★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying.  Now you can learn about yokai and read stories about them while polishing your Japanese. ♥ABOUT THIS VOLUME Shapeshifting animals play a big part in Japanese folklore. As you might assume, these yokai are devious and can be dangerous. In this book, we will look at the two main animal culprits: the fox and the tanuki. 83 Pages FEATURES Includes three essays or stories Each story is presented in three formats: 1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 3) English translation (to confirm your understanding) The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English Find a link to download sound files for the stories (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese 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 those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4.    If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now. 

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying.  Now you can learn about yokai and read stories about them while polishing your Japanese. ♥ABOUT THIS VOLUME Mermaids in Japanese are called ningyo, but unlike the Western image of a beautiful and seductive creature, the Japanese ningyo can be quite grotesque even. Sometimes the "human" part of the creature looks more bird-like or even ape-like.Ningyo usually appear at night and come from the sea. They often have amazing abilities, and eating their flesh may result in a very long, long life. 85 Pages FEATURES Includes three essays or stories Each story is presented in three formats: 1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 3) English translation (to confirm your understanding) The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English Find a link to download sound files for the stories (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi   STORIES INCLUDED  ① The Nihon Shoki and Mummies  ② The 800-Year-Old Nun  ③ Amabie   WHO IS THIS FOR? This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4.    If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now. 

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying.  Now you can learn about yokai and read stories about them while polishing your Japanese. ♥ABOUT THIS VOLUME With their horned heads and foul behavior, the Japanese oni has often been compared to the ogres in the Western tradition. But in Japan, oni are everywhere. Traditional tales, children's songs, and proverbs are full of references to them. In this way, not only will this book help you enhance your reading ability, but you'll also increase your Japanese cultural literacy.  97 Pages FEATURES Includes three essays or stories Each story is presented in three formats: 1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 3) English translation (to confirm your understanding) The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English Find a link to download sound files for the stories (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi   STORIES INCLUDED  ① Oni Part One  ② Oni's Descendants  ③ Namahage   WHO IS THIS FOR? This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4.    If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now. 

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying.  Now you can learn about yokai and read stories about them while polishing your Japanese. ♥ABOUT THIS VOLUME Tengu is a legendary creature associated with mountains and forests. Tengu can cause mischief, but as you will read within these pages, tengu also can show kindness to people. Earlier depictions make the tengu out to be more bird-like, but, eventually, tengu came to be drawn in the form of an ascetic mountain priest called yamabushi. Unlike normal yamabushi, however, tengu have unnaturally long noses, carry a scroll called “tora no maki,” and have magical powers. They say, the tengu even taught ninjas their legendary skills!     FEATURES Includes three essays or stories Each story is presented in three formats: 1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 3) English translation (to confirm your understanding) The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English Find a link to download sound files for the stories (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi   STORIES INCLUDED  ① About the Tengu  ② Origin of the Tengu  ③ Tengu Stories   WHO IS THIS FOR? This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4.    If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now. 

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying.  Now you can learn about yokai and read stories about them while polishing your Japanese. ♥ABOUT THIS VOLUME The kappa is one of Japan's most well-known yokai. It lives in or near rivers, loves cucumbers, and occasionally plays tricks on humans. They are not all bad, though. Kappa have been known to teach humans special knowledge such as medicine or help people in times of trouble.    FEATURES Includes three essays or stories about the kappa Each story is presented in three formats: 1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 3) English translation (to confirm your understanding) The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English A link to download sound files for the stories is provided (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi   STORIES INCLUDED  ① What is the Kappa?  ② A Kappa Mummy  ③ A Kappa Repays a Debt   WHO IS THIS FOR? This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4.    If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, click the Buy Now button and get your copy now. 

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying.  Now you can learn about yokai and read stories about them while polishing your Japanese. ♥ABOUT THIS VOLUME The 山姥(やまんば) is a scary youkai mountain witch. She eats whoever enters her mountain. In this volume, we’ll look at two legends involving the 山姥(やまんば).The first is about an ox-cart man (someone who made deliveries) who encountered a 山姥(やまんば). The second story is about a young priest who has three magic charms to protect him from the 山姥(やまんば). FEATURES Includes three essays or stories Each story is presented in three formats: 1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 3) English translation (to confirm your understanding) The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English Find a link to download sound files for the stories (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi 201 pages Includes E-book versions, sound files, and an Anki deck of the vocabulary for no extra charge.    STORIES INCLUDED  ① Ushikata and Yamanba   ② Yamanba and the Three Magic Charms   WHO IS THIS FOR? This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4.    If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now. 

For upper beginners. Embark on the journey! Dare to tackle short Japanese passages, and if you emerge triumphantly at the chapter's end, you'll have completed your mission, acquiring cultural insights, fresh vocabulary, and enhanced reading comprehension along the way. Dive into news, cultural pieces, and historical snippets with this innovative series featuring engaging and informative ultra-brief essays in Japanese, tailored to upper beginner and intermediate proficiency levels. Learn about Japanese culture Includes all the sound files and Anki flashcard decks of all the vocabulary in the essays. You'll receive a download link immediately after purchasing the paperback which will also be mailed to you. Enhance your Japanese vocabulary and reading abilities using the Nihongo Nano Narrative essays. Although you can tackle these lessons in any sequence, consider these helpful suggestions: - Examine the Key Vocabulary - Begin utilizing the provided Anki deck to learn unfamiliar vocabulary (refer to the last page for the download link) - Read the story in either the EASY version or the native-level NORMAL version, or both, with furigana and a running glossary - Listen to the audio file while reading once more (also check the last page for the download link) - Read the essays without furigana or vocabulary aids - Check your understanding with the English translation Bravo! You've successfully completed that challenge. WHO IS THIS FOR? Though you're not a novice, it sometimes feels that way. Maintaining focus on lengthy Japanese texts proves challenging, and you seek assistance with kanji and advanced grammatical structures.If this resonates with you, this book is tailor-made for your needs. FEATURES Short but informative essays Full vocabulary breakdowns Tricky grammatical patterns explained Anki flashcard decks Sound files of the essays Individual PDFs of the essays in a slightly different format to make it easier to print and study each essay individually Simplified Essay Version First, go through a simplified version of the essay. This essay version primarily has JLPT N4 and N5 grammar and vocabulary. Every word is defined and explained. Intermediate Essay Version Next, tackle the intermediate essay. This version contains most of the information from the simplified version but uses more natural Japanese. Every word is defined and explained. Essays with English translation Finally, go through both essays again while checking your understanding with our translations. 126 Pages ISBN 979-8395279866 Physical Paperback mailed Includes PDF, ePub, and MOBI files [No extra charge] Includes Sound Files of all Essays [No extra charge] Includes Anki flashcard decks for the vocabulary in each of the essays [No extra charge] Ready to get started? Click to buy now.

This is the paperback version but it also includes the Kindle, ePub, and MP3s as a download. If you would like just the eBook version, please purchase our Japanese Culture Bundle by clicking here. Penguin’s dream of completing Ninja Academy has finally come true… Almost. One test remains: he must journey to the far frigid shores of Hokkaido in order to become a true Ninja Penguin. Besides, it is simply too hot in the sub-tropical Okinawa. Hokkaido, in northern Japan with its far more reasonable climate, sounds REALLY nice to a penguin who had been training many seasons in the Okinawan heat. 200 page paperback INCLUDES: Sound files totaling over one hour of audio lessons are also included for FREE. INCLUDES: PDF, Kindle, ePub, and MP3s Learn over 500 Beginner Level Vocabulary Words Learn Important facts about all 47 Prefectures of Japan   This book chronicles what the penguin experienced as he toured the forty-seven prefectures that make up Japan. He learned much about Japanese culture and geography while picking up more than 500 useful vocabulary words. You too can learn these important beginner-level words with the helpful hints and puzzles found throughout this book. As you work through each lesson, we invite you to listen to the specially formatted audio files.

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★These readers are to not only help improve your vocabulary and reading comprehension but also to introduce tourist sites you may want to visit for your next Japan visit. It will also help you understand Japanese geography and culture as well. ♥ABOUT THIS VOLUME This volume includes two essays:  Mt Fuji - the most iconic mountain in Japan The Beckoning Cat - They are everywhere, greeting shoppers throughout Japan 84 Pages FEATURES Includes two essays Each story is presented in three formats: 1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 3) English translation (to confirm your understanding) The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English Find a link to download sound files for the stories (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book Or use the QR codes to scan with your phone's camera for on-demand audio Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi    WHO IS THIS FOR? This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4 or N3 (intermediate).    If you are learning Japanese and look forward to your next Japan trip, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now. 

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★These readers are to not only help improve your vocabulary and reading comprehension but also to introduce tourist sites you may want to visit for your next Japan visit. It will also help you understand Japanese geography and culture as well. ♥ABOUT THIS VOLUME This volume includes two essays:  温泉 onsen - hot springs 地獄谷野猿公苑 Jigokudani - An onsen famous for its bathing monkeys 90 Pages FEATURES Includes two essays Each story is presented in three formats: 1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 3) English translation (to confirm your understanding) The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English Find a link to download sound files for the stories (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book Or use the QR codes to scan with your phone's camera for on-demand audio Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi    WHO IS THIS FOR? This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4 or N3 (intermediate).    If you are learning Japanese and look forward to your next Japan trip, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now. 

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★These readers are to not only help improve your vocabulary and reading comprehension but also to introduce tourist sites you may want to visit for your next Japan visit. It will also help you understand Japanese geography and culture as well. ♥ABOUT THIS VOLUME This volume includes three essays:  Japanese Sakura Trees - Learn about the tree itself and what variety makes up the majority of cherry blossom trees Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC - The fascinating story behind the U.S. capital's famous sakura trees Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots - 花見 Hanami flower viewing is very popular in Japan. But what locations are most famous for cherry blossom viewing? 105 Pages FEATURES Includes three essays Each story is presented in three formats: 1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 3) English translation (to confirm your understanding) The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English Find a link to download sound files for the stories (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book Or use the QR codes to scan with your phone's camera for on-demand audio Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi    WHO IS THIS FOR? This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4 or N3 (intermediate).    If you are learning Japanese and look forward to your next Japan trip, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now. 

This is for the paperback version which will be mailed to you. It includes the digital files, but if you prefer digital only, check out our money-saving Vocabulary Booster Bundle here. Sound Words in Japanese  99 Essential Sound and Action Words in Japanese Struggling to sound natural in Japanese? Looking for a Japanese "text"book that's as fun as it is educational? Learn how to use ninety-nine essential Japanese onomatopoeic sound words. Japanese uses these fun sound words more often than we do in English. This book covers ninety-nine of the most useful sound words. In addition, each word also has an example sentence to show context. Each of the ninety-nine entries begins with the target word itself and several English definitions. A single example sentence showing usage follows. At the bottom of the page are some notes either about the word itself or the example sentence. Each word has its own MP3. The sound file is named for the word itself. The MP3 has the word and example sentence in Japanese.     * Furigana (small hiragana over each kanji)      * Completely new recordings of all Japanese     * Corrected mistakes and expanded with new words     * Added comments for every single sound word

Unpacking Japanese Words Reading Mackerel and Other Curious Japanese Sayings By Clay & Yumi Boutwell Exploring Japanese word origins for learners of Japanese — Volume 1 “Wait—did you say reading mackerel?!” Yup. Welcome to the wild world of Japanese word origins. Each entry begins with the most likely etymology in Japanese, followed by the English explanation and a complete vocabulary breakdown—so you practice reading real Japanese before peeking at the English. Upper beginner to intermediate Etymology & culture Line-by-line vocab Example sentences Audio included Included digital files: The paperback purchase also includes the digital files (PDF + ePub + MP3s) at no extra charge. Save with digital: This title is also part of our discounted Vocabulary Bundle. View Vocabulary Bundle What you’ll learn Make words stick with stories Dozens of everyday (and delightfully odd) idioms, sayings, and words. Cultural and historical backstories that make phrases memorable. Line-by-line vocabulary with context and grammar notes. Example sentences for real-world usage. Audio recordings of all Japanese content—great for shadowing. Who it’s for Curious learners & word nerds Upper beginners through intermediate students. Fans of etymology, history, and language “aha!” moments. Teachers looking for bite-sized lesson content. Anyone who has ever yelled 「もしもし」 into the void. How it works Japanese first, then English Start with the Japanese etymology, use the vocabulary notes to work through it, and only then peek at the English. This keeps the reading practice front and center while giving you the story behind the words. Listen Audio samples from the book Explanation Sample: Example Sentence: Preview Read a sample right here Tip: Use the toolbar to zoom and navigate. Or open the PDF in a new tab. Ready to dive in? Unpack the stories behind Japanese words With etymology, culture notes, line-by-line vocabulary, examples, and audio, this book turns “why is it said that way?” into “oh—that makes sense now.” 153 Pages - 9798319034519 Get the Paperback See the Digital Bundle Open Sample PDF

NOTE: The digital version is found in the Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha bundle.  Have you only recently learned hiragana but need practice? Or perhaps, your hiragana is no problem, but you want to build your hiragana and kanji reading comprehension? This new collection of stories is here to the rescue! Read real Japanese—beginner level but not boring Japanese! You won't find the Japanese version of Dick and Jane, but you will find stories written for adults. Enjoy reading flash fiction, super short essays, and funny stories of common mistakes made by learners of Japanese.Best of all, the only requirement is that you can read hiragana and have a very basic understanding of Japanese. Vocabulary and grammar will be defined and explained. The format is a little different from our other more advanced readers. The idea is for the reader to read the entire story three times. Each page will have a sentence or two in hiragana (with spaces between words for you to see “words” instead of syllables) at the top and that same content in full Japanese (with furigana—small hiragana over kanji) at the bottom. The middle will have the glossary and grammatical explanations. Lastly, the story is presented in Japanese without furigana. See if you can read it after going through the previous two versions and explanations. If you have just learned hiragana, you may want to listen to the sound file while reading the hiragana section to practice correct pronunciation. If you have studied Japanese a bit longer, you may want to start with the bottom version and take note of the glossary for understanding.The glossary will have the word as it appears in the story, but it will also give the “dictionary” form so you can look the word up further. Having fun while learning a language is a great way to increase motivation. With increased motivation, you are less likely to skip a day's study. A skipped day can quickly become a lost week and then a lost… forever. And so, we hope you will have as much fun reading these stories as we had writing them. This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files for no extra charge immediately after ordering.

NOTE: The digital version is found in the Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha bundle.  Have you only recently learned hiragana but need practice? Or perhaps, your hiragana is no problem, but you want to build your hiragana and kanji reading comprehension? This new collection of stories is here to the rescue! Read real Japanese—beginner level but not boring Japanese! You won't find the Japanese version of Dick and Jane, but you will find stories written for adults. Enjoy reading flash fiction, super short essays, and funny stories of common mistakes made by learners of Japanese.Best of all, the only requirement is that you can read hiragana and have a very basic understanding of Japanese. Vocabulary and grammar will be defined and explained. The format is a little different from our other more advanced readers. The idea is for the reader to read the entire story three times. Each page will have a sentence or two in hiragana (with spaces between words for you to see “words” instead of syllables) at the top and that same content in full Japanese (with furigana—small hiragana over kanji) at the bottom. The middle will have the glossary and grammatical explanations. Lastly, the story is presented in Japanese without furigana. See if you can read it after going through the previous two versions and explanations. If you have just learned hiragana, you may want to listen to the sound file while reading the hiragana section to practice correct pronunciation. If you have studied Japanese a bit longer, you may want to start with the bottom version and take note of the glossary for understanding.The glossary will have the word as it appears in the story, but it will also give the “dictionary” form so you can look the word up further. Having fun while learning a language is a great way to increase motivation. With increased motivation, you are less likely to skip a day's study. A skipped day can quickly become a lost week and then a lost… forever. And so, we hope you will have as much fun reading these stories as we had writing them. This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files for no extra charge immediately after ordering.