.geragera.co.jp/
http://www.mpo.ne.jp/