JapanNewbie

Japanese 101: Prefectures just hit the App Store!

Posted on 11. Nov, 2009 @ 3:26 pm by harvey in About, Travel

Our new Application, Japanese 101: Prefectures just hit the app store!

This application will quiz you on the prefectures of Japan based on their location. I am a strong advocate of the importance of developing listening comprehension skills, so this app also has a listening comprehension component. You listen to the name of the prefecture spoken by a native speaker, and then you try to point it out on the map.

I lived in Japan for six years but I still can’t get 100% on this quiz. There are a lot of prefectures! I never miss Hokkaido though… (汗)

If Prefectures don’t sound that entertaining to you… Watch this animated clip created for a well-known performance by the Japanese comedy duo Ramenz and see if that gets your attention!

(Note, other than the subject being the prefectures of Japan (都道府県 todoufuken), the below video has little – in fact NOTHING – to do with Japanese 101: Prefectures! It’s really funny though…)

Just imagine. After using Japanese 101: Prefectures 101 for 15 minutes a day for about two weeks you’ll be able to visualize where all of those prefectures are… and you’ll also know what most of them are famous for!

Good times with maps.

This one is as cheap as we could make it, 0.99 cents in the AppStore today! Enjoy!

おまけ：
More prefecture fun for you. This is a song about every single prefecture. It points out random facts about the people of every prefecture. For example, Ibaraki people go out to eat in Soba shops more than any other prefecture in Japan… Yamanashi people study the most… and Ishikawa people eat the most Wagashi (traditional Japanese snacks). Important information indeed.

I dunno, maybe someone should fact check this stuff!

- Harvey