I’ve been slacking on my Read More or Die #tadoku partly because I had another project distracting me… Well, it’s finally done and has been released in all its version 1.0 glory, I bring you, Japanese Listening for iPhone!

猫が箱の中にいます！ And stuff.

Despite the boring name, it’s actually pretty cool, if I do say so myself.

The basic idea is simple, so there’s not much to explain. Basically it simulates those listening comprehension tests you’ve probably had if you study Japanese with any sort of structure at all. I think this usually shows up on the JLPT as well. You see some images, hear some Japanese, and have to pick out which image the Japanese is talking about. We’ve also provided the full text of everything being said in the study mode, so you can sentence mine it for your SRS if you like! Also, there is no romaji to be found. I know people will appreciate that.

Check it out. After I add more content I may raise the price a bit, so if you’re interested get it while it’s cheapish. I need to try to break even on the cost of getting the illustrations done – otherwise my wife will kill me. (That’s her in the recordings by the way!) Japanese Listening will never cost more than our popular Particles App though, so if you’re still on the fence, rest assured it will never exceed $5.99. It’s about the price of a lunch. And, this is brain food, so hey, it’s like lunch for your brain – but you can eat this one over and over again!

Anyway, let me know what you think, and enjoy!

Oh, and if you don’t already, sign up for TheJapanShop.com newsletter, I may be giving away some promo codes through their newsletter sometime this month!

- Harvey

Thanks for entering everyone!

The winners of TheJapanShop.com giveaway contest are… *drumroll please…*

@meggiEm00m00 via Twitter

Mary via the Comments

Abhishek Duggal via the Comments

Nataliya via the Comments

and…

Ken via the Comments!

We’ll be contacting you by email to tell you how to use the prize! If you don’t hear from me in 24 hours, drop me a line and I’ll be sure to get you your goods.

Thanks for entering! I hope you enjoy your stuff!

- Harvey

As you may or may not have noticed, TheJapanShop.com has a new website!

In celebration of this momentous occasion I’m collaborating with TheJapanShop.com to give away $25 dollar TheJapanShop.com gift certificates to 5 lucky readers!

How to Enter the Contest:

Do all of the following:

• In the comments on this post, let us know which TheJapanShop.com products you would spend the $25 gift certificate on! Be specific! We’re curious to know what you are all interested in.
• Mention how you like the new TheJapanShop.com website, please be specific if there is something you like… or hate! Brutal honesty is encouraged!

AND/OR!

If you are on twitter, retweet my tweet about this contest for another chance to win! Every person who retweets will have their name added to the pot.

RT @JapanNewbie Win $25 bucks to spend at http://www.thejapanshop.com any way you like! Details here! http://bit.ly/cptrV2

If you do both the tweet and the blog comment I will enter you into my super random winner generator twice, doubling your chances to win! (You can still only potentially win once though. Heh.)

The contest ends on Sunday 9pm Japan-time, so get your submissions in! Winners will be announced on Monday.

To get us started, if I were to enter this contest I would put the money towards the Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar. My Japanese level is beyond most of the content in this book, but my wife is occasionally teaching Japanese to beginners and this would be a great reference for her students. I used an earlier version of book when I was in high school. It saved my life.

Regarding the new TheJapanShop.com site, it’s much better than the previous site. I don’t like how currently the search box defaults with the text “Search” though. Just a pet peeve, would rather it be blank. I bet they’ll get that fixed soon!

Good luck everyone!!!

- Harvey

Japanese 101: Particles will be on sale from Friday to Monday!
(Not sure which time zone Friday it will start and when exactly it will end, but it’s more or less Friday to Monday!)

The regular price is $5.99, but this weekend you can get it for the low-low (relatively speaking) price of $3.99!

This App has been growing nicely. It now has more than 200 exercises, all with perfect Japanese audio.

Particles App on Sale!

Also, for five of you who are fast, and on the U.S. iTunes Store, you can download the App for FREE using one of the promotion codes below.

Promotion Codes!
MYFYFRK769L4
HK664MT3T9FY
NNYRMREWXR6A
9EAJERXW9AY3
MRXTNAXLWTY3

Each code can only be used once, and can only be used on the U.S. iTunes Store. To use the codes, go to the iTunes Store in iTunes, click on REDEEM which is on the right-hand side under the “Quick Links” section. If you use a code let us know in the comments so others don’t waste time trying to redeem a code that has already been used.

Some other Reviews of Japanese 101: Particles around the web:
Yonasu.com reviews Particles for iPhone
Liz Learn’s Japanese reviews Particles
Zonjineko on Particles
White Rabbit Press MobileinJapan.com Review of Particles

Finally, here is a quick demo of the App on YouTube!

Enjoy! Particles are hard, but extremely important.

- Harvey

Now, by popular request, you can do a fill-in-the-blank type quiz!

New Fill in the Blank Quiz. So mysterious...

In this quiz format you will hear the number spoken by a native Japanese speaker, and then you have to use the keypad to enter the number that you heard. Sounds easy, but give it a try. You might be surprised! This is a much greater challenge than the multiple choice option.

More updates to expand the total number of numbers are coming soon! Currently Japanese 101: Numbers covers a spread of 340+ numbers between 0 and 16,000. I’m working on another update now to add even more content.

Enjoy!

- Harvey