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Paperback now sold through Amazon. We no longer stock the print edition here at The Japan Shop. Get the paperback on Amazon. Want it today? The eBook (PDF + ePub) with the MP3 audio is in the Japanese Culture Bundle, an instant download with no shipping. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Note: This is the physical paperback version which will be shipped to your location. If you are looking for the digital only version, please click here for the bundle with this book in it. Digital products have no shipping charges! Learn Japanese through Haiku: Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 is a Japanese reader with full furigana and native audio, pitched at the intermediate level, past the point where most graded readers leave off. Bilingual on the page: each haiku in Japanese with an English translation and word-by-word notes. 121 pages | Paperback | Includes FREE Sound Files and eBook formats and Anki Flashcard Deck Learn Japanese through Haiku: Kobayashi Issa Read real Japanese today while enjoying 25 hand-picked haiku by 小林一茶 (Kobayashi Issa, 1763–1828). Issa’s poems are warm, humane, and unexpectedly funny, focusing on small creatures and everyday life. This edition gives you clear bilingual guidance, carefully curated vocabulary, and high-quality audio so you can read, listen, and truly understand. 25 Issa haiku MP3 audio included PDF + ePub + Anki Bilingual commentary Beginner to intermediate Makoto+ Explorer coming soon What you will get A complete read + listen learning kit 25 classic haiku presented in Japanese with natural English renderings. Short, insightful commentary that explains grammar, word choice, and cultural cues. Curated vocabulary lists with context so the words stick. Professional audio: a clear poem reading plus guided commentary for each selection. Digital bundle: printable PDF, ePub for e-readers, and an Anki deck for spaced review. QR codes inside for instant audio access; downloadable files included with your purchase. Coming soon: Makoto+ Japanese Explorer integration for inline furigana, audio, and fast lookups. Listen Sample audio from the book Below: a poem reading and a short commentary. Haiku reading: Your browser does not support the audio element. Commentary audio: Your browser does not support the audio element. Recorded in clear, standard Japanese. Great for shadowing and rhythm practice. Preview Read a page right here Tip: Use the toolbar to zoom and navigate. If the embed does not load, open the sample PDF. How to use it Read. Listen. Absorb. Review. Listen to the haiku once without reading to catch the flow and pitch. Read the Japanese with notes, then replay the audio and shadow the lines. Reinforce with the Anki deck and revisit a few poems during the week. Who it is for Haiku lovers and Japanese learners If you love Japanese culture and want steady gains in reading, vocabulary, and listening, this book is for you. Ideal for self-learners, classrooms, and anyone who prefers meaningful, bite-size practice that fits into a busy day. About Issa A poet of empathy and wit Kobayashi Issa wrote with warmth and humor about ordinary life, often giving voice to small creatures. His poems balance tenderness and irony, making them perfect gateways for learners to experience real Japanese with cultural depth. Listen now Preview a page

Paperback now sold through Amazon. We no longer stock the print edition here at The Japan Shop. Get the paperback on Amazon. Want it today? The eBook (PDF + ePub) with the MP3 audio is in the Learn Japanese with Yokai Bundle, an instant download with no shipping. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn Japanese with Yokai! Kitsune Fox is a Japanese reader with full furigana and native audio, pitched at the upper-beginner to intermediate level where graded readers usually leave off. Bilingual on the page: the Japanese text with a full English translation, vocabulary and grammar notes. The code printed in the back unlocks the stories in the free Makoto Japanese Explorer app for iPhone, iPad and Android, where you can tap any word for its reading and meaning. Learn Japanese with Yokai! Vol. 4: The Fox and the Tanuki [PAPERBACK + DIGITAL] For Upper Beginners to Intermediates Preview Notice: This PDF and audio preview is from a different volume in the Learn Japanese with Yokai! series. It is included here to give you a clear idea of the format, layout, and learning approach used throughout the entire series — including this book. 🎧 Audio Preview Normal Speed Slow Speed (Learner-Friendly) 📘 PDF Preview Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yōkai thrive in the Japanese imagination. What exactly are yōkai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household objects. Some are playful and mischievous. Others are clever, dangerous, and downright terrifying. With this series, you don’t just read about yōkai — you learn Japanese through them. About This Volume Shapeshifting animals play a major role in Japanese folklore, and few are more famous — or more troublesome — than the fox and the tanuki. In this volume, you’ll explore stories of deception, illusion, and transformation. Foxes disguise themselves as humans, conjure false rain, and manipulate reality itself. Tanuki are equally clever, often blurring the line between humor and danger. These tales are not only engaging reading practice — they are foundational stories that appear again and again in Japanese culture, idioms, and modern media. Length: 83 pages Features Three complete essays or stories focused on fox and tanuki folklore Each story presented in three formats:1) Sentence-by-sentence breakdown with definitions and commentary2) Japanese-only version to test reading ability3) Full English translation to confirm understanding Sentence-by-sentence sections include furigana over kanji, a complete glossary, and clear explanations of important grammar in plain English A link to download free audio files is provided at the end of the book Each story includes both normal-speed and slow-speed recordings read by Yumi Stories Included ① Nine-Tailed Fox ② The Legend of the Killing Stone ③ The Fox’s Wedding Who Is This For? This book is designed so that both newer learners and intermediate learners can benefit. The ideal level is upper beginner, roughly around JLPT N4. Ambitious beginners can still enjoy the material by taking it slowly, while intermediate learners will appreciate the cultural depth and grammar explanations. If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yōkai, folklore, and traditional stories of old Japan, click the Buy Now button and begin studying today.

Paperback now sold through Amazon. We no longer stock the print edition here at The Japan Shop. Get the paperback on Amazon. Want it today? The eBook (PDF + ePub) with the MP3 audio is in the Learn Japanese with History & Essays Bundle, an instant download with no shipping. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Japanese History Reader Volume 4 is a Japanese reader with full furigana and native audio, pitched at the intermediate level, past the point where most graded readers leave off. Bilingual on the page: the Japanese text with a full English translation, vocabulary and grammar notes. The code printed in the back unlocks the stories in the free Makoto Japanese Explorer app for iPhone, iPad and Android, where you can tap any word for its reading and meaning. This is for the physical book which will be mailed to you. If you are looking for the digital version (with no shipping charges), this book is in the Japanese History Digital Bundle. Recommended for upper beginner students of Japanese. Wondering about Japanese era names? Learn about the new Reiwa era. If you are planning to be in Japan in July, you will want to read the essay on Japan’s rainy season. Lastly, we talk about the terrifying giant hornet of Japan. Reiwa, A New Era Rainy Season in Japan Japan's Giant Hornet Get FREE Sound Files of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker. The download link will be emailed to you instantly upon ordering (we will also ship the physical book). Listen while reading. Each story has two MP3 versions: Read Slowly & Normal Speed FEATURES: All Japanese have furigana those starting out with kanji. Every sentence is broken down word-for-word and with explanation of the grammar. The full story in Japanese only (without the running gloss) is also provided so you can practice reading without interruption. Kanji in Focus covers the key kanji found in each essay Finally, we have included a simple and mostly literal English translation for you to check your understanding (Don't cheat! Work through the Japanese first!). Includes FREE Sound files to listen while you study. Includes both normal speed and slow speed readings. You will be emailed a download link instantly after ordering (the actual physical book will also be mailed to you). While beginners to Japanese can get a lot from this, hiragana knowledge is required. Finally, we invite the reader to contact us with questions or requests for future Japanese readers. You will find our personal email addresses in the book. To your Japanese!