#japanese books

[whilereadingandwalking]

Genji is not a perfect person, but there’s a purity to him, a beauty that’s clearly meant to be lauded, particularly in contrast to later chapters. He’s in love with love, a true romantic, and his sometimes unwise affairs are motivated by a true sense of love. He never abandons one of his lovers, which in this time is crucial. No matter the shame it brings to himself, he tries to find a way to honor the women he’s fallen for. He’s charming. No one can not love him, or ultimately forgive him his faults.

The age of Tale of Genji had strict rules of romance—of how flirtations worked (largely intermediaries and poetry), of how commitments worked, of how aloof vs. present it was appropriate to be (it’s good to commit but bad to hoard or become jealous). It was possible to love too much. Genji is accused of this, but he always remembers to care for the people he is responsible for—once he grows up that is.

Early in the text, he neglects his wife, and he also neglects “the Rokujo lady.” The Rokujo lady becomes so jealous and enraged that her spirit begins to sicken his wife. This ghost returns more than once over the course of the text. She has grown sick from obsession and neglect, and Genji pays the price for it. It’s part of what motivates him to always care for the women he romances for the rest of his life.

Later, in the “Uji” chapters, young Kaoru and prince Niou also love too much. Niou is impulsive like Genji but also flighty, and Kaoru is serious like Genji but also obsessive. Both men pursue the women at Uji with insistence that the text can’t quite forgive as it could for Genji. Both, somehow, go too far—perhaps in their attempts to hoard, or in their impatience.

[dokushoclub]

Japanese Reading Resources for Absolute Beginners

A question I encounter often is "How much Japanese should I study before I can begin reading in Japanese?"

From my experience as a learner and reader myself and from managing a Japanese book club for other learners I can honestly say that you can start way earlier than you probably think!

There are many resources that only require knowing hiragana. Those texts usually teach vocabulary through pictures and only use basic grammar.

Some are even simpler than that: The Japan Foundation's Hiragana Books are great for those, who are still remembering hiragana characters. Every short book introduces only 1-2 new characters, so it's a great reading exercise for those who've just started.

The free graded reader 「どうぞ、どうも」 by the NPO Tagengo Tadoku only uses the words 「どうぞ」 and 「どうも」 to write an entire story. Again, this makes for a great exercise in reading hiragana and understanding context. Another "level 0" recommendation by the same NPO would definitely be 「しろい？くろい？」. This book uses the full range of hiragana characters but the grammar is simple and all used vocabulary is illustrated.

Another site with great resources for absolute beginners is Nihongo Tadoku Dōjō. If you have memorized both hiragana and katakana and know how the particles を and で work you will be able to read this text about stationary (ぶんぼうぐ) and understand everything by looking at the pictures!

The resources linked so far can all be accessed completely free on the linked websites. If you have the money to spare, please also have a look at the box 「スタート」 from the series reberubetsu nihongo tadoku raiburarī published by the NPO Tagengo Tadoku and ASK (affiliate link). This box includes 8 little books in very simple Japanese.

All these texts for absolute beginners will get you started reading in Japanese with very little knowledge of characters and vocabulary.

Reading in Japanese is a skill that requires practice. But once you get used to it, it can be such a valuable tool to reinforce new vocabulary and grammar. So please don't wait until you're "ready" before you start reading - start early at your own level!

[sheeeshvangi]

Keeping up with my goals!

I'm struggling a lot with the reading section and I really don't know how to fix my reading skills. Everyone suggests to read more but it's so hard to focus and keep reading when you don't understand things and get demotivated. If anyone has any tips for me I would really appreciate it!

Hope you guys are doing great!

[expiationist]

5月27日　| may 27

: ̗̀➛ today i had a presentation in global media and culture, prof said it was excellent so im めちゃうれしい〜

: ̗̀➛ i have my speaking midterm for japanese class on wednesday

: ̗̀➛ i have an exam for my summer classes at my home university on thursday, sooo im a little stressed about it all

[rainreads]

my rainy days (2009)

[tokidokitokyo]

Title: 12歳までに知っておきたい言い換え図鑑 (１２さい まで しっておきたい いいかえ ずかん) Encyclopedia of Ways to Rephrase That You Should Know Before 12 Years Old

Although this book is aimed at 12-year-olds and younger, I believe that many adults also should read this book. It gives examples of common, negative reactions to daily situations (when someone makes a mistake, when someone is trying out a new look, when someone wants to be alone, etc.) such as asking why they don't know how to do something, expressing your opinion that the way they looked before was preferable, etc. It explains why these negative phrases aren't helpful and gives examples of how your friend might react if you use them. Then it gives phrases that you can use instead, phrases that support the other person rather than bringing them down.

This is a high level book for Japanese learners but I think that intermediate to high N3 learners would be able to understand a significant amount, especially as there is abundant furigana (thank you, 12-year-old target readers). Illustrations also allow for easier understanding of the topics presented. I think it's useful for learning native turns of phrase to use in certain situations.

[godzilla-reads]

My sweet, sweet baby 😻

[dischiantoaster]

The Brave Little Toaster, paperback bunko illustrations!

There have been three Japanese editions of Thomas M Disch’s original ‘The Brave Little Toaster’ novella. One was published in the magazine of Sci Fi and Fantasy, there was also this illustrated paperback bunko, and a tankōbon hardcover which used character designs similar to Karen Lee Schmidt’s art from the 1980 Doubleday/Grafton pressing. The artwork in this paperback is especially cute! I love the depiction of the old and new appliances gathered in the city apartment, and the master and mistress meeting the Swap Shop kittens ☺️

[minimalist-language-learning]

I finished volume 10. Only 2 volumes left!

[dokushoclub]

Tumblr community for langblrs that like to read in Japanese

✨My tumblr community for reading in Japanese got approved ✨

I would like to use this community for the following:

Sharing recommendations: When you finish an interesting article, manga, novel, children's book, or blog post in Japanese, share it with the community and tell us if there's furigana, complex grammar or keigo to watch out for!

Asking for recommendations: Would you like to read more in Japanese but don't know where to start or which genre to try next? Ask the community for their recommendations for your specific level of Japanese and reading experience!

I'm looking forward to more recommendations and discussions of Japanese books form the perspectives of other learners! If you have any input for this community please let me know.

Let's read some books together! 📚🇯🇵

[daikon-studies]

Gambarimashou!

[sheeeshvangi]

I've finished week one of my study plan!!!

I finished all the goals and I'm really proud of how consistent I was through the week.

Tomorrow is my rest day and I'm so excited for it lol.

Hope you guys are doing great! Remember to do your best and take breaks!

[expiationist]

one of my favorite ways to study is by copying down the short stories in the back of the genki textbook for writing practice, and translating it as i go~

[rainreads]

"i want to be friends"

"what was a friend supposed to do?"

heaven by mieko kawakami

[tokidokitokyo]

Title: にゃんこ四字熟語辞典 (にゃんこ よじじゅくご じてん) Nyanko (Cat) Four-Character Idiom Dictionary

I checked this book out from the Japan Foundation Libby app mostly because it had a cat but also because I'm interested in four-character idioms aka yojijukugo. And it's such a wonderful book! Mostly it's photos of cats, attached to common four-character Japanese idioms, with brief explanations in Japanese. You're supposed to remember the idioms because of the photos of the cats, but even if you learn nary a single idiom, the cats are worth it for this book. 20/10 highly recommend. I want to buy my very own copy!

[polyglot-thought]

Japanese Vocabulary from

Goodnight Moon

おやすみなさい　おつきさま

by Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd, and Teiji Seta

Read on OpenLibrary

Disclaimer: The original writing is all in hiragana, but I made it all in kanji with no spaces for this post. I encourage you to read the book before reading this post.

———

風船

ふうせん

「赤い風船一つ」

“There is one red balloon”

絵の額

え　の　がく

「絵の額が二つ」

“There are two framed drawings”

雌牛／牝牛

めうし

飛び越す

とびこす

腰掛けてる

こしかけてる

「それは雌牛がお月様を飛び越す絵と三匹の熊が椅子に腰掛けてる絵」

“This is a picture of a cow jumping over the moon and a picture of three bears sitting in chairs.”

手袋

てぶくろ

一揃い

ひとそろい

「手袋一揃い」

“(There is) one set of gloves”

櫛

くし

「櫛とブラシ」

“A comb and a brush”

お粥

おかゆ

一碗/一椀

ひとわん

「お粥が一碗」

“There is one bowl of rice gruel.”

number + measure word for small animals ↓

一匹

いっぴき

「小鼠一匹」

“There is one baby rat”

二匹

にひき

「子猫が二匹」

“There are two kittens.”

三匹

さんびき

「三匹の熊が椅子に腰掛けてる絵」

“A picture of three bears sitting in chairs”

———

Please correct me if I made a mistake

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