Japanese Links
Some of the best online Japanese language and culture resources
Language resources | Contemporary Culture | Japan: Past & present | Arts & media | More linksWe've scoured the Internet and screened and reviewed hundreds of sites to find only the best Japanese web links. If you'd like to recommend a URL for our site, use our feedback page.
Japanese Language Resources
Jim
Breen's Japanese-English Dictionary Server [Japanese/English]:
A multifaceted bi-directional reference tool with translate and search,
kanji search, kanji draw functions, and more. Denshi
Jisho [Japanese/English]: Uses the same WWWJDic
databases but has an easier interface for searching for words, sentences,
or Kanji. Jeffrey's
Japanese-English Dictionary [Japanese/English]:
Customizable, searchable bi-directional dictionary with multiple user
options. jTango
[Japanese/English]: Simple bi-directional Japanese-English
dictionary with search function.Grammar resources
Guide
to Japanese Grammar: Well-organized and systematic
introduction to Japanese grammar. Includes sections on basic, intermediate,
and advanced topics. Wikipedia
Japanese grammar: Wikipedia's concise yet
thorough overview of Japanese grammar. The
Japanese Page Grammar: Japanese grammar in
managable chunks. Japanese
for the Western Brain: Narrative explanation
of Japanese structures that looks beyond tables and patterns.Vocabulary resources
Langexpress
Japanese Vocabulary Guide: Basic vocabulary
in kana with images and audio pronunciation. Japanese
Vocabulary Flash Cards: Interactive online
flash cards to test and practice vocabulary; word database customizable,
includes word lists from 5 different books. Vocabulary Quizzes:
344 English >
Japanese interactive quizzes based on Charles Kelly's "4,480
Words You Should Know" (English > Japanese). Japanese
> English quizzes are also available. Wikibooks:
Japanese Vocabulary: List of basic vocabulary
words in common categories in kanji, kana, romaji, and English. Japanglish:
English words in the Japanese language with some very peculiar meanings!The writing system: Katakana, hiragana, & kanji
Learn
Kanji: Downloadable freeware for learning
to read Japanese kanji characters. Japanese
Writing Tutor: Kana and kanji tutor with animated
.gifs to show stroke order. Hiragana
Lessons: With flashcards and mneumonic devices
for remembering characters. From The Japanese Page. Real
Kana: Study and practice naming the Hiragana
and Katakana characters. Kanji
jouyou index: All 1945 kanji characters taught
in Japanese schools, organized by grade level. Free online Japanese language courses & practice activities
Studyjapanese.org:
Free basic Japanese lessons with interactive activities,
flashcard vocabulary trainer, and grammar explanations. Elementary
Japanese Language Course: 34 lessons with
readings, vocabulary lists and vocab. trainer, MP3 audio files, grammar
explanations, and interactive exercises. A
Select List of Japanese Language Study Sites:
Comprehensive collection of sites for learning and studying Japanese.
Teach
Yourself Japanese: Text-based introduction
to Japanese writing, grammar, vocabulary. MIT
Japanese Language Program: 4 courses with
lots of online study and practice materials. Japanese
Language Reading Tutor: Reading materials
for learners of Japanese. Easy
Kanji: Graded, interactive reading passages
for beginning, intermediate, and advanced Japanese learners. The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT):
About
the JLPT: Overview of the test levels, up-to-date
information on how to apply and where the test is administered. From
the Japan Foundation, the organization that administers the test outside
of Japan. JLPT
basics: Test levels, cost, process, and more.
From The Japanese Page. JLPT
Kanji: Kanji study tools oriented to each
of the four JLPT levels.Language resources | Contemporary Culture | Japan: Past & present | Arts & media | More links
Contemporary Japanese Culture
Japanese culture & customs
Web
Japan: Reliable and useful info on Japanese
culture and society, history and geography, travel tips. Sponsored
by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Japan-Guide.com:
About Japanese life and culture, travel to Japan, working and studying
in Japan. The
Japanese Page: An array
of articles on Japanese culture, ranging from practical to hilarious.
Contemporary
Japan: Culture & Society: Video segments of
Harvard University experts speaking on a variety of topics in modern
Japan. Famous
Personages in Japan: Short biographies of
well-known personalities in modern Japan in all areas of life. Put
together by students at Kyoto Sangyo University. In English. What
Japan Thinks: A collection of interesting,
and sometimes funny, public opinion polls conducted across Japan.
Japan
Trends: The latest in business, technology,
fashion, entertainment, and more. Kid's
Web Japan: Interactive introduction to Japan,
its people, culture, history, and language for kids between 10 and
14. Rob's
Japan Photo Gallery: Some annotated photographs
from everyday life in Japan. Japanese cuisine
Tokyo
Food Page: In addition to being a restaurant
guide for Tokyo and the Kansai area, includes information and images
of Japanese cuisine. Japanese
Cooking: A modest primer on Japanese foods
and cooking with recipes and a glossary. Japanese business culture
Breaking
Through Japanese Corporate Culture: Excerpts
from the book Rice Paper Ceiling, about making it as a foreigner working
in a Japanese cultural context.
Rational
Japanese: In-depth exploration of characteristic
cultural behaviors of the Japanese with case studies. Japanese-American relations
National
Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS):
Non-profit organization offering educational, cultural and business
education programs about Japan and U.S.-Japan relations. Perhaps even
more useful are the links to all of the state and regional Japanese-American
member organizations.
Japan
Digest: Background information on a wide variety
of topics related to Japan and U.S.-Japan relations. Language resources | Contemporary Culture | Japan: Past & present | Arts & media | More links
The Country of Japan: Past & Present
About Japan
Japan:
Current country profile from the CIA World Fact Book
Statistics
Bureau of Japan: Current demographic statistics
and data on Japan.
Web
Japan Statistics: Demographic data of a wide
variety on Japan's population.
Prime
Minister of Japan: Official website. Geography & travel information
Japanese
National Travel Organization: Up-to-date information
on travel to and around Japan, with maps, practical tips and travel
advice, in-depth information on each region, current events, more.
Japan's
Cities: Links to the official websites of
Japan's cities and towns with a map of the towns and regions.
Japan
for Visitors: About.com's Japanese travel
page. Japanese history
History
of Japan: Wikipedia article on Japan's history.
Ancient
Japan: Richard Hooker's comprehensive narrative
of ancient Japan and its language and culture.
Japan
History 1800-present: Teaching units on various
aspects of Japanese history from 1800 to the present.
Internet
East Asian History Sourcebook: Paul Halsall's
collection of resources. Language resources | Contemporary Culture | Japan: Past & present | Arts & media | More links
Japanese arts & media: Literature, music, television, film
Literature
The
Japanese Text Initiative: Free access to numerous
works of Japanese classical literature, some accompanied by English
translations. Text are indexed by author or title and full-text search
is also available.
Japanese
Literature: Wikipedia article provides a good
overview of the history of literature in Japan.
The
Japanese Literature Homepage: Brief biographies
of over 100 Japanese authors and a short overview of literary periods.
Japanese
Mythology: Around 300 entries on Japanese
mythology in the Encyclopedia Mythica. Art & music
Japanese
Traditional Music: History of traditional
music and instruments in Japan with timeline, numerous images, audio.
Japanese
Music Facts: A brief history of Japanese music
from traditional to contemporary. Japanese
Pop Music: About Japan's music scene in the
past 5 decades with profiles of popular artists. Wikipedia:
Japanese art: An overview from 10,000 BC to
the present. Art
History Resources: Japan: A comprehensive
list of rich and useful web resources on Japanese art and architecture. Kyoto
National Museum: A tour of the museum's collection
of artifacts, paintings, sculptures, calligraphy, metalwork, textiles,
and more. Rei's
Anime and Manga Page: An array of resources
and articles about Japanese anime and manga. Film & Television
Japanese
Film: Information on contemporary Japanese
film with reviews, features, interviews, more. Guide
to Japanese Films: Alan G. Chalk's guides
for teaching Japanese culture, society, and history through film.
Jdorama:
Active forum site on Japanese television dramas, with additional channels
for discussing Japanese language, culture, and entertainment. Japan's leading
TV stations: [Japanese] TV
Tokyo, TV
Asahi, Tokyo Broadcasting
System (TBS)Online & print media & current events
News
on Japan: News feeds from multiple sources
providing up-to-date information from Japan on topics from politics,
business, and the economy to science, education, and sports.
The
Japan Times Online: Online edition of Japan's
leading English-language newspaper with news, opinions, entertainment,
sports, society in Japan.
Asahí
Shímbum: Japan's leading national newspaper
online edition, covering national and international news and including
editorials and sections on politics, arts and entertainment, sports,
and lifestyle. In Japanese or English.
Nikkei
net Interactive: Financial and business news
from Japan. In Japanese or English. Language resources | Contemporary Culture | Japan: Past & present | Arts & media | More links
More Japanese web links
Thankfully, there are some excellent generalist sites with lists of links to Japanese-related sites:
JGuide:
Stanford's annotated directory on all things Japanese. About.com's Japan
and Japanese language
pages. Google
Directory: Japan Yahoo!
Japan Language resources | Contemporary Culture | Japan: Past & present | Arts & media | More links
