Japanese Resources

language laboratory catalog

Basic Language Study Recordings
Supplementary Language Study/Culture Recordings
Music Recordings
Videocassettes
DVDs
Books
CD-ROM Programs
Web Links

Basic Language Study Recordings

Executive Japanese, vols. 1-3 (Takamizawa) (JP 1.003)

Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (Banno, Ohno, Ikeda, Shinagawa, Tokashiki) (JP 1.015)

Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese, 2nd edition (Banno, Ohno, Ikeda, Shinagawa, Tokashiki) (JP 1.022)

Genki II: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese (Banno, Ohno, Ikeda, Shinagawa, Tokashiki) (JP 1.016)

An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese, revised edition (Miura, McGloin) (JP 1.019)

Japanese Comprehensive Course I, Third Edition (Pimsleur) (JP 1.020)

Nihongo Chukyu J501 (Intermediate Japanese J501) (Satoshi, Masaaki, Fumiya, Koko, Hiroko) (JP 1.018)

Tobira: Gateway to Advanced Japanese - Learning Through Content and Multimedia (Oka, Tsutsui, Kondo, Emori, Hanai, Ishikawa) (JP 1.023)

*Also available are audio programs for texts used in previous years.

Supplementary Language Study/Culture Recordings

Doing Business in Japan: Telling It Like It Is (JP 4.002) - thirty informative articles based on the experiences of foreign-born businessmen and journalists who have lived and worked in Japan; texts of articles printed in Executive Japanese by Takamizawa (©1987 Asmik Corp.); three cassettes, 40 minutes each.

Topics include:

Kai (company get-togethers)

Mondaikai (problem-solving parties)

Fast and Easy Japanese (c. 1984,1985) (JP 1.007) - one audiocassette and phrase book of greetings, vocabulary, and expressions related to typical travel situations: ordering in a restaurant, making hotel reservations and travel plans, shopping, etc.; 60 minutes.

Japanese Culture Capsules (c. 1985) (JP 4.001) - one audiocassette of practical information for the traveler on vacation or on business in Japan; includes information on Japanese customs, traditions, manners, and languages; segments on greetings, bows, tea ceremony, miyage (gift giving), and dining out; in English; 60 minutes.

Japanese Language/30 (c. 1974) (JP 1.012) - one audiocassette and accompanying phrase dictionary/study guide organized into 6 categories: general expressions, personal needs, time/numbers/colors, communications, transportation, social customs, and polite expressions; booklet includes appendix of important signs encountered when traveling; approximately 66 minutes.

Japanese Language and People (c. 1991) (JP 1.004) - five 90-minute audiocassettes containing dialogues and exercises closely integrated with a video series of the same title. See description of video series below; Teachers’ Notes containing audio tapescripts available; 7 hours 30 minutes (total time).

Listen and Learn Japanese (c. 1959) (JP 1.001) - 1959 open-reel recording of short lessons designed to teach words and phrases used in everyday situations, i.e., at a hotel, at a restaurant, at a store, etc.; no text available; approximately 2 hours.

Teach Yourself Business Japanese (c. 2008) (JP 1.021) - three audio CDs, culture book, transcripts and glossary; resource for those who would like to learn the fundamentals of speaking Japanese in a corporate setting; approximately 3 hours.

Music Recordings

Best of China and Japan (MISC-CD 3.004)

The Rough Guide to the Music of Japan (JP-CD 3.001)

Videocassettes

Animated Classics of Japanese Literature – four ½” VHS color videocassettes; animated films of 8 works of Japanese literature; average duration of each film approximately 25 minutes; in Japanese with English subtitles.

    Titles:
    Video #1:
    Botchan (parts 1 and 2) by Natsume Soseki
    Total Time = 52 minutes

    Video #2:
    1.The Season of the Sun by Ishihara Shintaro
    2.Student Days by Kume Masao
    3.The Grave of the Wild Chrysanthemum by Ito Sachio
    Total Time = 78 minutes

    Video #3:
    The Sound of the Waves (parts 1 & 2) by Mishima Yukio
    Total Time = 52 minutes

    Video #4:
    1. A Walker in the Attic by Edogawa Rampo
    2. A Psychological Test by Edogawa Rampo
    3. A Red Room by Edogawa Rampo
    Total Time = 1 hour 18 minutes

風呂敷 Furoshiki (Wrapping Cloth)
½” VHS B&W videocassette; comedic story presented before a live audience by Kokontei Shinsho V (1890 -1973), one of the most beloved and funniest 20th-century hanashika (professional comedy storytellers) in Japan; Story: A jealous husband leaves the house for a night with his friends. The wife welcomes Shinkichi into the house, a male friend who happens to stop by. Upon her drunken husband’s sudden return home, the wife quickly hides Shinkichi in the closet. When the husband decides to make himself comfortable in front of the closet, the wife, not knowing what to do, seeks the advice of her neighbor who suggests that the situation might be resolved with the help of furoshiki…(wrapping cloth); in Japanese, no subtitles; 21 minutes.

冬構え Fuyu Gamae (End of Life ) / (Take a Stance in Winter) [literal translation]
½" VHS color videocassette (©1985) of television drama; Story: In the Tohoku region, couples both young and elderly deal with personal loss and death throughout the change of seasons. The characters struggle to develop, grow, and age gracefully in the season that marks the end of life; in Japanese, no subtitles; 1 hour 40 minutes.

Japanese Language and People
three ½" VHS color videocassettes designed for beginning students of Japanese who wish to learn the language and the culture of Japan simultaneously; produced in 1991 by the BBC and filmed on location throughout Japan, these ten 25-minute video programs are complemented by short studio and animated graphics sequences; also available: five 90-minute audiocassettes containing dialogues and exercises, textbook, teacher's guide; 4 hours 40 minutes (total time of video)

    Titles:
    Video #1:
    1.   Introductions
    2.   All in the Family
    3.   All in a Day’s Work
    4.   Shop Around

    Video #2:
    1.   Schooltime
    2.   On the Road
    3.   Eating, Drinking, and Entertaining
    4.   Time Out

    Video #3:
    1.   Give and Take
    2.   Japan Tomorrow

今朝の秋 Kesa no aki (An Early Autumn) - ½" VHS color videocassette (©1988) of a television drama written by Taichi Yamada highlighting society’s focus on individuality and the struggles of family life; Story: An old hermit who lives alone in a mountain village gets news that his only son in Tokyo is at death’s door. He goes to visit his son at once, but struggles to find words for his dying son. Unexpectedly, he runs into his ex-wife whom he has yet to forgive for having been unfaithful; although once separated, the two come together to take care of their son; in Japanese, no subtitles; 1 hour 30 minutes.

翼をください Tsubasa wo Kudasai (Give Me Wings) - ½" VHS color videocassette (©1988) of television drama; Background: Students who attend Prefectural Hanafusa High School are misfits, outcasts or slackers. Because they failed entrance exams, these youngsters were not able to attend Hanafusa Institution of Higher Learning, the prestigious private school across the street; Story: Drama unfolds in the Maruyama family where two brothers, Eisaku and Tamotsu, attend the rival schools. Under the demands of Imaoka–sensei, will these hooligans ever realize their full potential in a school where Madonna is as important as books?; in Japanese, no subtitles; 2 hours.

Video Letter from Japan - ½" VHS color videocassette (©1984) intended to introduce Japan to Americans, through the eyes of Japanese children; describes the personal experiences of real Japanese students and shows how their society affects their lives; two "video letters" in one; accompanying teacher's guides available; each video segment runs approximately 25 minutes.

Titles:
Living Arts: Culture in Modern Kyoto — includes a look at noh, kabuki, bunraku, buyo, pottery, kimonos, martial arts, tea ceremony, and ikebana.

Friends — shows 6th graders relating to each other in typical activities after school, during vacations, and on weekends. Emphasizes the values important in making and maintaining friendships.

Yan and the Japanese People, Series I
1/2" VHS color videocassette produced in 1984 by the Japan Foundation; includes 13 humorous video skits based upon the adventures of the central character Yan, a foreigner; accompanying Teacher's Manual, Japanese-language text of video skits and English text of skits also available; intended for use by beginning Japanese language students; each skit = approximately 6 minutes; total time = approximately 80 minutes.

Yookoso! 2nd edition
c.1999 1/2" VHS color videocassette to supplement the text Yookoso! 2nd edition (JP 1.010/JP 1.011); includes some of the dialogues and situations covered in the textbook and others related to chapter topics; approximately 40 minutes; 2 copies.

DVDs

千と千尋の神隠し Spirited Away
Region 1 (NTSC) DVD of 2002 Academy Award–winning (Best Animated Feature) film by acclaimed animé director Hayao Miyazaki; a modern fairy tale that blends art, story, and symbolism. After an unfortunate detour on their way to their new home, Chihiro and her parents discover an abandoned village. Not realizing they have accidentally entered the spirit world, Chihiro's parents fall prey to a powerful spell. With only her courage and the friends she makes along the way, in order to return with her parents to the outside world, Chihiro must overcome the challenges of the spirit world and the greedy witch Yubaba. Special features on disc 2 include featurettes "The Art of Spirited Away" and "Behind the Microphone"(of the English-language version); the Nippon television special filmed inside Studio Ghibli during the creation of Spirited Away; original Japanese trailers for the film; selected storyboard-to-scene comparisons; Japanese, English and French audio tracks; and option of English subtitles; 2 hours 5 minutes.

Books

Japan — Images and Reflections published in 1982 by Japan National Tourist Organization.

The Japan of Today published in 1986 by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.

漫画人 Mangajin – past issues of magazine designed to promote Japanese language learning via the reading of manga and articles on Japanese popular culture.
Volume 1, no. 5 (November 1990), no. 6 (December 1990), no. 7 (February 1991), no. 12 (October 1991), no. 13 (December 1991), no. 15 (March 1992), no. 18 (June 1992), no. 32 (February 1994), no. 39(October 1994), no. 52 (February 1996) (©1990-1997 by Mangajin Inc. of Atlanta, GA)

CD-ROM Programs

51 Languages of the World — Dual-platform CD-ROM featuring 51 languages from all over the world; allows the user to speak with native speakers; interactive dialogues and conversation practice aid the user in learning and understanding more advanced speech, while games and quizzes make learning the language fun and interactive.

All-in-One Language Fun —Introductory language program using games as a way to teach. Enjoy yourself as you listen to native speakers as you play. This multimedia CD-ROM includes 27 games such as matching, puzzles, "Simon Says," and "Bingo." Each game has 1-5 different difficulty levels. 2 copies available.

Genki I Picture Cards — Windows/Mac CD-ROM program intended for language instructors' use in conjunction with the Genki I textbook (JP 1.015). The picture cards help to illustrate expressions and vocabulary used at the beginner’s level. A total of 465 cards are available. Accompanying book provides thumbnails of cards, indexes, and suggestions for use.

Genki I, 2nd edition Picture Cards — Windows/Mac CD-ROM program intended for language instructors' use in conjunction with the Genki I, 2nd ed. textbook (JP 1.022). The picture cards help to illustrate expressions and vocabulary used at the beginner’s level. A total of 518 cards are available. Accompanying book provides thumbnails of cards, indexes, and suggestions for use.

Genki II Picture Cards — CD-ROM program intended for language instructors' use in conjunction with the Genki II textbook (JP 1.016). The picture cards help to illustrate expressions and vocabulary used at the intermediate level. A total of 421 cards are available. with accompanying book.

Web Links

Japanese Online — multimedia Japanese lessons and link to Japanese-English dictionary.

Joyo96.org — Japanese resources for elementary and intermediate levels.

LangMedia: Japanese in Japan — by Five College Center for the Study of World Languages — authentic, unscripted video, audio, and still images covering practical aspects of daily life in Japan.

Renshuu.org — an extensive resource for practicing vocabulary, kanji and grammar by utilizing online textbook and quizzes. To be used at all stages of Japanese proficiency.

Wakan — free downloadable program used to learn Japanese and Chinese; includes dictionary, flash card maker, and vocabulary lists

Boston College