Call me Naive
Posted by harvey in Language on 30. Dec, 2006 | 2 Comments
If you’re studying Japanese you will know that there are many Katakana words which are based on words in English. For example, the Japanese word for “TV” is テレビ(terebi). The word for “Coke” is コカコーラ (coca-cola). The word for truck is トラック(torakku). Usually these words are close enough in pronunciation that a student of Japanese [...]
Japan Wallpaper – Updated – Kanji
Posted by harvey in About on 29. Dec, 2006 | 2 Comments
Hey guys, the Japan Wallpaper page has been updated with a dizzying Kanji wallpaper piece! Get it while it’s hot! (Size: 1280×960 or 1024×768 or 800×600) – Harvey
Japan in a Nutshell
Posted by harvey in Books on 28. Dec, 2006 | 1 Comment
The book, Japan in a Nutshell is available online in PDF format for free. I haven’t read it myself, but the author Professor Solomon has an intriguing biography… I’m sure it’s worth a look! If you’re the type who would rather stuff a book into your back pocket or read it on the train, the [...]
Black People ToothPaste
Posted by harvey in Culture on 27. Dec, 2006 | 14 Comments
This “Black People Toothpaste” commercial is actually from Thailand, however the same brand of toothpaste is sold in Taiwan, and I assume other places in Asia. You gotta watch this. You won’t regret it. There is this stereotype in China, Taiwan, Thailand, and I have ever heard it in Japan, that some how black people’s [...]
Neta – Tane
Posted by harvey in Language on 26. Dec, 2006 | 4 Comments
Some interesting language trivia. The word ネタ (neta) can have a meaning of “material” for jokes, or stories. For example, you can say… ラーメンズは使うネタがおもしろいからおもしろいんだ Ramenz use interesting joke material so they’re really funny. また明日も作文を書かなきゃ行けないけど、ネタ切れで何について書いてよいかわからないI have to write another essay tomorrow, but I have run out of topic ideas and can’t get started. The interesting part [...]
The Sound of Testing
Posted by harvey in Culture on 25. Dec, 2006 | 2 Comments
I heard from a ex-JET friend that one thing he noticed is that the sound of test taking in Japan is very different than that in the US. The reason for this is that when writing Kanji, it is necessary to lift the pencil off the page and make many quick strokes. This causes a [...]
Kanji Study Tip – Recycle
Posted by harvey in About, Language on 24. Dec, 2006 | 4 Comments
Anyone studying Kanji will feel like an environmentally insensitive clod every now and then after going through so much paper while practicing… One of my friends at school has a technique that allows her to use the same piece of scratch paper for days however. The trick is, to write small, and use a different [...]
Eye Contact
Posted by harvey in Humor on 22. Dec, 2006 | No Comments
“Chances that a Japanese person will make eye contact during conversation with another Japanese person: 2 in 5″ – Harpers Well… – Harvey
