From santos%mickey.ai.kyutech.ac.jp@nsf Tue May 17 11:45:53 1994 Received: from festival.ed.ac.uk by aiai.ed.ac.uk; Tue, 17 May 94 11:45:39 BST Received: from nsf.ac.uk by festival.ed.ac.uk id aa26475; 17 May 94 10:43 GMT Received: from mutsuki.isci.kyutech.ac.jp by sun3.nsfnet-relay.ac.uk with Internet SMTP id ; Tue, 17 May 1994 11:38:30 +0100 Received: by mutsuki.isci.kyutech.ac.jp (5.65/6.4J.6) id AA25961; Tue, 17 May 94 11:18:28 +0900 Date: Tue, 17 May 94 11:14:36 JST From: Rafael Santos Return-Path: Message-Id: <9405170214.AA27316@mickey02.mickey.ai.kyutech.ac.jp> To: timd@ed.aiai Status: RO People that helped to make this version (in no particular order): Alberto Tomita Junior, with tips from Akihiko Nakashima and others Roberto Kodama Jim Breen Joel Schulman Ted Matsumura Rainer Daeschler (indirectly ;-) Ken DeLong Stephen [kiwin] Palm Mike Chachich Toshio Takagi Alfredo Liu-Perez Reinhard Scholl Tim Duncan Thanks a lot ! Thanks also for the people that made suggestions and offered themselves to keep the FAQ while I was busy putting my brain in order again ;-) I would like opinions on two topics: first, the manga section (5.8), and second, I realized that the cross-reference for the editors for books and ftp sites for programs is becoming confusing so I just put directly after the program or book/magazine the addresses of the publisher and distributors. Any suggestion ? ******************************************************************************* 0. Frequently Asked Questions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q. How can I use this FAQ ? A. It is better to use is as a file with text search capabilities. To search for some information on, for example, The Nihongo Journal, just search the text for it. The index and this section 0 can be useful too. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q. How can I use my PC or MAC as a Japanese Word Processor ? A. It depends on how much money you want to spend and if you have only DOS, or Windows or MAC OS's. Section 2.1 (DOS), 2.2 (Windows), 2.4 (MAC) can give you some tips. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q. Where can I buy The Nihongo Journal ? A. See section 5.1.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q. Is there any suggestion of books on learning Japanese ? A. See section 5.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q. How can I read Japanese News outside Japan ? A. See section 1.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Q. How can I understand the difference between JIS, SJIS, EUC and the other very confusing encoding systems ? A. See Ken Lunde's book, 5.7.2 ******************************************************************************* 1. This newsgroup and list =============================================================================== 1.1 Receiving this newsgroup in your site =============================================================================== 1.2 Receiving the post as a list file in your mail (subscription) To do so, send an e-mail message to: Listserv@mitvma.mit.edu or Listserv@mitvma.bitnet with no subject and the line SUB Nihongo Please don't send messages for subscription or unsubscription to the addresses for posting on the list. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.2.1 Posting to the list To send your article, question, etc. to the list, just send it as normal e-mail to: Nihongo@mitvma.mit.edu or Nihongo@mitvma.bitnet The article will be distributed to all the readers of the list and posted automatically in the newsgroup sci.lang.japan. Please don't send articles to the addresses of subscription and unsubscription. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.2.2 Signing off (cancel the subscription) To cancel your subscription, send an e-mail message to: Listserv@mitvma.mit.edu or Listserv@mitvma.bitnet with no subject and the line UNSUB Nihongo Please don't send messages for subscription or unsubscription to the addresses for posting on the list. =============================================================================== 1.3 Other related Newsgroups There are other Newsgroups on Usenet where topics related to Japan are discussed. They are: soc.culture.japan - cultural, political, social, etc. topics. comp.research.japan - topics on computer science research and development in Japan There are also groups in the fj.* hierarchy, but all (except for fj.life.in-japan) are in Japanese/Kanji. In fj.life.in-japan usually the posts are in English. It's possible to get some articles from the fj.* groups outside Japan, as part of the JUNET NEWS Mailing List. Almost all the articles will be in Japanese, coded in OLD-JIS or NEW-JIS. To subscribe, send a request to Hisao Nojima at nojima@nttlab.ntt.jp or to Stanford University at junet-news-request@russell.stanford.edu. You will then receive a *grab bag* of articles from one or more of the following newsgroups: fj.ai fj.books fj.comp.oops fj.comp.text fj.editor.emacs fj.followup fj.general fj.junet fj.misc fj.rec.animation fj.rec.ham fj.rec.misc fj.soc.misc fj.sys.mac fj.sys.pc98 =============================================================================== 1.4 Other related Listservers ******************************************************************************* 2. Japanese computer programs You can find more information on Ken Lunde's japan.inf (Electronic Handling of Japanese Text) file. This file is on FTP sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106], file /pub/nihongo/japan.inf JAPAN: utsun.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp [133.11.11.11], files /doc/japan.inf/files japan?.inf.Z (?) More details are on Ken Lunde's book, "Understanding Japanese Information Processing", (section 5.7.2), an excellent book, highly recommended to all who wants to process Japanese Information - that includes Japanese word-processing, e-mail, etc. See also 2.8.3 These are some basic descriptions of programs and utilities, specially for learning tools, displaying Japanese and Japanese word processing: =============================================================================== 2.1 for DOS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.1 Moke - Mark's Own Kanji Editor - Shareware Japanese Text editor Version 1.1 is shareware, can be obtained from ftp sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106], files /pub/nihongo/mk11*.*. Version 2.1 is commercial, Us$ 69.95+5s&h (10 s&h outside USA and Canada). KiCompWare, P.O.Box 536, Appleton, WI 54912. USA Tel. 612-773-8621 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.2 NJStar - Shareware Japanese Text editor Version 2.1 is shareware, can be obtained from ftp sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106], files /pub/nihongo/njj210.zip, maybe some more. The same version with drivers for printing can be ordered by Us$49+10s&h from: Hongbo Data Systems - Tel 61+2-399-9876, PO box 866, Kensington NSW 2033, Australia ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.3 Jim Breen's Edict - Freeware Electronic J-E E-J dictionary There are always new versions, the latest one (V.94-003) have 77995 entries. Can be obtained from FTP sites: AUSTRALIA: ftp.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106],directory /pub/nihongo files jdic24.zoo, kinfo24.zoo, edict.zoo, edictjdx.zoo, jis16.zoo, maybe more. DOS compiled (.EXE) programs and fonts, needs zoo to unpack. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.4 HTERM A communication program for MS-DOS which will display ASCII, JASCII, JIS1, and JIS2 - can be obtained from FTP sites: JAPAN: utsun.is.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp [133.11.11.11] directory fj/hterm2.6.0.0 JAPAN: ftp.cs.titech.ac.jp [131.112.16.39] directory JAPAN/hterm/hterm2.6.0.0 JAPAN: azabu.tkl.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp [130.69.16.7] directory hterm/hterm2.6.0.0 USA: mindseye.berkeley.edu [128.32.232.19] directory /pub/kanji/hterm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.5 KD (Kanji Driver) by Izumi Ohzawa Kanji viewer/ front-end-processor for Kermit. Can be obtained from FTP sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106] file /pub/nihongo/kd100.arc USA: mindseye.berkeley.edu [128.32.232.19] file /pub/kanjikd100.arc ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.6 Mark Edward's Kanji Guess Kanji quizzes program, shareware, can be found in FTP sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106], files /pub/nihongo/kg101*.*, maybe more. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.7 Kanji Flashcard Package For the first 204 kanji. From FTP sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106], files /pub/nihongo/kanji?.lzh. Display and information only. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.8 Gakusei Gakusei, from Barham Software, is a DOS-based elementary Japanese grammar tutorial. It is well-suited for low-end or older PCs with minimal hardware. From the lesson browser choose one of fifteen lessons. In the exercises following the lessons you can type responses using Kana keyboards. Use the built-in dictionary to find forgotten words and view conjugated forms. From Lesson 1, you will view Roomaji and Kana characters. You can make screen prints on compatible printers. Gakusei won't replace your teacher, but it can help you master beginning Japanese at your own pace. Avaliable in FTP sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106], files /pub/nihongo/gaku10.exe The shareware demo version contains only the first six lessons. The full lesson set is available for $40 + ($4 US & Canada, $7 other) shipping from BARHAM SOFTWARE, 15507 S. Normandie Ave. #245, Gardena, CA 90247-4028, USA, e-mail 70700.2225@CompuServe.com or call 1-800-RAN-EASY (1-310-327-4862). System requirements are EGA or VGA, DOS >= 3.3, memory >=640K, 1MB free hard disk, HP LJII or Epson LQ-compatible printer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.9 Ambassador - Commercial Bilingual Document System Allows you to compose letters in Japanese, English, Spanish, French without knowing the target language. Requires DOS/V. Versions in English/Japanese, English/French, English/Spanish, French/Japanese. Call 617-489-4000, Fax 617-489-3850 Language Engineering Corporation, 385 Concorde Ave. Belmont, MA 02178, USA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.10 Japanese I for DOS Basic self-study course for oral, written and grammar, includes reading vocabulary and oral quizzes. Sound. Covers hiragana, katakana and 38 basic kanji. Us$ 41.95, contact Conrad Haller, Educational Tutorial Software, 10811 Ashton Ave, Suite 209, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA tel. 213-470-6205. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.11 Verb Conjugation v.1.0 Verb conjugation. Us$20+s&h, contact Language Learning Lab, 707 S. Mathews G-70, For. Lang. Bldg., Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.12 Smart Characters for Students Word processor, vocabulary tutor and font editor for Asian languages, text display includes furigana for all kanji, includes radical/stroke dictionary for reading, Us$ 79.95, contact Frank Kaupman, Apropos Inc. 8 Belknap St. Arlington MA 02174, Tel. 617-648-2041. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.13 Eastword Hiragana/katakana tutor with menu-driven interface, kanji are large and easy to read, includes stroke order and mnemonics. Us$ 99.95, contact Pacific Rim Connections, 3030 Atwater Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA, tel. 800-745-0911. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.14 Gambare-kun Kanji/compound exercise package featuring stunning color graphics (requires VGA and HD) sophisticated learning environment (skill-level tracking, score-keeping and reporting). We don't know the price. Contact Hilary Eastwick-Field Lingotek 56 Rauhuia Crescent, Titirangi-parau, Auckland, New Zealand. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.15 Kanji-flash V.0.97 Kanji flashcards keyed to the book "Basic Technical Japanese", thorough approach to exercises, several learning modes. We dont know the price. Contact Craig VanDegrift, 9605 Barkston Court, Potomac, MD 20850, USA tel. 301-279-2678. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.16 Verb Explorer J Computerized system for analyzing and practicing verb and adjective constructions, drills by verb type. Us$ 225. Contact Larry Cross, Japan-America Institute of Mgt. Science, 6660 Hawaii Kai Drive, Honolulu, HI 96825 USA, tel. 800-54-JAIMS. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.17 Kintaro Sensei Interactive language exercises + culture, four levels of instruction, romaji, katakana, hiragana, several hundred kanji. Us$ 600+. Requires hardware Voice Production Unit. Contact Jack Walraven, Pacific Educational Sys., 915 Woodhall Drive, Victoria, BC Canada V8X 3L7 tel. 604-727-6668. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.18 Let's learn Nihongo Comprehensive package to learn grammar, kanji with sound, uses a computer-controlled tape player and hand-writing recognizer. Needs 2 empty slots on the PC. Us$ 3900. Contact Richard Kurtzman, Seikosha America Inc., 10 Industrial Ave, Mahwah, NJ 07430, USA tel. 201-327-7227. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.19 DOS/V DOS/V allows non-Japanese PCs (i.e. PCs that does not have the Kanji fonts in ROM) to display and enter Japanese. The fonts and conversion tools are all software. The main caveat is: you cannot enter/display Japanese in applications that were not designed for working with DOS/V (like non-Japanese Lotus, Word, etc.) unless they can use ANSI.SYS to display the characters. English-based applications must run on the English environment - there is a command to change between them. Other caveat: software designed for Japanese PCs, like NECs, will not run on DOS/V. There seems to be also a problem with the printing - Japanese will not work for printers that does not have the Kanji fonts in their own ROMs too. The last version is J5.02/V. You need also a VGA or better and at least 2 Mb of memory to run it. Price is about 17.000 yen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.20 JLateX There are two freeware versions from LaTex available in some FTPs - I tried to install one and it was very hard to make it work, I don't even remember the steps ! Somebody that made this, please tell me how ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.21 Demacs - Japanese Emacs for MSDOS Now sources are part of Mule, q.v. Binaries available at FTP sites: USA??? ftp.uu.net [192.48.96.9] directory /systems/ibmpc/msdos/simtel20/demacs ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.22 Word Perfect 5.1j WP5.1j works under DOS/V, but has its own FEP - WPFEP, which doesn't require any extended memory. So to run WP you need only WPFEP.sys and about 400K conventional memory. To print texts from WP is a problem, because it supports only japanese printers. Price: about 40.000 yens. Does anybody have more information on it ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.23 Kana Sensei v2.1 Shareware quiz program for beginning and intermediate students with quizzes on hiragana, katakana as well as vocabulary and basic grammatical patterns. Users can also create their own quizzes. Quiz modes are english to japanese, japanese to romaji, japanese to english and japanese to romaji/english. Includes some kanji. It is available at FTP sites: USA: ftp.uga.edu [128.192.1.9], file pub/msdos/mirror/langtutor/ksensei1.zip USA??? ftp.uu.net [192.48.96.9], file pub/archive/systems/ibmpc/msdos/simtel20/langtutor/ksensei1.zip You can contact the author (Mike Chachich) at mdchachi@vela.acs.oakland.edu or P.O.Box 290-232 Waterford, MI 48329, USA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.1.24 YKH YKH is a program for DOS that emulates a VT320 terminal while properly displaying Japanese text. It is able to connect via modem through comports 1 and 2, or over local-area networks using the DECNET LAT and DECNET CTERM network terminal protocols. Unlike most Japanese terminals, YKH is able to fix Japanese text that has been damaged by escape-code stripping. YKH requires at least an 80286 CPU, the extended keyboard BIOS, a VGA graphics adapter, and about 128K of free RAM. It can be downloaded from FTP sites: USA: oak.oakland.edu, file /pub/msdos/modem/ykh122.zip =============================================================================== 2.2 for Windows ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.2.1 JWP - Stephen Chung's Japanese Word Processor Version 1.1 is freeware and can be obtained from anonymous FTP from FTP sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106], files /pub/nihongo/jwp*.*, maybe more. Includes access to edict. Very good, and free. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.2.2 Power Japanese Features digital sounds, animation, drills, dictionary, flashcards. BayWare Inc., 1-800-538-8867 or 415-312-0980, FAX 415-578-1884. Good for starters, hard to use if you're used to Windows interface, limited but new version seems to be far better. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.2.3 Understanding Spoken Japanese Interactive video (?), requires IBM Info Windows Structure or M-Motion card + laser disc player. We dont know the price. Contact Ms. Sally Vito, Intellimation Inc., P.O.Box 1922, Santa barbara, CA 93116, USA tel. 805-968-2291. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.2.4 Kanji Exercises Toolbox version of kanji flashcards, interactive approach includes reading exercises, animated character generation and quizzes, uses kunrei romanization. Us$ 65. Requires Runtime Toolbook (?). Contact Annonae Software, P.O.Box 7629, Berkeley, CA 94707, USA. Tel. 415-527-8006. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.2.5 Windows 3.1/J There is a version of Windows that can run under DOS/V. You will need a 80386SX or better, 27+ Mb of hard disk, MS-DOS 5.0/V or IBM DOS J5.02/V, at least 4 Mb Ram and VGA display. The Kanji fonts are TrueType. The drivers are only for Japanese made printers, but if you have drivers for non-Japanese printers you can install them and they will print OK. US printers can be installed by replacing CONTROL.INF file in the system directory with the US version. Thus, even old U printers like EPSON FX (9 pin) can print Kanji TrueType fonts. You might want to save a version of the Japanese CONTROL.INF. Non-Japanese versions of programs seem to work OK under Win31J, as long you don't expect to use Japanese on them. Win31J can coexist with English Win31. They should be installed in separate directories, changing the path environment variable changes which version is run. [Rafael's note: I had some weird problems with non-japanese applications which messages that should be in English appears in Japanese, garbaged !] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.2.6 Word for Windows 5.0/J ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.2.7 WinJDIC - Japanese Dictionary for Windows (WinJDIC), by KiCompWare The Japanese Dictionary project was started way back in 1990 by Mark Edwards. Professor Jim Breen took it over and has continued to support, compile, and edit it. He also wrote a DOS program JDIC to provide a quick interface to the program. Since then a version for the Mac, and X-Windows has been released (Jim did the X-Windows version, someone else did the Mac version). WinJDIC is a version for MS-Windows. The program is Copyrighted, but freeware. This means you can use it for and pay no fee after you download it, or pay to have some ship it to you. Distributors, may charge up to $10 (including postage and handling) to distribute it. If you do decide to distribute, it might be a good idea to contact us, to get the latest version. At any rate, everyone is encouraged to pass it on to a friend so they may benefit from an easier road to learning Japanese. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.2.8 WIN/V 1.0 from C. F. C. Computing WIN/V is a program which allows you to have Japanese MS-Windows environment on regular English Windows environments. WIN/V was made by Mr. Nishimura who is a legend among Japanese Windows users. Since Japanese Windows application requires Kanji handling, you could not run those programs on regular English MS-Windows environment. But, with WIN/V, you can not only run Japanese Windows application, but also you no longer needed MS-DOS/V or PC-DOS/V. You simply install WIN/V and restart Windows, then you can have true Japanese Windows environment. Moreover, WIN/V supports Kanji True Type Font and can be run on variety of MS-Windows environments such as Windows for Workgroup 3.1/3.11, OmniBook/Windows 3.1 (ROM version), English OS/2 2.1, English OS/2 2.1 for Windows, NEXTSTEP 3.2/Soft PC + Windows, SCO Unix/Windows session, iRMX for Windows, and C. F. C. Computing is working on CHICAGO/V now. Unfortunately, WIN/V does not work with WABI from Sun. Since WIN/V does not include neither KanaKanji Henkan program (IME program) nor any Kanji True Type Font, you have to install those programs from "Japanese MS-Windows3.1 Setup Disk." But, most of Japanese word Processors, such as MS-WORD, ICHITARO for Windows, or AMI Pro for Windows, also provides both IME program and Kanji True Type fonts. So, for non-Japanese Windows user, you should buy at least one Japanese Windows word processor.. Where can you get it ? WIN/V can be purchased from SOFTEX (on-line software shop. "go swinva") in NIFTY-Serve. Also, shareware version should be available shortly on CIS. (but, IME support will be protected (disabled) for non-registered user. TrueType module for shareware version will be available from SOFTEX.) WIN/V also include "OMAKE program" which makes English Windows applications Kanji-aware, but, it is a non-supported program. =============================================================================== 2.3 for Unix, X-Windows, etc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.1 Jim Breen's Edict - Freeware Electronic J-E E-J dictionary There are always new versions, see 2.1.3. The interface for X-Windows is xjdix, and need kterm in order to display Japanese characters. Can be obtained from FTP sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106], file /pub/nihongo/xjdic.tar.Z, plus the dictionaries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.2 Kterm - Kanji terminal for X Predecessor of exterm. Sources so you have to compile it for your machine. Last version, 5.1.0 works fine here but some people reported bugs. Version 4.1.2 is OK. Can be found in FTP sites: USA: world.std.com, file /Japanese/kterm-4.1.2.tar.Z ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.3 Mule - MUltiLingual Enhancement to GNU Emacs Mule is a modification of GNU Emacs to do Japanese display, entry, and henkan (conversion to kanji). It also does Chinese and other languages. Can be obtained in FTP sites: JAPAN: etlport.etl.go.jp [192.31.197.99], directory /pub/mule JAPAN: sh.wide.ad.jp [133.4.11.11], directory /JAPAN/mule/mule-0.9.7 FINLAND: ftp.funet.fi [128.214.6.100], directory /pub/gnu/emacs/mule ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.4 Wnn - "Watashi No Namae" A library that performs kanji conversion by connecting to a dictionary server (see jserver); Wnn also has routines to manage dictionary files. Requires a front end, such as xwnmo or Mule. Version 4.108 can be found in FTP sites: JAPAN: sh.wide.ad.jp [133.4.11.11], directory /JAPAN/mule/mule-0.9.8/contrib An internationalized version called Xsi is bundled with the X11R5 distribution, e.g. at FTP sites USA: export.lcs.mit.edu 2.7.14 directory /pub/R5untarred/contrib/im/Xsi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.5 Xwnmo A Japanese input client. It displays kana/kanji, and uses Wnn to do the work of henkan and dictionary management. It is bundled with Wnn; see Wnn for ftp sites. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.6 Jserver A kanji conversion server. Comes with Wnn, q.v. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.7 Nemacs The precursor to Mule: GNU Emacs 18.55 plus Japanese input/ conversion/display. Smaller than Mule, less functionality. Version 3.3.1 is in the FTP sites: USA: clover.ucdavis.edu [128.120.57.1] Version 3.3.2 is in the FTP sites: USA: crl.nmsu.edu [128.123.1.18] or [128.123.1.14] ? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.8 SKK A newer, more efficient Japanese input/conversion method, that does not do grammatical analysis but lets the user specify the starting point of okurigana. Can be used with Mule. Version 6.7 is at FTP sites: USA: world.std.com, directory /src/Japanese JAPAN: sh.wide.ad.jp [133.4.11.11], directory /JAPAN/mule/mule-0.9.7/contrib ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.9 exterm - internationalized xterm for X Terminal that can display or input international text, including Japanese. Requires an input client such as xwnmo, egim, etc. Comes with X11R5, e.g. on ftp sitea: USA: export.lcs.mit.edu 2.7.14 directory /pub/R5untarred/contrib/im/Xsi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.10 Kdic - Motif interface to edict/kanjidic by Pertti Tapio Kasanen Kdic is a X/Motif dictionary program which uses the EDICT and KANJIDIC data files. Version 0.8 of kdic can be ftp'd from FTP sites: FINLAND: nic.funet.fi, file /pub/culture/japan/x11/kdic-0.8.tar.Z Requires C++, Motif 1.1 or 1.2, X11R4 or R5. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.3.11 TkJdic - Non-Motif interface to edict/kanjidic by Pertti Tapio Kasanen TkJdic are programs and user interfaces to Jim Breen's EDICT d dictionary files. With TkJdic you can search for Japanese and English words, type them in (Japanese with romaji or by Kinput2) or paste them by mouse. You can also search kanjis by several methods, combine these and click any kanji to get more information about it. There is a history mechanism, so it is easy to get back to previous searches. FINLAND: ftp.funet.fi, file /pub/culture/japan/x11/tkjdic-0.8.tar.Z Requires Tcl/TC public domain windowing package with Japanese language patches (currently tcl7.3jp* and tk3.6jp*) =============================================================================== 2.4 for Macintosh There is a file with more detailed info for Mac users that can be obtained by sending a mail to listserv@psuvm or listserv@psuvm.psu.edu with the command "Get COMPJ_MAC JTIT-L" (I believe that in the body of the message). Send additions/corrections to: daeschler@mailserv.zdv.uni-tuebingen.de (Rainer Daeschler) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.1 Jim Breen's Edict - Freeware Electronic J-E E-J dictionary There are always new versions, see 2.1.3. The interface for the Mac was ported by Dan Crevier, and can be obtained from FTP sites: AUSTRALIA: monu6.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106], file /pub/nihongo/MacJDic1.2.sit.hqx, plus the dictionaries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.2 Ambassador - Commercial Bilingual Document System Allows you to compose letters in Japanese, English, Spanish, French without knowing the target language. Requires KanjiTalk. Versions in English/Japanese, English/French, English/Spanish, French/Japanese. Call 617-489-4000, Fax 617-489-3850 Language Engineering Corporation, 385 Concorde Ave. Belmont, MA 02178, USA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.3 Kanji Exercises and Hiragana/Katakana Exercises Toolbox version of kanji flashcards, interactive approach includes reading exercises, animated character generation and quizzes, uses kunrei romanization. Us$ 65 (kanji), Us$45 (kana). Requires Hypercard. Contact Annonae Software, P.O.Box 7629, Berkeley, CA 94707, USA. Tel. 415-527-8006. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.4 HyperKanji v.0.86 Hypercard-based Kanji dictionary tool, 1600 knaji+6000 compounds, on the right track for on-line dictionary, user can add own entries. Us$ 75, requires KanjiTalk >= 6.0.4, works best with Hypercard 1.2-J (Japanese version). Contact Lew Clapp, International Comp.Res., P.O.Box 2389, Cambridge, MA 02238-2389, USA tel. 617-876-5566. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.5 MacSunrise B-100 (beginning level) HyperCard-based kanji reference and learning system,100 basic kanji with readings and sound, include stroke order, pronunciation and meaning. Us$ 99, contact Peter Goodman, Stone Bridge Press, P.O.Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707, USA, tel. 415-524-8732. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.6 JapanEase HyperCard-based learning tool for katakana gairaigo ("borrowed words") and daily expressions (time, date, counting, etc.) Us$ 99.95, requires Hypercard V2.0. Contact Ayumi Software/Qualitas Trading Co. 6907 Norfolk Road, Berkeley, CA 94705 USA. tel. 415-848-8080. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.7 KanjiMaster / EasyKana Kanji (KM) / Kana (EK) flashcards with sound, uses kunrei romanization. Us$ 149, requires HyperCard. Contact HyperGlot Software, 505 Forest Hills Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37919, USA Tel. 800-726-5087. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.8 KanjiSama Kanji reference tool for reading; stand-alone application, fast dictionary look-up, general and technical dictionaries provided, more dictionaries under development. Us$ 149, requires KanjiTalk >=6.0.4, RAM>2M. Contact Steve Belinski, SANBI software Co., 3594 Crowell Avenue, Riverside CA 92504, USA tel. 714-352-0276. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.9 Japanese CAI - Hiragana V1.0 Katakana V1.0 Hiragana, katakana exercise. Us$ 150+5s&h, demo version Us$20+5s&h, contact Yamazaki Intercom Corp. 42-204 Shimizu-ga-oka, Yatomicho, Mizuho, Nagoya, Aichi 467 Japan. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.10 ? (seems that they dont know the name :-) HyperCard-based CD-ROM, includes 100 basic kanji with readings sound. Us$ 450. Requires CD-ROM player. Contact Prof. Kazuko Nakajima, Dept. of East Asians Stud., University of Toronto, Toronto ON M5S 1A5 Canada. Tel. 416-978-3302. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.11 Kanji Compounds HyperCard-based kanji exercise program keyed to the book "Newspaper compounds - the 1000 Most Important in order of Frequency". We dont know the price. Requires KanjiTalk>=6.0.4 and installation of custom English fonts (included). Contact Danyll Wills, Kaminokuchi-sagaru, Daiku-cho 487, Dotemachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku Kyoto 600, Japan. Tel 075-343-3641. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.12 Japanese for Everyone CD-ROM based Hypercard application for practical spoken Japanese. Requires CD-ROM player. Us$ 449. Contact Butler Consulting, 2199 S. Broadway, Grand Junction, CO 81503, USA. Tel. 303-245-5462. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.13 NihongoWare 1 HyperCard-based CD-ROM program for practical spoke business Japanese. We dont know the price. Requires CD-Rom player. Contact Mitsuru Hosobe, Ariadne Language Link, Shinjuku Center Bldg, 39F. Nishi Shinjuku 1-25-1 Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163, Japan. Tel. 03-3344-1221. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.14 Understanding Written Japanese HyperCard-based system for technical Japanese. We dont know the price. Contact Ms. Contact Ms. Sally Vito, Intellimation Inc., P.O.Box 1922, Santa barbara, CA 93116, USA tel. 805-968-2291. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.15 Nihongo Tutorial System Intelligent tutorial system to assist scientists and engineers in developing reading competence in technical Japanese, features performance tracking. We dont know the price. Contact Tony Maciejewski, Electrical Eng. Dept., Purdue university, West Lafayette, IN 47907 USA. Tel. 317-494-9855. Review in Mangajin #8. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.16 Eudora mail reader (Japanese version) available from FTP sites: JAPAN: ftp.tohoku.ac.jp, file /pub/mac/comm/MacTCP/eudora/eudora1.2.2J7.sit.hqx USA: ftp.uwtc.washington.edu [128.95.202.40], file /pub/Japanese/Macintosh/eudora1.2.2.J7.sit.hqx ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.4.17 NewsWatcher news reader (Japanese version) available from FTP sites: JAPAN: ftp.tohoku.ac.jp, file /pub/mac/comm/MacTCPnews-watcher-j-0811.hqx =============================================================================== 2.5 Other computers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.5.1 Japanese I for Amiga Basic self-study course for oral, written and grammar, includes reading vocabulary and oral quizzes. Covers hiragana, katakana and 38 basic kanjis. Us$ 41.95, contact Conrad Haller, Educational Tutorial Software, 10811 Ashton Ave, Suite 209, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA tel. 213-470-6205. Review in Mangajin #8. =============================================================================== 2.6 Other Related topics (files, etc.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.6.1 Kanji of the Day files Kanji of the Day are contributions from Mr. Kurt Stueber that presents one kanji with descriptions on its radicals, code information (JIS, Nelson, etc.), On- and Kun- readings, mnemonics, compounds, lots of interesting data for those learning Kanji. Usually are posted to the listserver, and goes to the sci.lang.japan newsgroup. Back issues of "Kanji of the Day" can be found at the FTP sites: USA: ftp.uwtc.washington.edu [128.95.202.40], directory /pub/Japanese/KanjiOfTheDay. The files are ASCII, the kanjis are represented in a 24x24 *-matrix. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.6.2 KanaSheet KanaSheet is a nice free PostScript program that gives you plenty of practice pages for hiragana and katakana, by Harald Kucharek. You can get the version 2.1 of KanaSheet on the FTP sites: USA: ftp.uwtc.washington.edu [128.95.202.40] file /pub/Japanese/kanjiPrinter.letter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.6.3 Nihon no Kotowasa Tim Duncan contributes regularly with this interesting series, on proverbs (sp ?), in the newsgroup sci.lang.japan, or you can get them on the FTP sites/directories: USA: ftp.uwtc.washington.edu [128.95.202.40] pub/Japanese/Kotowaza AUSTRALIA: ftp.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106] pub/nihongo/kotowaza EUROPE: kuso.shef.ac.uk [143.167.25.1] pub/japanese/kotowaza UK: aiai.ed.ac.uk [192.41.105.5] timd/kotowaza =============================================================================== 2.8 Information for developers This section just points to some files of interest for those that wants to develop programs related to Japanese Language. Basically, are pointers on where to get bitmaps, dictionary files, references etc. For anybody considering developing of these programs, I recommend getting the book "Understanding Japanese Information Processing" by Ken Lunde. See section 5.7.2 for details. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.8.1 Jim Breen's EDICT and KANJIDIC files These files provides lots of information on kanjis, codes, readings, meanings (KANJIDIC) and Japanese-English correspondence (EDICT). Format is available on some read-me files. Can be found in the same FTP sites that carry the JDIC program ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.8.2 Japanese (Kanji) bitmap fonts You can find a large collection of Japanese fonts for X (bdf format) in FTP sites: USA: crl.nmsu.edu [128.123.1.18] or [128.123.1.14] ? , directory /pub/japanese/fonts. Read the README.jfonts file for more information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.8.3 Machine-readable data from "Understanding Japanese Information Processing" Machine-readable data (such as source code, character lists, and mapping tables) from "Understanding Japanese Information Processing" (see section 5.7.2) are available at FTP sites USA: ftp.ora.com [140.186.65.25], directory pub/nutshell/ujip USA: ftp.uu.net [192.48.96.9], directory ?? =============================================================================== 2.9 People to contact (authors, etc.) - Please tell me if you want/don't want your name here as an author/developer so other people can contact you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.9.1 Jim Breen is jwb@capek.rdt.monash.edu.au ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.9.2 Stephen Chung is schung@kilroy.jpl.nasa.gov or schung@daneel.rdt.monash.edu.au (ocassionally) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.9.3 Izumi Ohzawa is izumi@violet.berkeley.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.9.4 Kurt Stueber is stueber@vax.mpiz-koeln.mpg.dbp.de ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.9.5 Ken Lunde is lunde@mv.us.adobe.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.9.6 Tom Gally is tomgally@twics.co.jp =============================================================================== ******************************************************************************* 3. Electronic tools for Japanese =============================================================================== 3.1 Electronic Dictionaries ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.1.1 The Canon WordTank This file was supposed to be the separated WordTank FAQ, but it makes more sense to put on the FAQ for sci.lang.japan. If you feel the need, it can be separated for distribution as long as you mention where it was originally. The information presented here came mainly from a file that Larry Staples sent me and for my own experience using a ID-7100 and ID-9500. 1-What is it ? It is a small (205x92x23mm, closed, model ID8500 - the biggest) battery- operated device that can be used as a Japanese-English (J-E), English- Japanese (E-J) and Kanji Dictionary (KD). The input is made in a small almost QWERTY keyboard and the output is on a LCD display, 52x160 matrix. There is also a calculator and a calendar, and a "memorize" function that can make some very basic quizzes, with space for 300 words. It seems that the model ID8500 have some more options, but I dont know. There are six models: ID7000 - With 200.000 words, for 25.000 yens, catalog price ID7100 - Similar to ID7000, even the price. It seems that the only difference is the "jumping search". ID7200 - Another step-up, with 240.000 words and you can select menus in English or Japanese. 26.000 yens ID8500 - A real advance, 350.000 words, including personal and place names, and other features I didn't checked out. 44.000 yens. These were the "old" wordtanks. The "Super" wordtanks are three, the ID6500, ID7500 and ID9500. They have no calendar, but improved word memory, slightly bigger keyboard, and the case is no long the plastic one, but a tough, rubber case. The old menu key is still there but the dictionary functions are no longer on the menu. The Japanese, Kanji, and English functions each have their own buttons below the screen along with word memo, calculator, and expansion card buttons. The "modori" button, the star button and a new history function button also appear below the screen. On the right side of the screen are four function key-like buttons that take on different functions depending on the screen. A common use for the keys would be the "jukugo," or compound, function; definition; usage example; etc. Littler "icons" appear on the screen next to the buttons to suggest their usage. The WordTank Super has two expansion slots (not compatible with the ID series cards) that lock into place, and it runs on two AAA batteries. Canon says the machine will run for about 250 hours on two alkaline batteries. The case is only a few millimeters larger and a few grams heavier than the old ID series machines (except the 8500 that was far bigger). ID6500 - This one is a new release, it seems to be the less powerful of them - have the navigation (jump) functions, but I believe that the word database is somehow smaller. I saw it by 15.000 yens, maybe even cheaper in other places. ID7500 - The new "Super" Wordtank, with a redesigned case, and the vocabulary of the ID7200. I believe that it haves the same capabilities as the ID9500, like jumping and wildcards. ID9500 - The top of the line, another "Super" Wordtank. The features are the same as the ID7500 plus more memory. It contains 61,248 Japanese entries with 89,717 English definitions, 17,850 related Japanese words, 57,081 definitions in Japanese, and 53,490 usage examples in Japanese. It contains 6,353 Kanji (JIS Levels 1 & 2 minus the last two kanji) with 35,875 compounds and 19,719 readings. Finally, it contains 60,424 English words with thousands of definitions and related English words. This all adds up to 649,170 entries. Just for reference, the IDX-7500 has 275,698 entries and the old ID-7100 had 199,406 entries. NOTE: the names and places database of the ID8500 was not added to the 7500 and 9500 models. For the price, almost all the shops I saw had at least 10% off, and you can get them even cheaper (older models) in bargain sales. There is an optional printer IP-01 for 25.000 yens, I only saw it once in a catalog. There are some optional cards, like word upgrades, phrase cards (for business, travel, etc.) and even fortune telling, but I never had the chance to test them. All these cards are on the 7000-10000 yens range. 2-What can I do with it ? For the J-E function, you can enter words in Kana or Romaji, and search for them. The output is in kanji with furigana, and one of the very good points on it is that the furigana is displayed aligned with the kanji, so the word GAKUSEI will display small hiragana GAKU on the top of the kanji for GAKU and SEI on the top of the kanji for SEI. I believe that it is valuable so you can associate kanji with reading. Of course, japanese words in hiragana and katakana haves no furigana. The displayed kanji is big and easy to read. The meaning in english are also displayed, and you can use this meaning to search in the E-J for other meanings in Japanese. For the KD function, you can search kanjis for the reading (ON- and KUN-), for the stroke numbers and for the radicals. When you find the desired kanji, the WordTank display the readings, the number of strokes, JIS and KUTEN code, and bushu, and allows you to seek words in the J-E that starts with that kanji. The "old" wordtanks will only display the compounds of two kanjis that starts with the kanji you selected, but the Super ones will search for *any* sequence that starts with the kanji, including words with okurigana. For the E-J function, you enter the word in romaji and it displays the meanings (usually more than one). The phonetics (sp?) of the word are also displayed. If the word have a link with others, you can "navigate" through them. The model ID8500 also have a database for people's and place's names, that the older models lacked. Some features of the Super wordtanks are: Jump Search - As I said above, the English and Japanese definitions and explanations included in the Japanese dictionary of the IDX-9500 have been greatly expanded. Most words have Japanese definitions. This makes the improvements in "Jump Search" especially useful. Any whole word displayed on any screen can be highlighted and looked up. So, for example, if you were to look at the Japanese definition of a word (Japanese or English) and found yet another word you didn't know, you could highlight that word and look it up too. You can also look up any displayed English word. Kanji Jukugo - Another big improvement has been made in the Kanji dictionary. After looking up a kanji, pressing the "jukugo" function key now produces a complete list of all words starting with that character, not just two kanji words as in the ID series. Verbs, single kanji, two, three, and more kanji words are all listed on the screen. Wild Cards - Both Japanese (kana, not kanji) and English words can be searched for using wild card characters, "*" for multiple characters and "?" for single characters. For example, it is possible to search for "ga*ji," resulting in three words, while "ga?ji" would result in one. Searching for English words works the same way. History - The machine keeps a running list of the last 16 words you have looked up. So, if you're like me, and keep looking up the same word time after time; this feature will be handy. 3-So, which are the problems ? First of all, it can be called a "feature", but it is ROM-based, meaning that you cannot change/include/alter/annotate any entry on it. This characteristic also means that you should expect some new releases from times to times (inclusion of new words, corrections, etc.), but surprisingly it does not happens. As long as I know, the Old wordtanks had more than 2 years before the new releases, and in Japan, almost all electronic tools (cameras, videos, TVs, etc) have new models every 6 months. Of course, being ROM based makes it fast and small, but reliable ? For the old versions, some of the entries from the J-E are insufficient, and some are simply wrong. There are even some entries in the J-E that have no translation (I mean, display nothing), even on the ID8500 (same for the ID9500, but for the really obscures and/or without translation). Try ON'YOMI, for example. For the new models, some words still lack translations but some have definitions... in Japanese. For the KD dictionary, it will search words that start with the kanji you are displaying, but only two-kanji words. For example, you can find the kanji KA for KANOUSEI in the KD, and search for words that start with it, and it will display KANOU but not KANOUSEI. The Super models corrected this annoying problem. The E-J have more meanings per word, but they are displayed in a smaller type (dot matrix) than the J-E, and the kanjis don't have furiganas, so if you don't read japanese, there is a trouble. More, you cannot underline a word in Japanese and search the meaning as you can do with the J-E with the old models, but can with the Super ones. For the person's and place's names in the ID8500 model, I have a main complain - its usage is, enter a japanese name in kana and see the kanji. I guess that the inverse (enter the kanjis as in the KD and see the reading) is far more useful, at least for non-Japanese speakers. Some people also complained about parts that break, but seemed that the service (fixing, etc.) was OK - In Japan, I must add. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.1.2 Jim Breen's JDIC in a Palmtop Here is the file I got from Jim Breen about the use of JDIC in a palmtop. I added some comments in ()s. AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE WORDTANK For the last couple of months I have been using what I believe is a viable alternative to the Canon Wordtank as a hand-held electronic dictionary. I have decided to put together a detailed posting on this alternative. The system I have been using is the HP 100LX Palmtop PC, a hand-held and fully functional PC measuring about 16x8cm. Onto this I have loaded my JDIC & JREADER programs and the EDICT, etc. dictionary files. JDIC performs well on this system, to the extent that I now only use my trusty old WT (8500 plus upgrade card) on the rare occasions when a word I want is not in EDICT. (It usually isn't in the Wordtank either). A few words about the Palmtop. It comes with many Mb of preloaded software: Lotus123, database, editor, HP Calculator. CCMail, Phonebook, Appointment manager, XTREE-like Filer, Stopwatch, etc. All this is in a "D:" drive in ROM. The basic systems have 1M of CMOS of which 640K is DOS's memory and the rest a RAMdrive (C:). In an expansion slot (A:) goes a 8x5x0.5cm "Flashdisk"; I have a 10M version, which comes with Stacker installed, so there is plenty of capacity for JDIC etc. The processor is an 80186, which seems to perform at about the speed of a 12Mhz 8088. There is an Application Manager which looks after programs through Icons and pop-down menus, or you can run programs from the DOS prompt. Curiously, powering the system off only turns off the display, the applications stay there. I have only rebooted twice. The Palmtop has a CGA display. Unlike earlier models, the 100LX has a full 80x25 line screen, i.e. 640x200 pixels in high-res CGA. I have always found the aspect ratio of high-res CGA pretty poor for display of the 16x16 kana/kanji, but the crisp LCD of the Palmtop combined with the rather flat aspect ratio make the display every bit as good as a monochrome VGA. The Palmtop has a serial port and built-in Kermit, Xmodem, etc. protocols. An optional Connectivity Pack enables files to be copied back and forth between a PC and a Palmtop, and for them to access each others files. It also contains PC versions of many of the applications. Of course, the keyboard (full QWERTY) is tiny, and you can forget about two-handed touch typing. I have developed a one-handed "hunt-and-pick" which works well, particularly as it has a "sticky" Shift key. With the Palmtop and CGA in mind, I have made some format changes in version 2.4 of JDIC and JREADER (now in beta-test), mainly to get the maximum information into the reduced screen size. Also I added some features which I understand have also appeared in the latest (8xxx?) (my note: now 9500) version of the Wordtank. Among them are: saving & retrieval of the last 10 search keys, a "jump search" where the key comes from a display line, and the ability to log entries to a file for later review. The kanji selection via bushu also now has an option to specify the stroke count. So how do they compare? Well I have not seen the latest Wordtank, which I hear is quite improved, so this comparison is largely limited to the earlier models. SIZE: almost the same. The Palmtop is a bit thicker (about 2.5cm), and heavier, and has the typical tough HP case. It runs on a pair of AA batteries, & has an external 110/230V adaptor which can charge NiCads in situ. The Palmtop screen is more than twice as large, and with the smaller size of displayed characters packs a lot more information. (my note: the latest models are smaller than the old 8500) PRICE: not surprisingly the Palmtop is quite a bit more expensive. I don't know the US price, but extrapolating the Australian, I expect it is about $US850, plus a couple of hundred more for the Flashdisk. Bear in mind, though, that for this you get a LOT more than a just a Wordtank, you are getting a PC with a lot of built-in applications, including a copy of Lotus123. JDIC, EDICT, etc. are, of course, free. DICTIONARY: EDICT & KANJIDIC total about 3.5M, which is somewhat less than the Wordtank's claimed dictionary. However the 7200/8500 had separate E->J and J->E dictionaries, which was wasteful. JDIC can access the full JIS 1 & 2 sets, whereas many are missing from the Wordtank. From my observation, there is not much in the Wordtank which is not now in EDICT, and EDICT's English translations are much more complete. Both can access kanji via reading, bush and/or stroke counts. JDIC also accesses by JIS code, KUTEN, Nelson and Halpern nos. KANJIDIC's collection of readings seems much more comprehensive than those in the Wordtank. Also, JDIC, EDICT, etc. are being regularly upgraded, and thus the Palmtop option can improve for no extra outlay. SPEED: the Wordtank is much faster. The typical word search on the Palmtop takes an average of 4 seconds (cf 2.2 on my 16Mhz 386). This may reduce if Stacker were disabled. Kanji searches take about a second, but a full screen takes about 3 seconds to paint. This is understandable, given the general nature of the Palmtop vs the ASICs in the Wordtank. OTHER APPLICATIONS: The address book, phone-list and calculator in the Palmtop are infinitely superior to those on the Wordtank. (my note: the oldest wordtanks had only Calendar/calculator, the new ones only the calculator. Did the 8500 had phone list and address book ?) Really the applications do not compare, as the Palmtop is packed with goodies. I find the Appointment system very impressive, particularly in the way it can migrate the details back and forth between the Palmtop and a PC. I often carry my Palmtop in my coat packet, and find it very convenient to use the built-in editor (Memo) for jotting down notes, drafting text, etc. I have also loaded the JREADER program on board, and to prove it was possible, downloaded a copy of the Genji Monogatari. A bit meaty reading for train journeys, but feasible. I also installed a copy of MOKE, which is the only wa-puro I know of for vanilla PCs which can function on a CGA. MOKE works fine. It gave me quite a buzz to enter kanji and kana text on such a tiny system, but it does it well. (I believe there is a localized version of the HP Memo program available in Japan, but I have no details of it.) I realize this is partly blowing my own trumpet, but I strongly recommend that people who are thinking about buying a hand-held electronic dictionary consider the Palmtop as an alternative. With JDIC, etc installed it performs, I think, every bit as well as a Wordtank, and in some aspects a lot better. Also it is a far more versatile system, with all the potential of a full PC, as well as having many good application packages. I think HP have done an amazing job of packing so much into such a small container. After all, can you imagine a Wordtank that is also Japanese word-processor, runs Lotus and has a full-function HP Business Calculator. [Since writing the above, I have received copies of some futher Japanese software for the HP100LX. This includes as TSR FEP and a JIS text display program. I have not found time to try them out, as the installation is a little tricky, and anyway the software I have is working well.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.1.3 Sony DATA-Discman It is a device to read special 3.5" CD-ROMs in a format called EB (Electronic Book, ou Denshi-Book). These CD-ROMs can be removed from the cartridges and put on an adaptor to be read by CD-ROM drivers for PC compatibles. There are two programs for Windows and one add-on for Mule (Unix) to work as front-ends for these EBs. There are several dictionaries published as EBs, including the Kenkyusha's. (tip by Alberto Tomita Jr.) (Rafael's note: I am not sure if their interface are easy to use for foreigners - need to look at one first ;-) =============================================================================== 3.2 Electronic Organizers (Denshi Tetyou) This is a category apart. There are some that have built-in eiwa-waei dictionaries, but they are too small compared with WordTank and similars. Some have expansion cards with dictionaries. =============================================================================== 3.3 Wapuros uh... should I give up on this one ? ******************************************************************************* 4. General Information on Japanese Language =============================================================================== 4.1 Writting Systems ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.1.1 General Information Traditionally, Japanese is written from top to bottom and right to left. Pages are bound at the right hand side, making books and magazines appear as if they are printed backwards to Westerners. Nowadays the younger generation tends to write the Western way (unless for official purposes), that is left to right, top to bottom. This way is also used in scientific books where text is used along with mathematical formulas which are necessarily (really?) horizontal. Literature is printed the traditional way. Written Japanese employs four character sets: romaji, hiragana, katakana and kanji. Spacing between words with the latter three is up to the writer. In books for beginning readers spaces between words may be abundant, but in more advanced texts they may be few. The equivalent of a period is called "maru", a small circle. A comma is represented by a "ten", a long dot. Its use is not governed by any strict rules (like in most languages). Quotations are indicated by the top left and bottom right parts of a square. Question and exclamation marks are used once in a while. The particles ka and ne fulfill the respective functions, so that there is no real need for either mark. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.1.2 Hiragana and Katakana The kana, hiragana and katakana, are strictly phonetic syllabaries. Hiragana, the more flowing form of the two, is said to have been invented by the Buddhist priest Ku^kai (774-835), although this is controversial. Each hiragana symbol derives from a Chinese character of the same sound, but is devoid of any meaning. The invention of hiragana had a significant impact on Heian literature (794-1185) as it enabled women to write (education was a virtually male-only privilege). The most famous contribution, no doubt, is "Genji monogatari" [The tale of Genji] by MURASAKI Shikibu. Katakana, literally "side script" and the more angular of the two kana, is said to have been invented by KIBI no Makibi (693-755). Each katakana symbol derives from parts of a Chinese symbol in the same way as the hiragana do. Katakana were initially used as a pronunciation aid in Buddhist scriptures, but were mixed with Chinese characters from the ninth century on. Both syllabaries use two diacritical marks to modify the pronunciation of several of the kana. Two small dots at the upper right hand corner produce a voiced version, that is: k->g, s->z, t->d and h->b. A small circle at the same position changes h to p. Finally, the kana for "ya", "yu" and "yo" can be combined with the "-i" kana to form a palatalized sound, for example: pi+ya->pya. Knowing hiragana and/or katakana one can write anything one wishes to write in Japanese. In practice however, hiragana are used for originally Japanese words and katakana is reserved for foreign words. Katakana can also be used for emphasis, very much like italics are being used for emphasis in the roman alphabet. This is relatively common in manga. Moreover, the use of kana is, depending on the level of education, limited to (parts of) words which have a grammatical function, such as particles, conjuctions and inflectional endings. The content of what one wants to express is written in kanji. One other use of the hiragana is as pronunciation aid for uncommon kanji. Found on the right hand side or above the kanji, they are referred to as furigana ("handicap kana") or yomigana ("reading kana"). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.1.3 Kanji The kanji have been borrowed and adapted from the Chinese characters between the sixth and tenth century. During and after their introduction they underwent many changes, both in Japan and China, so that now both languages have their own set of kanji although many similarities exist. After the Meiji restoration (1868) the government has tried to simplify and standardize the Japanese kanji (I"m not sure about this!). In 1946 the last big government interference resulted in the To^yo^ kanji. This set contains 1850 kanji, 881 of which made up the Kyo^iku kanji. The Jinmei-yo^ kanji contained an additional 85 kanji in use for family and geographical names. The Jinmei-yo^ set can be seen as a set of standard non-standard kanji. The Kyo^iku set was to be mastered by the end of elementary school and the To^yo^ set by the end of high school. Nowadays, the Jinmei-yo^ set contains 284 kanji, the Gakushu^ set, formerly Kyo^iku, 1006 and the Jo^yo^, formerly To^yo^, 1945. The Gakushu^ kanji are still a subset of the Jo^yo^ kanji and taught in elementary school. The Jo^yo^ kanji are taught in high school. It is not necessary to know all Jo^yo^ and Jinmei-yo^ kanji to be able to read most Japanese. Several studies indicate that knowing about 1000, for example the Gakushu^, enables one to read some 90%. Knowing the Jo^yo^ allows you to read about 99% of written Japanese. However, not knowing a kanji does not necessarily mean that one can not guess its meaning. Many of the more complicated kanji are combinations of simpler kanji (see below). The kanji are ideographs representing objects and/or ideas. For each kanji three things must be learned: its root meaning, its writing (stroke order and stroke endings) and, the most difficult, its reading (pronunciation). Generally, every kanji has two types of reading. On-yomi or Chinese reading is based on the Japanese imitation of the ancient Chinese pronunciation of the character. Kun-yomi or Japanese reading represents the original Japanese word corresponding to the ancient Chinese meaning of the kanji. Put differently, on-yomi is a mapping of Japanese sounds on the spoken form of written Chinese whereas kun-yomi is a mapping of spoken Japanese on written Chinese. There are no strict rules to decide whether a kanji is read on-yomi or kun- yomi, but as a rule of thumb: a kanji occuring in a compound with other kanji is read on-yomi, a kanji all by itself is read kun-yomi. Note that a kanji may have more than one on-yomi and/or more than one kun-yomi. Fortunately, there are some kanji that have either only one on-yomi or only one kun-yomi. An example should make all this a bit clearer. Take the kanji for moon. By itself, just plain moon, it is read "tsuki" (kun-yomi). This is the only kun-yomi it has. Well, let's be fair, it can also be read "zuki", for example in "mikazuki", "three day moon" (->new moon), but this is merely a change for ease of pronunciation (?). By the way, "mikazuki" is a severe exception of the rule of thumb: all three kanji are read kun-yomi fashion. In "first moon" (->first month-> January) it combines with the kanji for one, "ichi", and is read "gatsu". Thus, "ichigatsu" means January. In "moon day" (->Monday) it combines with the kanji for day, "yo^ bi", and is read "getsu". Thus, "getsuyo^bi" is Monday. So, "moon" has two (accidently similar) on-yomi. In many cases the more complicated kanji, in terms of stroke count, are made up of simpler kanji. Their meaning can usually be inferred from the meaning of the simpler kanji. The simple kanji used in those more complicated ones are referred to as graphemes or radicals. Due to size restrictions, every kanji takes up the same amount of space, these graphemes or radicals can become somewhat distorted with respect to the original. In two-grapheme kanji such as "bright", where "sun" and "moon" are placed alongside (and squeezed), the left hand side is called "hen" and the right hand side "tsukuri". Shodo^ or calligraphy is practiced by many Japanese. Basically, there are three styles to write the kanji: kaisho (print or block style), gyo^sho (cursive style) and so^sho ("grasshand" style). Kaisho resembles the style of kanji in mechanically produced texts. Although primarily referring to calligraphy, kaisho is also used to indicate the style of these texts. Formal correspondence is usually written in kaisho, whereas gyo^sho is used in personal correspondence. Artistic writings on screens and monuments and in paintings often use so^sho. Easily recognized by its reminiscence to flowing reeds, it is the hardest to read of the three. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.1.4 Romanization (Romaji) Romaji is basically a method of writing the Japanese language in the roman alphabet (the very same as the one you"re reading now). Originally developed by Jesuit missionaries in the sixteenth century, there now are various methods of romanization. The most common one is the (modified) Hepburn system (hebon-shiki or hyo^jun-shiki). It was established by James C. Hepburn (1815-1911) who also founded Meiji Gakuin University. Its popularity stems from the better compa- tibility with the Japanese sounds than kunrei-shiki (the official, but vir- tually obsolete, system) and Nihon-shiki. Nihon-shiki is governed by simple rules and is taught in elementary schools. The use of romaji, or roman alphabet, in everyday Japanese is very limited. Abbreviations, advertisements and street signs are among the few instances you will see them. One area in which romaji are in wide-spread use is in text books for studying Japanese for foreigners. Most intermediate and advanced students of the language will agree that the use of romaji will prove an obstacle in learning how to read "real" Japanese. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of 4.1 Section, a contribution by Olaf Meeuwissen [olaf@usc.edu]. Sources: Modern Japanese by Mieko Shimizu HAN, Dictionary of Japanese Culture by Setsuko KOJIMA and Gene A. Crane, Kanji Education by Jason Molenda and private communication with Ken Lunde (author of JAPAN.INF). =============================================================================== 4.2 Pronunciation The following is a description of the sound system of Japanese. The first three sections are a brief linguistic summary. Section 4.2.4 focuses on practical pronunciation problems faced by foreigners, especially speakers of English. Check also the Quick Pronunciation Guide, section ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.1 The Sounds of Japanese The following are the meaningful sound elements (phonemes) of Japanese. Vowels /a/ /i/ /u/ /e/ /o/ Consonants Stops: /p/ /b/ /t/ /d/ /k/ /g/ /?/ (= glottal stop) Stops with fricative release: /ch/ /j/ Fricatives: /h/ /z/ /s/ /sh/ Liquids: /r/ /w/ Nasals: /m/ /n/ /n'/ (/n'/ = syllabic nasal) Semivowel /y/ Note to linguists: The above phonemes should be enough to account for all native Japanese and assimilated Sino-Japanese words. However, some recent borrowings from other languages may require additional phonemes (the Japanese words for 'tsar', 'violin', etc.). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.2 Phonemic Rules The phonemes listed in 4.2.1 may change when they are actually pronounced. The following are some of the most important phonemic rules. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.2.1 Vowels /i/ and /u/ usually become voiceless in the following two contexts: (1) after /t/ /s/ /sh/ /ch/ /h/ at the end of a word (2) between /t/ /s/ /sh/ /ch/ /h/ and /p/ /t/ /k/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.2.2 Consonants /t/ becomes /ch/ before /i/ /t/ is pronounced [ts] before /u/ /d/ becomes /j/ before /i/ /d/ becomes /z/ before /u/ /g/ is often pronounced [ng] between vowels (as in English "singer") /h/ is pronounced as a bilabial fricative before /u/ (see 4.2.4.4) /z/ becomes /j/ before /i/ /s/ becomes /sh/ before /i/ /n'/ becomes /m/ before /p/ /b/ /m/ /n'/ is pronounced [ng] before /k/ /g/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.3 Accent The accent system of Japanese is based on pitch, not stress. Each syllable is pronounced with about the same force, but accented syllables are pronounced at a higher pitch. See also 4.4.4.6 below. Some generalizations: All high-pitch syllables in a word are contiguous. If the first syllable is high, then all the remaining syllables are low. If the first syllable is low, then the second syllable is high. One-syllable words may have either a low rising pitch or a high falling pitch. The following examples, given in standard romanization, are taken from the introduction to the dictionary Daijirin (Sanseido, 1988). These are all of the single-word accent patterns up to six syllables. Capital letters indicate the high pitch. The mark ^ at the end of a word indicates that the high pitch may carry over into the following word (especially if the following word is a particle such as wa or ga ). 1 syllable: na^ [next syllable high] KI [next syllable low] 2 syllables: miZU^ Aki haNA 3 syllables: kaISHA^ DEnki oKAshi oTOKO 4 syllables: daIGAKU^ BUngaku yuKIguni saIJIki oTOOTO 5 syllables: chuUGOKUGO^ SHAabetto fuKYUuritsu yaMANObori koGATABAsu moMONOHANA 6 syllables: keNBUTSUNIN^ KEnmohororo oMAwarisan kiNKOnshiki koKUGOJIten taNSANGAsu juUICHIGATSU ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.4 Problems for Learners of Japanese (English speakers) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.4.1 Short and Long Sounds All of the vowels and most of the consonants of Japanese may be pronounced either short or long. In normal speech, long sounds are held for about twice the length of time as short sounds. The difference between long and short sounds is very significant, and Japanese have no trouble at all remembering which words have short sounds and which words have long sounds. Here are some minimal pairs, i.e., words distinguished only by the length of the sound: shujin "husband" shuujin "prisoner" koto "thing" kooto "coat" kata "shoulder" katta "won" kosetsu "old explanation" kossetsu "bone breakage" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.4.2 Consonant + /y/ Clusters When the semivowel /y/ follows a consonant, learners of Japanese often insert a vowel between the consonant and /y/. However, no vowel belongs there and the presence of a vowel can lead to misunderstand- ings. It may take some practice to learn how to say these clusters smoothly. Correct Incorrect [ryokan] [riyokan] "Japanese inn" [byooin] [biyooin] "hospital" (cf. biyooin "beauty parlor") ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.4.3 /r/ In many dialects of English, /r/ is pronounced before vowels with the lips slightly rounded and the tongue not touching the roof of the mouth, while /l/ is pronounced before vowels with no lip rounding and with the tip of the tongue touching lightly against the roof of the mouth. The Japanese /r/ sound varies more or less freely between these two sounds, i.e., sometimes the tongue touches the roof of the mouth and sometimes it doesn't. (That's why new students of Japanese may hear the sound sometimes as /r/ and sometimes as /l/.) However, unlike English /r/, there is no lip rounding with Japanese /r/. The lips should stay relaxed. (When Japanese comedians imitate foreigners speaking Japanese, they generally include a lot of heavily rounded /r/ sounds and /r/-colored vowels, because those are the features that sound most distinctively non-Japanese to them.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.4.4 /hu/ = /fu/ When the phoneme /h/ comes before /u/, it is pronounced as a bilabial fricative. What this means is that the lips are brought close enough together to create a light hissing sound. Unlike English /f/, however, the lower lip does not touch the upper teeth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.4.5 Vowels Most English vowels are diphthongs, i.e., the tongue and/or lips move as the vowel is being pronounced. In American English, for example, the vowel sound in the word 'cake' starts as the mid front vowel /e/ and glides to near the high front vowel /i/. The vowels in the word 'two' and 'boat' have more lip rounding at the end than the beginning. In Japanese, however, vowel quality remains nearly constant from the beginning to the end of a vowel. Heavily diphthongized vowels are a clear indicator of a foreign accent in Japanese. As described in 4.2.2.1, Japanese vowels often become voiceless in certain contexts. This means that, to a foreign ear, the vowel seems to be missing: doko desu ka sounds like doko des ka arimasu sounds like arimas chikaku sounds like chkaku shita sounds like shta This does not happen all the time, though. If a speaker is emphasizing a particular word or speaking slowly, then these vowels might remain voiced. Sentence-final vowels seem to be voiced more often in women's speech than in men's. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.4.6 Accent As described in 4.2.3, Japanese accent is based on pitches, not stress. An English speaker learning Japanese is apt to put too much emphasis on certain syllables. To Japanese ears, this sounds bouncy and sing-songy. Many native Japanese teachers do not emphasize accent when they teach Japanese pronunciation, probably because there is a lot of regional variation. In particular, many words have opposite accent patterns in Kanto and Kansai. For the foreign student, however, it is better to try to acquire some kind of native accent (even if it isn't standard NHK style) rather than to retain a strong foreign accent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2.5 Quick Pronunciation Guide Japanese English Other Other Sound equivalence Language ? Language ? ...................................................... a 'a' of father i 'ea' of eat u 'oo' of boot e 'a' of cake o 'oa' of coat k as in kit g as in good s as in sun sh as in sheep z as in zoo j as in jeep t as in time ch as in cheap ts as in boots d as in doe n as in no h as in hot f as in food m as in march y as in yard r between 'l' of loom and 'r' of room w as in wash ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.2. End of "Pronunciation" by Tom Gally ******************************************************************************* 5. Books, Magazines and others =============================================================================== 5.1 General ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1.1 The Nihongo Journal General information: The Nihongo Journal, monthly magazine in English and Japanese, also available in Korean/Japanese and Chinese/Japanese. Price in Japan: 600 yens, tax included. Features a cassete tape, sold separately, for 2060 yens, tax included. Published on the first of every month. 120+ pages, some in color. Main features: Japanese lessons divided in beginning, upper-beginning and intermediate levels, including grammar and usage notes, and kanji reviews. For almost all kanjis, furigana is displayed. Also presents some topics on Japanese culture, news and lifestyle (in intermediate Japanese). Feature some series like "Writing is Fun" and "Going up against the Japanese Language Proficiency Test". The cassete tape have some articles recorded, to practice listening. In overall, an excellent magazine for beginner and intermediate learning. Addresses of publisher/distributors overseas: (as for April 1993) Publisher in Japan: ALC PRESS Inc. Main office: 2-54-12, Eifuku, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 168, Tel: (03)3323-1001 (Sales) Hong Kong: Apollo Book Co.Ltd., Japanese Book Centre, TST P.O. Box 95710, Kowloon. Tel. 3-678482 Hong Kong: Asahiya Book Stores Hong Kong Ltd. c/o Department Store Co. Ltd. Kingstone Street, Causeway Bay Tel. 5-762279 Hong Kong: Nippon International Publication Service (HK) Co. Ltd. 2nd floor, shop no. 31-33 Admiralty Centre, Tower One, 18 Harcourt Road, Tel. 5-294777 Singapore: Kinokuniya Book Stores of Singapore Pte. Ltd. 0617 Liang Court Store, 117 River Valley Road, #03-07/19 Tel. 3371300 Singapore: Orchard Store, 0923 New Isetan Orchard, 435 Orchard Road, #04-01 Tel. 7346695 Singapore: 0617 Raffles Store, Sogo Department Stores, 250 North Bridge Road, #01-13/17, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Tel. 3308173 Malaysia : O.I.S. Book Shop, Yaohan The Mall Shop, c/o Yaohan (M) SDN. BHD. Bangunan The Mall, 2nd Floor, Lot 33, Section 51, JLN TUN Ismail, 50480, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia : Yaohan Penang Shop, c/o Yaohan (M) SDN. BHD. Komplek Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar), Penang Road, 10000 Pulau Penang Taiwan : Kinokuniya Bookstores of Taiwan, Co.Ltd, 7th Floor, Pacific Sogo Dept. Stores, no. 45, sec 4, Chung Hsiao East Road, Taipei, Tel. 02-7212304 Taiwan : Hong Ju tang Book Co. Ltd. 19 Sec 1, Kai-Fung St. Taipei, Tel. 02-311-3810 USA : Bun Bun Do Books Store, 745 Keeaumoku Street, Honolulu, HI 96814, Tel. 808-946-9790 USA : Books Nippan, 532 West Sixth Street, Los Angeles, CA 900 Tel. 213-687-7400 USA : Kinokuniya Books Stores of America, Co. Ltd., San Francisco Store, 1581 Webster Street, San Francisco, CA 94115. Tel. 415-567-7625 USA : Kinokuniya Books Stores of America, Co. Ltd., New Otani Store, 110 South Los Angeles Street, suite 12, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Tel. 213-687-4447 USA : Kinokuniya Books Stores of America, Co. Ltd., Los Angeles Store, 123 South Weller street, suite 106, Los Angeles, Ca 90012 Tel. 213-687-4480 USA : Kinokuniya Books Stores of America, Co. Ltd., Torrance Store, 2141 West 182nd street, Torrance CA 90504 Tel. 213-327-6577 USA : Tokyo Shoten, Zen Oriental Publications Inc, 521 5th Ave. New York, N.Y. 10175, Tel. 212-697-0480 USA : New York Kinokuniya Book Store, 10 West 49th st. New York, N.Y. 10020, Tel. 212-765-1461 USA : Anzen Importers, 736 N.E. Union Ave. Portland, OR 97232 Canada : Sophia Book Store, 725 Nelson Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 2E5 Tel. 604-684-4032 Brazil : Sol S.A. Importacao, Exportacao, Industria e Comercio. Caixa Postal 8846, 01000 - Sao Paulo, SP. Brazil : Livraria Takano Ltda. Rua Dr. Tomas de Lima, 545 Loja 1 Liberdade CEP 01513, Sao Paulo, SP. Tel. 011-279-3313 Australia: Intext Book Company Pty. Ltd. 412 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, VIC. 3078 Tel. 03-486-1755 Australia: OCS (Australia) Pty. Limited, Head Office: Sidney Unit. 4,4 Doody Street, Alexandria, N.S.W. 2015 Tel. 693-5122 England : Japan Centre Bookshop, 212 Piccadilly, London W1V 9LD, Tel: 071-439 8035 (from UK) +44 71 439 8035 (from outside UK) Fax: 071-287 1082 (from UK) +44 71 287 1082 (from outside UK) England : ENGLAND: Books Nippon (Nippon Shuppan Hanbai) Ltd. 64-66 St. Paulis Churchyard, London EC4M 8AA, Tel: 071-248 4956 (from UK) +44 71 248 4956 (from outside UK) Fax: 071-489 1171 (from UK) +44 71 489 1171 (from outside UK) France : Europe Press (Librairie Tokyo-Do) Bank of Tokyo Bldg, 4-8 Rue Sainte-Anne, 75001 Paris, Tel.42610871 Germany : Nippon Shuppan Hanbai, Deutschland GMBH Immermannstr, 45 4000 Dusseldorf, Tel. 49-211-365617 Germany : T. Takagi GMBH Immermannstr, 31 4000 Dusseldorf Tel. 0211-36046314 Belgium : Euro Nippon, Ch. de Vleurgat 119, 1050 Bruxelles Sweden : San-Ai Tegnergatan 15, 11140 Stockholm . Tel.8-202854 Other places: Nippon IPS Co. Ltd, 11-6, 3 chome, Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102, Tel. (03)3238-0700, Fax (03)3238-0707. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1.2 An Introduction to Modern Japanese by Osamu and Nobuko Mizutani General Information: Publisher: Japan Times. 1977. ISBN 4-7890-0058-3 Price: 3510 Yen Main Features: both kanji/romaji, furigana where necessary. tapes available ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1.3 Japanese: The Spoken Language (Parts 1-3) by Eleanor Harz Jorden and Mari Noda General Information: Publisher: Yale University Press. 1987. ISBN 0-300-03834-8 Price: 16.85 pounds Main Features: all romaji but explanations good ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1.4 Japanese for Busy People I by the Association for Japanese-Language Teaching General Information: Publisher: Kodansha International. 1984. ISBN 0-87011-599-5 Price: 15.95 pounds, 3100 Yen, $19.95 Main Features: both kanji (?) and romaji, furigana where neccessary. Two tapes available. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1.5 Japanese for Busy People II by the Association for Japanese-Language Teaching General Information: Publisher: Kodansha International. 1990. ISBN 0-87011-919-2 Price: 16.95 pounds, 3500 Yen, $22.95 Main Features: big step from part one, 6 tapes available ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1.6 Japanese for Today General Information: (no or unknown author), Publisher: Gakken, year 1973 (26th print 1985), ISBN 4-05-050154-6, Y 3500 (in Japan) Main Features: 30 lessons in the modern language, with every lesson divided in: kanji+kana reading section, grammar, vocabulary, conversation. Cassette tapes for the book can be bought separately (details and price unknown). Review by Nico A.F.M. Poppelier (N.POPPELIER@ELSEVIER.nl) (edited) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1.7 The languages of Japan by M. Shibatani General Information: Publisher: Cambridge Language Surveys 1991 (paperback), 411 pages including index, ISBN 0-521-36918-5 Main Features: A very detailed scholarly study of Japan's two indigenous languages, Ainu and Japanese. Interesting reading. Gives some information on recent viewpoints regarding origin of Japanese language. Review by Nico A.F.M. Poppelier (N.POPPELIER@ELSEVIER.nl) (edited) =============================================================================== 5.2 Focus on Kanji, Reading and Writing ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.2.1 A Japanese Reader - Graded Lessons for Mastering the Written Language General Information: A Japanese Reader, by Roy Andrew Miller, published by Tuttle Language Library. ISBN 0-8048-1647-6, 250+ pages, English and Japanese, first edition 1962, third printing 1991. I forgot the price. Main Features: Present 75 graded lessons for reading japanese. Each lesson haves a text in Japanese and explanations and translations (reading notes) for some words in English. It is presumed that the reader have some background in Japanese. The first 12 lessons cover hiragana and katakana, lessons 13-17 some basic kanjis, lessons 18-30 elementary reading, 31-47 intermediate, 48-59 advanced fiction and 60-75 advanced non-fiction, making it useful for readers from the novice until the upper-intermediate level. It makes a lot of references to Samuel Martin's "Essential Japanese" and Florence Sakade et al. "A Guide to Reading and Writing Japanese". It presents the words and kanjis in a context in almost all of the lessons. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.2.2 Basic Technical Japanese by Edward E. Daub, R. Byron BIrd, and Nobuo Inoue General Information: Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press. 1990. ISBN 0-299-12730-3 Price: 31.95 pounds, $35 Main Features: Full course in reading technical Japanese articles. Covers kana, kanji, and grammar. Designed for those who know no Japanese. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.2.3 Remembering the Kanji: A complete course on how not to forget the meaning and writing of Japanese characters by James W. Heisig General Information: Publisher: Japan Publications Trading Co. 1986 (3rd) ISBN 0-87040-739-2 Price: 4000 Yen, $29.95 Main Features: controversial method. Its' introduction makes the claim that about 2000 kanji can be 'learnt' in about four weeks. There has been considerable conflict in sci.lang.japan and soc.culture.japan as to whether learning one English keyword for each kanji and how to write it constitutes "learning" a kanji or not. Some people say that you cannot claim to have 'learnt' these kanji without learning significant Japanese vocabulary associated with them, something no-one claims can be done in four weeks. Others say that Heisig's course (he does not claim to have invented the method) teaches the 'kanji', separate from vocabulary and pronounciation with which are associated, but semantically separate parts the Japanese language. These of course must be learnt if you are to learn "The Japanese Language", rather than just a very small part of it. Review by Ross-c (ross-c@scs.leeds.ac.uk) (edited) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.2.4 Remembering the Kanji: A systematic guide to reading Japanese characters by James W. Heisig General Information: Publisher: Japan Publications Trading Co. 1987 ISBN 0-87040-748-1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.2.5 A guide to remembering Japanese characters by Kenneth G. Henshall General Information: Publisher: Tuttle Language Library 1988 (6th printing 1992), 675 pages, including stroke-count and on-kun index, ISBN 0-8048-1532-1 Main Features: Covers all Joyo kanji. Gives explanation of development of character, plus mnemonics for studying. Every kanji is given in handwritten form first (no clues for stroke order however), and in printed form in the 3-4 combinations that are given for each kanji. Review by Nico A.F.M. Poppelier (N.POPPELIER@ELSEVIER.nl) (edited) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.2.6 Aspects of the Japanese writing system, edited by Chris Seeley General Information: Journal: Visible Language XVIII 3, Summer 1984 (special issue), 303 pages ISSN 0022-2224 Main Features: A historical overview of Japanese orthography. Very worthwhile reading for those students of the Japanese language who are interested in the history of the writing system. Review by Nico A.F.M. Poppelier (N.POPPELIER@ELSEVIER.nl) (edited) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.2.7 Comprehending Technical Japanese by Edward E. Daub, R. Byron Bird, and Nobuo Inoue General Information: Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press. 1990. ISBN 0-299-06680-0 Price: $35 Main Features: Like "Basic Technical Japanese" (5.2.2) but intended to those that have taken 1-2 years of Japanese. Review by Ken Lunde (lunde@mv.us.adobe.com) =============================================================================== 5.3 Focus on Grammar ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.1 Particles Plus - A Complete Guide to the Usage of Particles in Modern Japanese, by Atsuko Kawashima General Information: Published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Japan Publishers Tokyo, 1992. ISBN: 4-8337-5105-4, 3800 yens (tax included), 350pp, English and Japanese. Main Features: It presents a detailed study of the use of modern particles (tenioha) in Modern Japanese, with some examples of the use of each one, and translations/approximations on English. Examples in Japanese came with Furigana but are simple phrases, easy to read. Indicated for upper-beginner or intermediate study, since the topics are presented as in a dictionary. 5.3.1 End of review of Particles Plus by santos@mickey.ai.kyutech.ac.jp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.2 All About Particles (Power Japanese series) by Naoko Chino General Information: Publisher: Kodansha International. 1991. ISBN 0-87011-954-0 Price: $6.95/1000 yen/4.95 pounds Main Features: Explanation of particles with examples in kanji/kana and romaji. It provides examples and tells what other particles would be similar or related to the one you are looking up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.3 A Handbook of Japanese Usage by Francis G. Drohan General Information: Publisher: Charles E. Tuttle. 1992. ISBN 0-8048-1610-7 Price: 12.95 pounds Main Features: Function words (prefixes, suffixes, particles and conjunctions) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.4 Handbook of Modern Japanese Grammar by Yoko M. McClain General Information: Publisher: Hokuseido Press. 1981. ISBN 4-590-00570-0 Price: 12.10 pounds/2300 Yen Main Features: Good coverage of phrasal verbs, conjunctions,adverbs etc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.5 Essential Japanese Grammar by Everett F. Bleiler General Information: Publisher: Dover/Constable. 1963. 0-486-21027-8 Price: $2.95/2.35 pounds Main Features: Good for beginners ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.6 A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar by Seiichi Makino and Michio Tsutsui General Information: Publisher: Japan Times. 1986/89. ISBN 4-7890-0454-6 Price: 2890 yen Main Features: Particles and verb constructions, good explanations with lots of examples in kana-kanji and romaji. This book lists a great number of forms and particles and has a wonderful appendix. It's in dictionary format so it's easy to look things up and it not only provides detailed explanations with examples but tells what other forms are similar and when is best to use each kind. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.7 A reference grammar of Japanese by Samuel E. Martin General Information: Publisher: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1988 (originally Yale University, 1975) 1198 pages including index, $62.95. ISBN 0-8048-1550-X Main Features: The absolute number-one grammar book for Japanese. A comprehensive, monumental reference work that so far has answered every single one of my queries on the Japanese grammar. Contains many examples from everyday speech, including the language's many dialects. Special sections on literary language, epistolary language, and other stylized or formal grammatical forms. Review by Nico A.F.M. Poppelier (N.POPPELIER@ELSEVIER.nl) (edited) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.8 Handbook of Japanese grammar by Harold G. Henderson General Information: Publisher: George Allen&Unwin 1945 (but check out Hughton Mifflin Company, who published a revised edition at some point). Main Features: Consists of two parts. Part I is an introduction to the grammar of the classical language (not very good). Part II is a dictionary of particles, suffixes and other connectives, and this part is the best part of the book: very handy to have around when you're reading books, stories and diaries from the Heian period and later. Review by Nico A.F.M. Poppelier (N.POPPELIER@ELSEVIER.nl) (edited) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.3.9 An historical grammar of Japanese by Sir George Sansom General Information: Publisher: Oxford at the Clarendon Press 1928 (reprinted in 1946, 1960 and 1968). Main Features: Old, but still the best book in English that I know, which deals with the grammar of classical Japanese. [Note: if someone has a better reference, I'm interested!] Review by Nico A.F.M. Poppelier (N.POPPELIER@ELSEVIER.nl) (edited) =============================================================================== 5.4 Focus on Conversation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.4.1 Colloquial Japanese by H.D.B Clarke and Motoko Hamamura General Information: Publisher: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 1981. ISBN 0-7100-05995-4 Price: 7.95 pounds Main Features: all romaji ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.4.2 Japanese for all Occasions by Anne Kaneko General Information: Publisher: Charles Tuttle. 1991. ISBN 0-8048-1567-4 Price: 10.25 pounds Main Features: Language/culture. Sections on Telephones, shopping, gift giving, and weddings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.4.3 Rii to Kuraku no Bouken (The Adventures of Lee and Clark) by Akira Yamakami and Yoko Tsuruta General Information: Publisher: Edition Eastview SARL 33-14-110 Honmachi 1-choume Shibuya-ku Tokyo 151 Ph: 03-3320-1597 Main Features: Level: Intermediate Conversational (suggested after "An Introduction to Modern Japanese", 5.1.2). The tapes focus on conversational Japanese. They include sample conversations in the form of an ongoing mystery story involving Lee and Clark, as well as drills for the new grammatical constructions and patterns. The accompanying book has complete transcriptions of all the material on the tapes, as well as excellent explanations of the grammar and usage styles of the conversations. The book is entirely in Japanese (NO ROMAJI) except for English translations of some vocabulary words. All explanations are in Japanese. The recorded material is interesting, funny, and original, a real pleasure to listen to and work with. Very highly recommended. (review by Ken DeLong) =============================================================================== 5.5 Dictionaries ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1 Wa-Ei, Ei-Wa Dictionaries ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.1 Kenkyusha's Furigana English-Japanese Dictionary General Information: Published by Kenkyusha in 1990, a version of a dictionary originally designed for Japanese users. 49000 headwords in 980+ pages, no illustrations, 2000 yens, tax included. ISBN 4-7674-1172-6. Main Features: For each entry in English, present one or more entries in Japanese. Each kanji have it individual furigana group, making it easy to get the individual reading for a kanji in a word with lots of them. Cover some slang, famous people names and technical words. Some people dislike the lack of a context of the word in the examples, so it is difficult to discover which is the correct translations when the word in english have more than one translation in japanese. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.2 Japanese-English Dictionary of Japanese Culture by KOJIMA Setsuko and Gene A. Crane General Information: ISBN 0-89346-336-1, published by Heian International, Inc., First American edition 1991, 414 pages, hard cover, US$ 15 Main Features: With approximately 1350 entries, from fields such as art, history, religion, martial arts, annual events, manners and customs, food, clothing, housing, geography, literature, education and social affairs, this dictionary offers a handy reference to terminology usual dictionaries hardly cover. Entries are given in romaji (Hepburn), followed by kanji, an explanation and, in most cases, cross references. Most entries are accompanied by kanji renditions of important terms used in the explanation. Review by Olaf Meeuwissen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.3 The Japan Foundation Basic Japanese-English Dictionary. General Information: Publisher: Bonjinsha. 1986. ISBN 4-89358-004-3. Price: Yen 2500 (also Oxford University Press?) Main Features: Excellent, extensive examples, romaji/kana/kanji, wa-ei only ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.4 The Practical English-Japanese Dictionary by Noah S. Brannen General Information: Publisher: Weatherhill. 1991. ISBN 0-8348-0187-6 Price: $19.95/12.95 pounds Main Features: Pocket size. Good (passes the "wife" test). Kanji-Kana and Romaji ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.5 Yohan English-Japanese, Japanese-English Dictionary. General Information: Publisher: Yohan Publications Inc. 1983. ISBN 4-89684-700-3 (also Websters) Main Features: Small, romaji/kanji, wa-ei/ei-wa ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.6 English Romanized Japanese Dictionary for Practical Conversation. General Information: Publisher: Japan Travel Bureau Inc. 1984. ISBN 4-533-00329-X Price: Yen 2600 Main Features: Romaji only. Capitalisation to indicate accent. ei-wa. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.7 Martin's Pocket Dictionary: English-Japanese, Japanese-English (by Samuel E. Martin) General Information: Publisher: Charles E. Tuttle. 1990. ISBN 0-8048-1588-7 Main Features: ei-wa, wa-ei, romaji only, passes "wife" test ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.8 All Romanized English-Japanese Dictionary by Hyoujun Roumaji Kai (?) General Information: Publisher: Charles E. Tuttle. 1973. ISBN 0-8048-1118-0 Price: $7.95, 6.25 pounds Main Features: all romaji -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.9 The Kenkyusha Japanese-English Learner's Dictionary, edited by Shigeru Takebayashi General Information: Published by Kenkyusha in 1992. Edited specifically for foreigners studying Japanese. 1,121 pages, illustrations, usage notes, 4,200 yen, tax included. Main Features: All entries in romaji with kana/kanji and English equivalents. Headwords marked for accent. Complete grammatical information, useful pictures (kappu vs. koppu, for example), lots of usage examples. Good for beginning and intermediate students, but too few entries for reading or translation. No kanji index. Review by Tom Gally (tomgally@twics.co.jp) (edited) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.10 Kodansha's Romanized Japanese-English Dictionary, by Timothy J. Vance General Information: Published in 1992. Based on a Japanese-English dictionary for Japanese students, but completely rewritten for foreign users. 666 pages, no illustrations, usage notes, 3,800 yen, tax included. Main Features: All entries in romaji with kana/kanji and English equivalents. Headwords marked for accent. Complete grammatical information. Very similar in size and quality to The Kenkyusha Japanese-English Learner's Dictionary. Review by Tom Gally (tomgally@twics.co.jp) (edited) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.1.11 Kogo jiten General Information: Publisher: Kodansha 1969, Y 1550 (in Japan), 1173 pages, ISBN 4-06-121009-2 Main Features: As a dictionary of classical Japanese (kogo jiten= dictionary of the old language) not unique, but it's one of the best in its kind. Pocket-sized. Invaluable for study of the classical language. Contains many tables and pictures, charts of Heian-kyo, and some charts are even in colour (dyes and patterns of kimonoes). Review by Nico A.F.M. Poppelier (N.POPPELIER@ELSEVIER.nl) (edited) OBS: I believe that this is a Japanese-Japanese dictionary (Rafael). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5.5.2 Kanji Dictionaries ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.2.1 New Japanese-English Character Dictionary by Jack Halpern (ed) General Information: Publisher: Kenkyusha. 1990. ISBN 4-7674-9040-5, Price: 8000 Yen Main Features: Easy indexing, core meanings, compounds, synonyms, homophones, indication of usage, stroke order. various indexes (jouyou, frequency, synonym groups, on/kun readings) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.2.2 A New Dictionary of Kanji Usage General Information: Publisher: Gakken. 1982. ISBN 4-05-051805-8 Price: 4800 Yen Main Features: Presented in frequency order (on/kun, stroke count, meaning indexes) Lots of compounds, stroke order. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.2.3 The Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary (2nd Revised Edition) by Andrew N. Nelson General Information: Publisher: Charles E. Tuttle. 1974. ISBN 0-8048-0408-7 Main Features: Classic reference. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.2.4 The Complete Guide to Everyday Kanji by Yaeko S. Habein and Gerald B. Mathias General Information: Publisher: Kodansha International. 1991. ISBN 4-7700-1509-7 Price: 3800 Yen/18.95 pounds/$24.95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.2.5 Beginners' Dictionary of Chinese-Japanese Characters by Arthur Rose-Innes General Information: Publisher: Dover Publications Inc. 1977 (based on 1959). ISBN 0-486-23467-3, Price: 7.95 pounds Main Features: Out of date ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.2.6 The Practical Guide to Japanese Signs (1st part) by Tae Moriyama General Information: Publisher: Kodansha International. 1987. ISBN 0-87011-790-4 Price: 1600 Yen/$9.95/6.95 pounds Main Features: Explanation and origins of kanji that you are likely to find in situations such as train stations, post offices, restaurants. Based on a weekly newspaper column. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.2.7 Shotai jiten General Information: Publisher: Nobarasha 1965 (9th edition 1989), Y 2800 (in Japan), no ISBN given Main Features: Not very well-known, but probably the best book for learning how to write kanji with a brush. There's a little companion for the kana. Contains a lot of kanji, though not all Joyo kanji, with the classical Chinese originals, modern simplified Chinese forms, and calligraphic examples from many historical and contemporary masters. Includes stroke-count and on-kun index. Review by Nico A.F.M. Poppelier (N.POPPELIER@ELSEVIER.nl) (edited) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.2.8 Japanese Character Dictionary: With Compound Lookup via Any Kanji by Mark Spahn and Wolfgang Hadamitzky General Information: published by Cheng & Tsui Company in U.S., 1991 Nichigai Associates in Japan, 1989, ISBN 0-88727-170-7 (U.S. edition) 1669 pages Main Features: As the title implies, the main feature of this book is compound lookup by any Kanji. This is great if the second or third character in a compound is easier to find than the first character. The book is bright yellow with three blue stipes (in U.S. edition at least) and cost me $39.95 at Kinokuniya New York. Spahn and Hadamitzky have also published several titles with Tuttle. I think this is a great book and finally replaced my Nelson for most uses (Nelson is still more extensive) Review by Garrick Blalock (R19074@PACCVM.corp.mot.com) (edited) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3 Vocabulary Books ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.1 "Body" Language (Power Japanese series) by Jeffrey G. Garrison General Information: Publisher: Kondansha International. 1990. ISBN 0-87011-955-9 Price: $6.95/1000 yen/4.95 pounds Main Features: This book details various idioms that use parts of the body and categorizes them by body part. It provides sample sentences but unfortunately does not explain how the phrase came to be used as an idiom. Examples in kanji/romaji ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.2 Instant Vocabulary through Prefixes and Suffixes (Power Japanese series) by Timothy J. Vance General Information: Publisher: Kondansha International. 1990. ISBN 0-87011-953-2 Price: $6.95/1000 yen/4.95 pounds Main Features: Kanji used as common prefix/suffix (eg: dai-, sai-, -butsu) Examples of usage in kanji/romaji. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.3 A Dictionary of Japanese and English Idiomatic Equivalents by Charles Corwin (ed) General Information: Publisher: Kodansha International. 1968. ISBN 0-87011-1116 Price: 16.95 pounds, 3900 Yen Main Features: idiomatic equivalents (with example sentences) indexed under 222 Japanese thought categories with cross-reference from English ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.4 Minimum Essential Politeness: A Guide to the Japanese Honorific Language by Agnes M. Niyekawa General Information: Publisher: Kodansha International. 1991. ISBN 4-7700-1624-7 Price: 2000 Yen/12.95 pounds/$14.95 Main Features: Explains respect language, ingroup/outgroup distinctions, status. The appropriate level for various occasions, respect words and how to construct respect forms. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.5 Making out in Japanese by Todd and Erica Geers General Information: Publisher: Yen Books (Charles Tuttle). 1988. ISBN 0-8048-1541-0 Price: $5.95 Main Features: Colloquial expressions, lover's talk, and insults ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.6 Japanese Names by P. G. O'Neill General Information: Publisher: Weatherhill Inc. 1972. ISBN 0-8348-0225-2 Price: $22.50/14.95 pounds Main Features: Personal and place names. Character to pronounciation and vice-versa ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.7 Japanese in Action (Revised Edition) by Jack Seward General Information: Publisher: Weatherhill. 1968/83. ISBN 0-8348-0033-0 Price: $12.50/6.95 pounds Main Features: Unorthodox, very interesting. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.8 An Illustrated Dictionary of Japanese Onomatopoeic Expressions by Taro Gomi General Information: Publisher: Japan Times. 1989. ISBN 4-78990-0482-1 Price: 11.50 pounds/1550 Yen -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.9 Japanese Street Slang, by Peter Constantine General Information: Published in 1992. No illustrations. 190 pages, US$9.95. Main Features: Covers slang for all the subjects your Japanese teacher will be too embarrassed to mention: sex, crime, drugs, etc. Many taboo words. Each headword followed by an essay on the word and similar vocabulary. Many sentence examples with idiomatic English translations. Romaji only. Both Japanese and English indexes. Recommended if you plan to become a heroin-addicted pimp who hangs out with a motorcycle gang. 5.5.3.9 End of review of Japanese Street Slang by tomgally@twics.co.jp -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.5.3.10 Beyond Polite Japanese, by Akihiko Yonekawa, translated by Jeff Garrison, extensively rewritten by Michael Brase (Power Japanese Series) General Information: Published in 1992. 173 pages. No illustrations. 1,200 yen. US$8.00. Main Features: All entries in romaji with kana/kanji and English equivalents. Japanese index. Less racy than "Japanese Street Slang" but more practical for most students of Japanese. 5.5.3.10 End of review of Beyond Polite Japanese by tomgally@twics.co.jp =============================================================================== 5.6 Japanese Culture ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.6.1 Mangajin - Japanese Pop Culture and Language Learning General Information: Mangajin is published 10 times in a year, monthly except January and July, by Mangajin Inc. 90 pp, some pages in color. 1030 yens in Japan, tax included or Us$ 4.50, subscriptions for 1 year (10 magazines) 9000 yens / Us$ 30 Main Features: Offers Japanese manga (comics) with translations and explanations in English, and some American cartoons with translations/ explanations in Japanese. Have columns on Japanese on the computer, books reviews and Basic Japanese by mangas. Some topics of Japanese culture are presented too. Offers to the readers Japanese comics and books on Japanese Culture and Language. Good for learning something you will not find in books (slang, dialects, politeness/common speech). Addresses of publisher/distributors overseas: Publisher: USA: Mangajin Inc. - P.O. Box 7119, Marietta, GA 30065 Tel. 800-552-3206 (subscription hotline), fax 404-590-0890 Japan : Sekai Shuppan Kenkyu Centre, 2-18-9 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107. Tel. (03) 3479-4434, Fax (03) 3479-4436 Australia: Intext Book Company Pty. Ltd. 412 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield, VIC. 3078 Tel. 03-486-1755, FAX 03-486-1235 Australia: The Language Centre 555 Beaufort Street, Mt. Lawley Tel. 09-328-8965, Fax 09-328-6161 England : Japan Centre Bookshop, 212 Piccadilly, London W1V 9LD, Tel: 071-439 8035 (from UK) +44 71 439 8035 (from outside UK) Fax: 071-287 1082 (from UK) +44 71 287 1082 (from outside UK) New Zealand: Credence Development Ltd. P.O.Box 2559, Auckland. Tel. 09 303-4227, Fax 09 358-3993 Germany: Japan Service, Hauptstr. 14, D-65558 Hirschberg/Lahn phone&fax: +49-6439-5167 5.6.1 End of review of Mangajin by santos@mickey.ai.kyutech.ac.jp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.6.2 Hiragana Times General Information: Hiragana Times is published monthly, by Y.A.C. Planning Inc., 80 pages, some in color. 250 yens in Japan, including tax. Prices vary in other countries, because the magazine is distributed by air mail by the Oversea Courier Service Co.Ltd. Ask the distributor for local telephones/addresses near you. Main Features: Have articles on Japanese culture topics, usually topics you will not find in other Japanese culture books/magazines for foreigners, like Racism, Yellow Cab, Aids, politics. Almost all in the magazine is bilingual, Japanese and English, and the Japanese part haves furigana over the kanjis, making it easy to read. Have sections on recommended books, visas, letters and offer of homestays. Addresses of publisher/distributors overseas: Publisher: Japan: Y.A.C. Planning, Inc. 902 Towa Shinjuku Copo, 2-6-3 Shinjuku-ku,Shinjuku, Tokyo 160. Tel. 03-3341-8989, fax 03-3341-8987 Distributor overseas (headquarter): Japan: Oversea Courier Service Co., Ltd., 2-9 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108, Tel. (03)5476-8131, fax (03)-3453-9338 5.6.2 End of review of Hiragana Times by santos@mickey.ai.kyutech.ac.jp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.6.3 Eye-AI - A magazine on Japanese Culture and entertainment. General Information: Eye-AI is published monthly by Riverfield Inc. 54 pp, black and white, 410 yens in Japan, including tax. Us$ 2.25 in Hawaii. Main Features: Articles in English about some topics of Japanese culture, and lots of information on the Japanese pop art world. Feature interviews with actors/singers, articles on travel, living in Japan (i.e. Tokyo), mail order of Japanese CDs and videos. Addresses of publisher/distributors overseas: Publisher: Japan: Y.A.C. Planning, Inc. 902 Towa Shinjuku Copo, 2-6-3 Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160. Tel. 03-3341-8989, fax 03-3341-8987 USA (Hawaii): Jack Shigemasa. P.O.Box 548, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782 5.6.3 End of review of Eye-AI by santos@mickey.ai.kyutech.ac.jp =============================================================================== 5.7 Other related books ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.7.1 Japan Through John Lennon's Eyes - A Personal Sketchbook General Information: 21.95 plus s&h, from Cadence Books Main Features: John Lennon's ingenious sketches depicting the words, phrases, and actions he was learning in Japanese. A rare insight into John's creative genius - a glimpse at how he perceived both ordinary events and the spiritual concepts of Japan. With the original Japanese letters, transliteration and English translation for each word, phrase or sentence, this is a great tool for students learning Japanese. 5.7.1 End of review of Japan Through John Lennon's Eyes - ad on Mangajin 20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.7.2 Understanding Japanese Information Processing - Ken Lunde General Information: Price $29.95 (estimated), 470 pages, Published by O'Reilly and Associates, Inc. ISBN 1-56592-043-0 Main Features: "Understanding Japanese Information Processing" is a book that provides detailed information on all aspects of handling Japanese text on computer systems. It tries to bring all of the relevant information together in a single book. It covers everything from the origins of modern-day Japanese to the latest information on specific emerging computer encoding standards. Topis covered includes: The Japanese writing system, Japanese character set standards, Japanese encoding methods, Japanese input, Japanese output, Japanese code conversion techniques, Japanese code and text processing tools, Japanese e-mail. In addition, there are over 15 appendices which provide additional reference material, such as a code conversion table, character set tables, mapping tables, an extensive list of software sources, a glossary, and much more. Address of publisher/distributors overseas: Publisher: USA: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. 103 Morris Street, Suite A, Sebastopol, CA 95472 - Tels (800) 998-9938 (707) 829-0515 Fax: (707) 829-0104 UUCP: uunet!ora!nuts Internet: nuts@ora.com, order@ora.com Europe and Africa: UK: International Thomson Publishing Services, Ltd. Cheriton House, North Way, Andover, Hampshire SP10 5BE. Tel: 44-264-332424, Fax: 44-264-364418 (UK orders), 44-264-342761 (outside UK), E-mail: samantha.jones@itpuk.co.uk Germany: International Thomson Publishing GmbH, O'Reilly-International Thomson Verlag, Attn: Mr. G. Miske. Konigswinterer Strasse 418, 53227 Bonn. Tel: 49-228-445171, Fax: 49-228-441342, E-mail (CompuServe): 100272,2422, E-mail (Internet): 100272.2422@compuserve.com Asia (east of Iran and the Caspian Sea, excluding Japan): Singapore: International Thomson Publishing Asia, Attn: Rebecca Long, 221 Henderson Road, #05 10 Henderson Building, Singapore 0315 Tel: 65-268-7867, Fax: 65-268-6727 Australia: WoodsLane Pty Limited. Unit 8, 101 Darley St. (P.O. Box 935), Mona Vale NSW 2103. Tel: 61-2-979-5944, Fax: 61-2-997-3348 E-mail: woods@tmx.mhs.oz.au Japan: Toppan Company, Ltd., Ochanomizu Square B, 1-6, Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101. Tel: 81-3-3295-3461, Fax: 81-3-3293-5963 North, Central and South America and Oceania: same as publisher New Zealand: WoodsLane New Zealand Ltd, 7 Purnell Street (P.O. Box 575), Wanganui, Tel: 64-6-3476543, Fax: 64-6-3454840 E-mail: woods@tmx.mhs.oz.au or in Kinokuniya stores. Review by the author (Ken Lunde) (edited) =============================================================================== 5.8 Manga (comics) This will be controversial... I want to list here some mangas that can help on Japanese study. They have several advantages over "normal" text: are very abundant in several difficulty levels, are very cheap (I believe even outside Japan) and are more interesting ;-) The disadvantages are: some are garbage, and maybe difficult to get in some places. Anyway, they *can* be used for learning, and I am an amateur mangaholic, so here it goes. Before, an introduction by Alfredo Liu-Perez, based on the alt.arts.anime FAQ and with some comments (in parenthesis): Manga: Pronounced "man-gah". Manga are Japanese comic books and have their roots in Ukiyo-e wood prints and other traditional art. There are no hard rules in defining manga, but here are some general characteristics: 1. Drawn in black and white (sometimes over colored paper. For some compilations, the first pages of the main story are in full-color. There is maybe an explanation for it, but I could not figure it out yet). 2. Compilations of several manga may appear in thick paperback books of more than 700 pages! (that will be read in minutes: some pages are only onomatopoeia, that can describe anything you can imagine) 3. They can be quite graphically violent and erotic (including some in compilations for young people). 4. Most mangas are stories that continue, like soap operas, but after a some years will end (and they mean *end* - not like DC or Marvel comics, that can even ressurect the same 50-year character). 5. They are created and drawn by the same person (always ?). Manga related postings can be posted in rec.arts.manga. I will divide tentatively the Manga section in 5 degrees of difficulty. I think that it is impossible to classify the compilations with several stories, so I will just comment on the titles that are republished as books. Of course, the complexity of the storyline is only sometimes related with the difficulty of the language used. Some of them cannot be classified in a 1-5 grade, so other classification with explanation is provided. The 5 classifications are: Level 1: Very Easy Manga: Almost all words are in Hiragana, and even some Katakana words have Furigana in Hiragana. Sometimes the words are separated to make an easier reading. Usually no Kanjis. Level 2: Easy Manga: Almost all Kanjis have furigana, except the very obvious ones. Usually no furigana for katakana. Level 3: This is the average manga for the average reader (foreigner, of course :-) requires a fair knowledge of kanjis and vocabulary. Level 4: Harder to read, almost no furiganas, words not so common or easy to understand. Level 5: A real challenge. No furiganas except on some obscure readings, kanjis and words sometimes technical. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.1. Urusei Yatsura, by Takahashi Rumiko (Shogakukan) Story: Series. Aliens, schoolboys, inter-racial relations, inter-planetary confusion. Lum, of course, is great. Level: 2 (all kanjis with furigana) Printed face, some slang. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.2 Eigyou Tenteko Nisshi by Gyuu Jirou and Kondou Yousuke (Scholar) Story: Adventures of a salesman for a big appliance company. Level: 4 (furigana only for some unusual readings), printed face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.3 O.L. Shinkaron by Akizuki Risu (Kodansha) Story: Stripes. Office-ladies shows the other side of the Japanese working women. Level: 3.5 (no furiganas), printed face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.4 Oishinbo, by Kariya Tetsu and Hanasaki Akira (Shougakkan) Story: Series. The search for the ultimate menu. Tips on cooking, too. Level: 4 (furigana only on some unusual readings), printed face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.5 O-jama Shimasu, by Imazeki Shin (Take Shobou) Story: Stripes. Surrealistic stories, sometimes about sheep counting. Level: 2.5 (few text, no furiganas), handwritten face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.6 Obatarian, by Hotta Katsuhiko (Take Shobou) Story: Stripes. Obnoxious old ladies, don't care for the others, fun to read, but avoid them in real life. Level: 3 (easy kanjis, but no furigana). Handwritten face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.7 Korobokkuru-kun, by Hanawa Kazuichi (Kodansha) Story: Short, weird, stories. Level: 2 (with furiganas), printed face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.8 Konnichi wa Kuriko-san, by Terashima Reiko (Take Shobou) Story: Stripes. Life in Kuriko's family. Level: 3.5 (no furiganas), printed face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.9 Ginga Tetsudou 999, by Matsumoto Reiji (Shounen Gahousha) Story: Series. In the future a young man search for the meaning of life and a mechanical body that will allow him to live longer. Level: 4, lots of technical/sci-fi words but with furiganas even in the easy ones. Printed face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.10 Koko Dake no Futari by Morishita Hiromi (Take Shobou) Story: Short stories about a couple's life. Level: 2 (no furigana), printed face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.11 Sarari-kun, by Nishimura Sou Story: Stripes about the life of a salaryman. Level: 2.5 (few text, no furiganas), handwritten face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.12 Sarariman Senka, by Sadao Shoji (Kodansha) Story: Short stories about the life of yeat another salaryman. Level: 3 (few text, no furiganas), handwritten face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.13 Tanaka-kun by Tanaka Hiroshi (Take Shobou) Story: Stripes. Adventures of an anti-hero salaryman. No car, no girlfriend, no style, no luck, but ability to get in trouble with the boss. Level: 3, handwritten face ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.14 Dai-Tokyo Binbou Seikatsu Manyuaru by Maekawa Tsukasa (Kodansha) Story: Short stories about a don't-worry-be-happy life of a guy in Tokyo. I don't know that he does for a living - and neither does him. Level: 4, printed face ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.15 Chinmoku no Kantai byKawaguchi Kaiji (Kodansha) Story: Series about a Japanese submarine that defects and becomes a sovereign nation. Level: 5 (furigana only for some loan words and names, lots of technical words), printed face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.16 Tsurumoku Dokushinryou by Kubonouchi Eisaku (Shougakkan) Story: Sometimes serious, sometimes gag series about life in a big company. Level: 3.5 (no furigana), printed face, sometimes handwritten ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.17 Ningen Kousaten by Yajima Masao and Hirokane Kenshi (Shogakukan) Story: Short stories about human beings. Very realistic even in the art, deals with social issues. Level: 4.5, printed face ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.18 Bakuhatsu Sunzen, by Tanioka Yasuji (KK Best Book) Story: Gag, short, absurd stories. Level: 2 (few kanjis, no furigana), handwritten face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.19 Hi no tori (The Phoenix) by Tezuka Osamu (Tezuka Productions) Story: Long, philosophical story about the meaning of life Level: 3.5 (furigana for all kanjis, but lots of difficult words), printed face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.20 Benramei Tou-chan by Tachibanaya Kikutarou (Take Shobou) Story: Stripes about a die-hard Edokko Level: 2.5 (almost no kanjis, no furiganas, but lots of hougen), handwritten face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.21 Bono-bono by Igarashi Mikio (Take Shobou) Story: Short stories about a sea otter and its friends. Level: 2 (almost no kanjis, no furiganas either), handwritten face. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.22 Poketto Suto-ri (Pocket Story) by Mori Masayuki (Kodansha) Story: Short and light stories about life, small things and feelings. Nice to read, almost poetic. Level: 2.5 (few words, but no furigana), printed face ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.8.23 What's Michael by Kobayashi Makoto (Kodansha) Story: Not the Japanese Garfield - Michael is sometimes a cat, sometimes a salaryman, sometimes a parody to 'Planet of the Apes'. Level: 3.5 (no furiganas), printed face. ******************************************************************************* 6. Japanese Language Schools and Proficiency Tests =============================================================================== 6.1 Schools in Japan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6.1.1 Berlitz Japan, tel. 81-3-3589-3525 =============================================================================== 6.2 Schools outside Japan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6.2.1 Berlitz USA, tel. 800-528-7929 =============================================================================== 6.3 Proficiency tests in Japan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6.3.1 Nihongo Nouryoku Shiken - Japanese Language Proficiency Test This test is administered by the Ministry of Education in Japan and the Foreign Ministry abroad. It is divided in 4 levels, Level 1 being the highest level of difficulty, 4 the lowest. The following info was extracted from the manuals for the test: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6.3.1.1 Objectives of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test The number of foreigners studying Japanese is rapidly increasing worldwide, and the day has come when those who have acquired the language can put their skills to use in a wide variety of careers. Students of Japanese have often urged the establisment of a system by which their proficiency can be certified; the Japan Foundation and Association of International Education, Japan have devised this test and administered it for nonnative speakers since 1984 both in Japan and abroad to meet that need. Outside Japan, the Japan Foundation co-sponsors the administration of the test jointly with local cultural exchange or educational institutions, or with administrative commitees established for this purpose. It is hoped that the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test will prove useful for the further enhancement of mutual understanding among nations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6.3.1.2 Contents of the Test This test has four different levels; the examinee should choose the level that best matches his or her ability and training. Each test is made up of three sections: writing-vocabulary; listening; reading-grammar. The contents and criteria of the test are as follows: Level 1 Sections Time Points ......................................................... writing-vocabulary 45 minutes 100 points listening 45 minutes 100 points reading-grammar 90 minutes 200 points ......................................................... total 180 minutes 400 points CRITERIA: The examinee should have mastered grammar at a high level, about 2,000 kanji and 10,000 words, and have an integrated command of the language sufficient for life in Japanese society and providing a useful base for study at a Japanese university. This level should be reached after studying Japanese for about 900 hours. Level 2 Sections Time Points ......................................................... writing-vocabulary 35 minutes 100 points listening 35 minutes 100 points reading-grammar 70 minutes 200 points ......................................................... total 140 minutes 400 points CRITERIA: The examinee should have mastered grammar at a relatively high level, about 1,000 kanji and 6,000 words, and have the ability to converse, read and write about matters of a general nature. This level should be reached after studying Japanese for about 600 hours and finishing an intermediate course. Level 3 Sections Time Points ......................................................... writing-vocabulary 35 minutes 100 points listening 35 minutes 100 points reading-grammar 70 minutes 200 points ......................................................... total 140 minutes 400 points CRITERIA: The examinee should have mastered basic grammar, about 300 kanji and 1,500 words, and have the ability to take part in everyday conversation and to read and write simple sentences. This level should be reached after studying Japanese for about 300 hours and finishing an elementary course. Level 4 Sections Time Points ......................................................... writing-vocabulary 25 minutes 100 points listening 25 minutes 100 points reading-grammar 50 minutes 200 points ......................................................... total 100 minutes 400 points CRITERIA: The examinee should have mastered the elements of grammar, about 100 kanji and 800 words, and have the ability to engage in simple conversation and to read and write short, simple sentences. This level should be reached after studying Japanese for about 150 hours and finishing the first half of an elementary course. =============================================================================== 6.4 Proficienty tests outside Japan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6.4.1 Nihongo Nouryoku Shiken - Japanese Language Proficiency Test This test is administered by the Ministry of Education in Japan and the Foreign Ministry abroad. It is divided in 4 levels, Level 1 being the highest level of difficulty, 4 the lowest. Ask the nearest embassy or consulate for more information, or in some address in the list below. Check also 6.3.1 for more information on the test. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6.4.1.1 USA: Japanese Foundation Language Center, tel. 310-829-3172, fax 310-829-9510, Address: Suite 650E, 2425 W. Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404-4034 ******************************************************************************* 7. Studying, Teaching or just staying in Japan =============================================================================== 7.1 Scholarships for studying in Japan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7.1.1 Monbusho - The Ministry of Education offers a scholarship for undergratuate and graduation studies in Japan. The scholarship includes the air ticket from/to your country, usually 6 months of Japanese language classes and some other advantages. For more information, contact the nearest Japanese consulate or embassy in the country of which you are a citizen. Other way to get this scholarship is apply directly to the university. For this, get the addresses of the universities you are interested in the book "Japanese Colleges and Universities", that you can find on the library of the Japanese consulates or embassies. =============================================================================== 7.2 Homestays ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7.2.1 Hiragana Times Welcome Station - Hiragana Times (review 5.6.2) have a column on homestay offers from and to Japan. Write an introduction with your address and send a photo to "Welcome Station - Hiragana Times", 2-6-3-902, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160, Japan. ******************************************************************************* 8. Disclaimers - Standard disclaimers apply: I am NOT being paid for writing about the books and magazines and (as far as I know) there is no copyright infringement of any kind. - I am not a native English speaker, so please correct me even on this. - All the addresses and related information came by advertisements on the magazines and books, and are subject to errors. - Some of the topics on this FAQ are not part of sci.lang.japan scope, but some people asked me about it (specially part 7), and I decided to include so I dont have to write two faqs. - About some reprinted parts or whole articles of Mangajin: In 1992 I send a letter to them, that was published in the number 21, page 4, as follows: "... Is it possible to mention or quote Mangajin articles, for example, the Computer Corner, on a public network ? I believe that it will benefit a lot of people interested in learning Japanese and will introduce Mangajin to people who don't know about your magazine.". The answer was: "As long as there is no money changing hands, we have no objections at all to having portions of Mangajin reproduced or 'quoted'. As you point out, it helps spread the word. We welcome that kind of use in the classroom as well. One point I have to make, however, is that we can give permission only for the editorial content (basically, everything that's in English). We have only one-time serial rights to the manga material, and permission to copy that, even in the ways you mentioned, is not ours to give." - I would like the cooperation from whoever had read some books on the reviews, because some information came from advertisements, and the books can be in the wrong category. - There are some references to e-mail of authors of software and (maybe on the future) reviews. If somebody dont want to see his/her e-mail address here, tell me as soon as possible, so I can remove it. ###############################################################################