Posted by harvey in Culture, Gadgets, Language on 01. Feb, 2010 @ 2:19 am | 6 Comments
Learn Japanese Vocab on your iPod-like Device with PlaySay
You may have noticed mention of PlaySay on and off on this blog over the past year so. Recently Ryan, the head Japan-head at PlaySay, contacted me to let me know that PlaySay has really been taking off. You can read a quick article about Ryan and [...]
This bean speaks Kansai-ben.
MAMESHIBA
Girl 1: そろそろお見合いとかどうなの？
Girl 2: そんなの必要ないわよ
Bean: あかんって
Girl 2: え？
Bean: まいど！
まいど…
Bean: ね、知ってる？歌が下手なカナリアは、一生独身なんやって。
Girl 2: ええ？！うるせー！
In my Translation:
MAMESHIBA
Girl 1: It’s about time you tried to get set up for an arranged marriage or something isn’t it?
Girl 2: I don’t need anything like that…
Bean: Hey that’s no good!
Bean: Welcome!
Girl 1: Welcome?
Bean: Hey did you know? A canary [...]
Looking for bilingual Japanese study materials? Check out Santa Ponta!
My bilingual-bicultural friend Ayumi Meegan has published a Japanese-English bilingual book called Santa Ponta’s Journey.
You can get Santa Ponta from the official Santa Ponta website, and alternatively for a slightly higher price on Amazon.com… you know, in case you’ve got Amazon Gift Certificates to burn or [...]
Looking for some interesting Japanese to read but need some help to take the plunge?
This Reading Tutor Homepage has a bunch of Japanese text with hyperlinked word and grammar point translation.
Is this any better than Rikai-chan or something like that? Well… maybe not by any significant factor – but hey, it’s something new to try.
Reading [...]
What better gift for a Japan-loving Osaka-friendly Kansai-dreaming friend of yours than a Takoyaki USB Memory Stick? Afterall, the best gifts are the things that no one in their right mind would ever go out and buy on their own… but on the other hand would be happy to receive! Yummy.
Takoyaki USB Memory Stick (1GB)
For [...]
Finally, a place where you can buy a Fully-Automatic Takoyaki Maker online and have it shipped overseas. If you still haven’t made that last minute holiday gift purchase for that special Japanese-loving someone, this might be worth a look!
Automatic Takoyaki Maker, not cheap, but awesome!
Did I say “fully automatic?” Why yes, yes I did.
I [...]
Hey everyone, let’s get to know the JapanNewbie crowd a little better. I want to introduce you to @sandkatt. The following is part one of a two-part interview exploring @sandkatt’s road to Japanese proficiency.
@sandkatt in Hiroshima
Sandkatt is a Japanese learner I noticed on Twitter. I noticed her because her Japanese is really good! Surprisingly so… [...]
Particles ScreenShot
Our latest, and most difficult app to create… Japanese 101 Particles just hit the app store!
As Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I’m going to say THANKS and give the first 10 people to use these free download codes the app for free.
The free downloads codes will only work if you’re in on the [...]
New Omodaka on Tuesday!
This release snuck up on me, but I’ll be picking this album up from Hear Japan the day it comes out.
You can hear some clips of the new CD on Hear Japan’s website, and there is a slick video of the lead track, Plum Song.
Hrm… that was rather suggestive…
As you heard, Omodaka [...]
Someone recently contacted me asking for my opinion on study abroad in Japan. This person is current in University and has the opportunity to study at IUC Japan, Nanzan University (or any other large Japanese school with an exchange program), or the Kyoto Consortium.
I have studied at both Nanzan (in 2001) and IUC (in 2007-8) [...]
If you’ve ever doubted the relevance of working Giongo and Gitaigo (擬音語・擬態語) into your Japanese study routine, here’s something to motivate you!
TheEconomist with Giongo
The latest cover of The Economist features Mount Fuji with the Giongo, Dokkan! Over the top.
Dokan ドカン is a giongo that is the sound of an explosion, or any other loud BANG. [...]
Welcome to JapanNewbie.com! My goal is to get you excited about Japan and the Japanese language. Love it!
Posted by harvey in Language, Media, Music on 04. Feb, 2010 @ 6:06 am | 1 Comment
Get ready for Highway Star and Smoke on the Water Japanese Style!
Highway Star in DIRECT translation.
The musician went by the name of Ousama 王様 (king) and was a musician engaging in this style called “chokuyaku rock” 直訳ロック. Here is Ousama on Wikipedia (Japanese). The focus of this music is on the lyrics, because they’re just [...]
Posted by harvey in Food, Humor, Language, Media on 25. Jan, 2010 @ 7:16 am | 3 Comments
These are just too funny. Sure I could have tweeted it… but this deserves more permanent placement.
Be sure you catch the Kansai-ben speaking mameshiba commercial that I posted earlier!
- Harvey
Posted by harvey in Culture, Society on 14. Jan, 2010 @ 3:43 am | 9 Comments
There’s no doubt that there are some quirky aspects to Japan and Japanese culture, but how about state-sponsored quirkiness?
Meet Misako Aoki (青木美沙子), one of Japan’s three Cute Ambassadors who were appointed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs February 2009.
Cute Ambassador: Misako Aoki
Misako Aoki, in all her ultra-cute Lolita garb, performs an official function [...]
Posted by harvey in Media on 07. Jan, 2010 @ 2:08 am | 1 Comment
I heard that @Durf translated some stuff for the Mori Art Museum related to this video.
Awesome.
This is awesome. Actually though, I sent my seasons greetings via email. I’m sorry.
- Harvey
Posted by harvey in About, Language on 06. Jan, 2010 @ 7:20 pm | 2 Comments
Particles Cover Shot
The Japanese 101: Particles App was updated today, and the download, free for those who already have the app, should be available worldwide in the next 24 hours.
Now there are 20+ new JLPT 3 level particle questions you can study and quiz yourself on. This brings the total number of problems in the [...]
Posted by harvey in Culture on 06. Jan, 2010 @ 12:27 pm | 1 Comment
This is a fun phrase.「男子厨房に入らず」(danshi chuubou ni hairazu).
Literally it means that men should not enter the kitchen. Another variation on the Japanese for this phrase is 「男子厨房に立たず」but the meaning is the same.
A Japanese explanation of the origin of this phrase appears in this Kyodo Shimbun article here:
『男子厨房に入らず』とは、豚や鶏を台所で処理する際、断末魔の声を男は聞くべきでない―という中国の故事が起源とされ、孟子の語録にもある。日本では男性の威厳を保つため、江戸時代以降、実践されてきた。
In translation:
It was said that men should not have [...]
Posted by harvey in Culture on 02. Jan, 2010 @ 1:07 pm | No Comments
Happy New Year everyone!
I’m lazy and on vacation so here’s a random post.
This Japanese shop in Osaka sells jeans and is hard to miss from the road thanks to the gianormous dinosaur they have set up out front.
Buy our Jeans! Growl. Click for bigger dinosaur action!
Feels a bit like Jurassic park really. In all fairness, [...]
Posted by harvey in Language, Media, Music on 30. Dec, 2009 @ 10:58 am | 1 Comment
Have you ever thought about translating your favorite Japanese music into English, and then singing the translated lyrics?
That would be really tough right?
Well this guy is doing the reverse, English into Japanese. The difficulty of this task should not go unnoticed! He’s a total stud.
I learned of Choco from No-Sword, a great blog for Japanese [...]
