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Pimsleur Basic Japanese
Japanese Language Audio Book Review
I've been using this audio CD to teach myself some basic Japanese while driving in my car. I enjoy the friendly way it's presented and it doesn't get too complicated too quickly. For those of us with trouble learning languages and/or simply no time to sit down and read a book, this is a wonderful alternative and it allows us to learn at our own speed (i.e., only while I'm in my car!).
Each lesson is fairly short, and it's repetitive enough that you say it ten or twenty times and then it's ingrained into your brain and you've got it. Although this makes stringing together sentences of your own a little tough at first, you learn enough phrases to get around in Japan.
The nice thing is you can also rip the whole CD to iTunes and listen with your iPod while on the train or walking to lunch. Just beware that people will look at you funny while you're saying "O-genki deska?" while standing in line at McDondalds.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, January 2009
Rosetta Stone Japanese Level 1
Windows & Macintosh
Software Review
Used by the State Department to train diplomats. Proven effective by NASA astronauts, Peace Corps volunteers and millions of students, Fairfield Language Technology's "Rosetta Stone" series of language learning software uses an "immersive environment" where you are immediately thrown into learning the language. No English is used whatsoever by the software.
How it is done is that you are shown a picture of something and the word is given, similar to how a picture-book might have been used by you as a child. Great for nouns, but how do they convey the other parts of language, and then communicate proper sentence structure? Well, that's their secret.
It teaches on a completely visual/audio level for conversational Japanese to be used for basic everyday communication. It is no way like a memorization/drill style of learning used for various classes, nor is it anything like what is taught by college campuses. It is for auditory comprehension only.
Used in conjunction with other references and learning tools, Rosetta Stone Japanese can be a very effective way to quickly pick up the language, but it is not a panacea.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, July 2007
Kana de Manga
(Manga University)
Japanese Language Book Review
Here's a cool idea. Learn to draw manga, and learn to draw Kana, and learn to read and write Japanese! Manga University's latest series of book uses original manga artwork to teach students how to read, write and pronounce the Japanese hiragana and katakana alphabets, also known as "kana." Author Glenn Kardy, editor of several of the English-language volumes in the world-renowned How to Draw Manga series, and artist Chihiro Hattori have teamed up to create this must-have book for manga enthusiasts who are interested in more than just pretty pictures.
 The content in this book is factual and consistent in a way to optimize the rate at which you learn the basic Japanese characters. For consistency, the cursive form of the word is always on the left side, while the printed version is on the right. When words are made up of two or more derivatives, the book tells the reader those words and what they mean.
The quotes coincide with the pictures on that page such "the odds of being struck by lightning are 700,000 to 1" as a quote about lightning. There are also pictures associated with every word, sort of like apple for "A" in the English language. There are also easy to learn definitions so you can remember all 72 of the definitions in this book.
Instead of the paragraphs being unemotional and boring, the author adds small tidbits of humor. While the book is humorous, it keeps you informed. While you are laughing at some of the jokes, you are not as bored while reading. The pictures themselves are also hilarious, such as a boy trying to smash a suika, or watermelon or one where a boy is squeamish at his own chi, or blood.
We think Manga University knows a thing or two, so this series of books can't be a bad thing. Give it a try.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, February 2007
Let's Learn Japanese Picture Dictionary
Japanese Language Book Review
If you're an absolute beginner, or you're looking to start teaching Japanese to someone young, this is an excellent way to get started. This is a children's book with fun-filled illustrated panoramas focusing on scenes familiar to children aged three through eight, such as home life, the classroom, city life, sports, the zoo, and even outer space! Hundreds of words each have their own illustrations and most pages have large, beautiful composite drawings great for point and name practice.
The book uses English, Romanji (Japanese words written as English, which helps with the proper pronunciation), as well as Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji (Japanese characters) so readers of any skill level can read and use the book. It's an excellent way to memorize Japanese writing so that you recognize characters or whole words while browsing a local Japanese video store or bookstore. (We remember having memorized "Yamato" and "Macross" and being able to pick it out even from the spine of a book or VHS tape.)
When learning a new language, you might as well start off as if you were a child all over again. Once you've mastered this book, THEN and only then should you consider moving on to more advanced Japanese Language books that teach the phrases and grammar you'll need to survive after you step off the plane in Tokyo.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, August 2006
Jimi's Book of Japanese:
A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese
Japanese Language Book Review
Certainly one of the best-looking books of learning Japanese, this amazingly intuitive book makes learning to read, write and pronounce Kana characters something so simplistic, even a young child or older adult can do it!
 You won't be able to put it down, and you'll find that the lessons really stick with you. After all, any book that has monkeys, robots, and assorted other creatures teaching you how to speak Japanese has to be cool — and this book series certainly is.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, January 2005
Japanese the Manga Way:
An Illustrated Guide to Grammar and Structure
Japanese Language Book Review
For those of us who dream of translating manga, or reading the originals before it was translated, comes this wonderful book. Abundantly populated with samples from a wide range of actual manga, the author disassembles the contents of the word balloons in terms of reading Japanese, understanding the translation of the words, understanding the grammar and structure of the language, and best of all, making it all make sense in terms of modern, conversational Japanese.
Learning with manga makes rules and structures easy to remember, and also lets you experience colloquialisms, contractions, interjections, and other elements of speech that get short shrift in more formal textbooks.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, October 2005
70 Japanese Gestures: No Language Communication
Japanese Language Book Review
Do you get tongue-tied easily trying to pronounce all that Japanese? Okay, maybe Japanese is a bit hard to learn to speak and write. But there's a lot you can say using just your hands, nose, arms, and other body parts that are universal as well as uniquely Japanese.
 This whimsical look at "the language of no language" will teach you to hurl insults, flirt, agree, excuse yourself, cross the street, and even make promises - wordlessly! Some are deadly, some practical, some wacky, but all are genuine and used today on the streets of Japan, at home, and in manga and anime (anime fiends —you've probably already seen Gesture #58)
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, December 2005
Japanese for Dummies with AUDIO+CD
Japanese Language Book Review
We consider all the 'for Dummies' books to be the best in their genre. Well written and un-intimidating, the series' ability to "hand-hold" the reader through the daunting task of learning something new has not been matched by another other. Japanese for Dummies is no different in that is makes learning the language both fun, and easier than you would expect.
The layout of the book is perfect for the language newbie with chapters that focus on a variety of things (like going shopping) each with new vocabulary, useful verbs (and their basic conjugations), set phrases and a practice dialogue. We can't recommend it enough!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, June 2003
Japanese for Busy People
Japanese Language Book Review
Japanese for Busy People is exactly what the title says, for people who want to learn essential Japanese as quickly and as effectively as possible. Teaching both written and spoken word, the book is littered with illustrations so that you may instantly start recognizing things like No-Smoking signs or how to read "Please Keep Off the Grass". But do not be fooled into thinking this is simply a phrase-book. Oh no, this is a complete study of Japanese, but it uses phrases you'll need during the course of everyday life in Japan as examples to guide you through each lesson.
Unlike many books that purport to teach Japanese, this does not start off with simplistic ways of expression, rather, the book aims to help the reader obtain the information he or she needs by immediately using adult vocabulary and grammar patterns that are used in conversational Japanese.
The book is divided into 30 easy lessons, with a quiz at the end of each lesson to see what you've learned. What's amazing is that each lesson should only take about a 1/2 hour to memorize, which means that with about 15 devoted hours, you should be well on your way to speaking and reading Japanese. Truly Japanese for Busy People!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, January 2003
Japanese Beyond Words:
How to Walk and Talk Like a Native Speaker
Japanese Language Book Review
Simply learning the language is not enough if you want to go to Japan and blend in as best you can. Just as an English dictionary doesn't cover slang, and they don't teach New York City hand-gestures in schools, there are many nuances to Japanese conversation in everyday life that do not appear in 99% of the language-instruction courses and books.
That's where this super-useful volume comes in to fill that gap. Contained within are the things you need to know to get by in Japan, and *not* be treated as "Gaijin". When the day comes that we find the time to go to Japan, this book will be required reading during the flight. Campai!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, March 2004
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How To Speak Japanese Website Links:
Learn Japanese Podcast
All the Japanese Slang You Can Stand
Japanese Words and Phrases in Anime
Article: Anime Translation
Animelab.com: Online Japanese Translator
Kanji Alive
A searchable, web-based tool to help beginning and intermediate level students read and write Japanese kanji
Collin's Japanese Language & Culture Page
Japanese language entry at Wikipedia
Instant Immersion Japanese
Japanese Language Software Review
Hajimemashite, dozo yoroshiku. It's "Hooked on Phonics" meets "Learn Japanese". With this 4 CDROM set for all versions of Windows (i.e., 95 and up), learning Japanese has never been so fun or so easy! With an intuitive interface and clever graphics you'll be learning Japanese words and memorizing the proper syntax in no time. Plus there's an assortment of mini-programs to help you along, such as "Jquicktrans" which provides a handy Kanji lookup table, so learning the written language becomes as quick and easy and learning the spoken language.
Make no mistake, there's a learning curve — learning an entirely different language is no easy task and you'll need to dedicate yourself to really doing the work. But, at such a low price, you won't find a better deal for an introduction to Japanese. Although the four discs don't necessarily offer a linear course to follow, any user will be able to pick out the pieces they're most interested in to get a solid introduction to Japanese.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, May 2002
Yumi Japanese Speaking Doll
Anime Toy Review
Okay, this is perhaps a little silly, but it's a great way to introduce yourself (or perhaps introduce your children) to speaking and understanding the spoken Japanese language. "Yumi" is an appealing bilingual doll who can introduce herself in both English and Japanese, as well as list her favorite classes and musical instruments.
When her hand is pressed, she says each sentence or phrase first in English and then in Japanese, in a sweet, feminine voice. She can also say "I love you" in English and Japanese when a heart on her knee is pressed. Umi requires three AA batteries (included). She's cute and great fun!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, June 2003
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