20th Century Japanese Stories: Hachiko, Instant Ramen, and Kurosawa: The Easy Way to Read, Listen, and Learn from Japanese History and Stories

By Boutwell Clay and Yumi Boutwell

For Upper Beginning and Above Students of Japanese

Embark on a fascinating journey through Japan's 20th century with our unique Japanese reader, specifically designed for upper beginner students. "20th Century Japanese Stories: Hachiko, Instant Ramen, and Kurosawa" is not just a book, but a comprehensive learning experience that brings to life the tales of iconic figures who left an indelible mark on the world.
In this engaging collection, you'll explore three captivating essays:
1. The Loyal Dog, Hachiko: Uncover the touching story of loyalty and unwavering devotion that captured the hearts of millions.
2. The Japanese Man who Invented Instant Ramen: Discover the incredible innovation that revolutionized global cuisine.
3. World-Renown Kurosawa: Delve into the life of Kurosawa Akira, whose visionary work transformed the landscape of cinema.
But it's more than just reading. Included with your purchase are Anki flashcard decks, complete with all the vocabulary from the stories, comprehensive sound files, and detailed pitch accent diagrams – at no extra charge!
Key Features:

Dual Speed MP3 Sound Files: Receive FREE access to native Japanese speaker recordings, available in both slow and normal speeds. Enhance your learning by listening while reading.

Detailed Language Breakdowns: Each sentence is broken down, offering word-for-word translations and grammar explanations.

Kanji Support: Furigana is provided for all kanji (except in the all Japanese text which is to test your kanji reading ability), catering to those new to kanji reading.

Kanji in Focus: Special sections highlighting key kanji from each story, enhancing your understanding and retention.

Uninterrupted Japanese Texts: Challenge yourself with full Japanese-only versions of each story, perfect for immersive reading practice.

Literal English Translations: Test your comprehension with our straightforward English translations. Remember, try working through the Japanese text first!

Contact the Authors: Your learning journey doesn't end with the last page. We welcome questions and suggestions for future readers. Our personal email addresses are included in the book.

Whether you're a dedicated student of the Japanese language or a curious enthusiast of Japanese culture and history, this book is an invaluable resource. Dive into the 20th century's most influential Japanese stories and enhance your language skills in a uniquely engaging way. Let's embark on this exciting journey into Japanese language and culture together. To your Japanese!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kotoba Inc
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 1090866151

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

The key to learning vocabulary is, quite simply, reading. Not only are you more likely to pick up words that interest you, but you also learn them in context. The Japanese History Reader Series further assists with this by providing sound files of the Japanese and Anki flashcard decks of the vocabulary. Enhance your listening comprehension while simultaneously building your vocabulary, kanji, and reading skills.

FORMAT OF THIS READER

By opting for short essays, the intimidation factor is significantly reduced. We divide the stories into manageable, easy-to-digest segments with comprehensive explanations to boost your confidence as you read authentic Japanese page by page. The tales are carefully selected to illustrate certain key aspects of Japanese history. This series aims to do more than just improve your language skills; it endeavors to deepen your understanding of Japanese culture as well.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This book is crafted so that both novices and intermediate learners of Japanese can derive substantial value from it. A solid grasp of hiragana is essential, and it's advisable to know a few hundred vocabulary words and basic grammar before diving into this reader. If you find the stories too challenging, we recommend spending time going through the vocabulary by reading the glossary notes and/or using the Anki flashcard deck before tackling the reading.

FEATURES

Line-by-line: Read the story broken down line-by-line with nearly every vocabulary word defined and explained.

Grammatical Notes: The line-by-line definitions also include grammatical explanations.

Full Japanese: Read the full story in real Japanese once you go through the line-by-line section.

English Version: Lastly, we are including a simple English translation. This should be avoided until you are sure you understand the story or find it too difficult to figure out on your own.

Kanji in Focus: This feature aids the daunting task of mastering those intricate Chinese characters. We spotlight many of the kanji found in the stories, presenting the readings, meanings, and an example vocabulary word:

Sound Files: Included at no extra charge are two sound files of each story. One is read at a normal speed and the other at a slow, easy-to-follow