Let’s practice your Japanese comprehension with this video, which includes N5 and N4 level Japanese grammar points taught in Genki 1 and Genki 2. The Japanese language has many sensitive nuances, and using them smoothly and appropriately can be the most difficult part. Experience, such as talking and listening as much as possible, is key […]
Tag: Japanese
Murakami has worked both at UC Berkeley and Princeton College. Here in this excerpt, he tells us which city he prefers living at and why. This text is technical and contains many subtleties, so it is ok to not understand all. Try to guess the main points, and answer to the questions below after listening […]
In today’s excerpt, Murakami is telling what he enjoyed doing after he moved to the US. Author: Murakami Haruki (村上春樹) Title: “やがて哀しき外国語” (やがて かなしき がいこくご) アメリカに来て暮らすようになってから、中古レコード店をまわってジャズの古いレコードを漁ることが、大きな楽しみになってしまった。一番の娯楽と言ってもいいくらいだ。せっかく外国に住んでいるのだから、もう少し有意義で活動的な人生の楽しみかたがあってもいいのにと、ときどき自分でも思うのだけれど。 （アメリカ に きて くらす ように なってから、ちゅうこ レコードてん を まわって ジャズ の ふるい レコード を あさる こと が、おおきな たのしみ に なってしまった。いちばん の ごらく と いっても いい くらいだ。せっかく がいこく に すんでいる のだから、もう すこし ゆういぎで かつどうてきな じんせい の たのしみかた が あっても いいのに と、ときどき じぶん でも おもう のだけれど。） Comments: Murakami tells us that since he has started living in America, his hobby has been to go to used records stores and hunt for (漁る – あさる) […]
In the almost two months since the shocking murder of Japan’s former Prime Minister Abe by Yamagami Tetsuya (山上徹也), controversies continue to arise. Although many are saddened by Abe’s death, sympathy for Yamagami has emerged in both mainstream and social media. Initially, Japanese media’s reports were filled with very ambiguous expressions and generated more questions […]
Categories
🇯🇵 Gucci Revisits Japanese Folklore
For the 75th anniversary of their iconic bamboo top-handle bags, Gucci released a campaign movie called “Gendai Taketori Monogatari” (現代竹取物語 – Contemporary Taketori Monogatari). It revisits and reinterprets one of the most famous and beloved Japanese ancient fairy tales, “Taketori Monogatari” (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter). The original tale of the Heian period (794-1185) tells […]
Today’s excerpt is where Murakami meets one of his favorite American author’s relative. Author: Murakami Haruki (村上春樹) Title: “やがて哀しき外国語” (Yagate kanashiki gaikokugo) 先日ペンシルヴェニアに住んでいるシンシア・ロスさんという人から、夕食に来ないかと言う招待の手紙をいただいた。その手紙によると、シンシアさんは実はスコット・フィッツジェラルドの孫にあたるということである。(…) 彼女は僕がスコット・フィッツジェラルドの小説の翻訳をしていることを人づてに聞いて、興味を持ってわざわざ招待してくれたのだ。 Senjitu Pensiruvenia ni sundeiru Sinsia Rosu san to iuu hito kara, yuushoku ni konai ka to iuu shoutai no tegami wo itadaita. Sono tegami ni yoruto, Sinsia san wa jituha Sukotto […]
I came upon an interesting article about a 466-year old kimono house, so I wanted to share it here with you. https://kimonocouture.worcesterart.org/introduction-to-chiso
Previously, we started to explore the Japanese pronoun “I,” and will continue to review the most common examples and uses. The “I” pronoun provides an indication of the speaker’s identity or personality. It is how we label ourselves and one of the reasons why there are so many options available. 私 (watashi): neutral in both gender and […]
Japanese language is constructed within layers of nuance. The speaker can convey feelings through grammatical choices such as the politeness levels, particles, pronouns, verb auxiliaries, and more. Grammar in this way acts like “body language” similar to how facial expression, gesture, and tone can reveal the person’s status or intentions. I will be going over these […]
The shocking news of former Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzo’s (安倍晋三) assassination just recently broke. Since gun violence is so rare in Japan, and usually associated with the yazuka, this is particularly stunning for the Japanese people. It wasn’t until I lived in the US had I ever even heard any gun shootings, as I had spent […]