Practical Japanese

This is a concise and effective Japanese phrase book and guide to the Japanese language with color pictures and accompanying exercises for each section. In this modern jet age, one can reach any part of the world within a day or less. Although English is widely spoken, it is very helpful to have some knowledge of the language of the country which you are visiting in order to make your trip more enjoyable by communicating with the local people and understanding their culture. Intended for beginners who wish to learn to speak Japanese at a very basic level within a few hours, this book is written in a clear and simple yet versatile way. With approximately 350 basic words and examples of how they are used in practical conversation speech, one can acquire a fundamental working knowledge of spoken Japanese from this book, so you can express yourself in simple Japanese sentences. This book has several exercises for each lesson. And, to get acquainted with Japanese culture, the student may enjoy the photos which the author has provided as a visual aid. Complicated grammatical explanations are omitted since detailed explanations sometimes discourage people from actually speaking. Only the essential points in pronunciation and grammar are given, and the Japanese phrases and sentences are repeated presented in each lesson so that the student can easily learn the phrases and practice using them without hesitancy or discouragement. Key features of Practical Japanese are: Over 350 essential Japanese words and 96 pages of practical conversational usage. 25 carefully structured lessons to reinforce Japanese vocabulary and Japanese grammar. Accompanying practice exercises for every lesson. All words and phrases are shown in written Japanese—Kanji and Kana (Hiragana and Katakana), Romanized Japanese (Romanji), and English Over 200 simple illustrations. A concise pronunciation guide. Businesspeople, tourists as well as the student or prospective foreign resident in Japan, young or old, will find this Japanese phrasebook a helpful and enjoyable tool in speaking Japanese for the first time.

Over 100 of these favorite recipes from the authors. Each recipes is explained with photos & step-by-step instructions on a large one- or two-page spread. The results are arranged by Japan's top food photographer, Toshikatsu Saeki--giving cooks a feeling for the Japanese art of food arranging, too. All recipes include calorie counts. They also show how to combine recipes in classic Japanese "lunchbox" style, for picnics or for new multiple-dish ideas for lunch & dinner at home.

"A brilliant wedding of 'national character' studies and analyses of small societies through the structural approach of British anthropology. One is of course reminded of Ruth Benedict's Chrysanthemum and the Sword which deals also with Japanese national culture. Studies by Margaret Mead and Geoffrey Gorer deal with other national cultures; however, all of these studies take off from national psychology. Professor Nakane comes to explanation of the behavior of Japanese through analysis rather of historical social structure of Japanese society, beginning with the way any two Japanese perceive each other, and following through to the nature of the Japanese corporation and the whole society. Nakane's remarkable achievement, which has already given new insight about themselves to the Japanese, promises to open up a new field of large-society comparative social anthropology which is long overdue." —Sol Tax "This is an important book!"--Robert E. Cole, Journal of Asian Studies "If you have time for just one book on Japan, try this one."--David Plath, Asian Student "Should be taken to heart by everyone who has dealings with Japan. . . .Even those--or, perhaps, most of all those--who know Japan intimately will be grateful to Professor Nakane for her brilliant study."--Times Literary Supplement

Praying for practical benefits (genze riyaku) is a common religious activity in Japan. Despite its widespread nature and the vast numbers of people who pray and purchase amulets and talismans for everything from traffic safety and education success to business prosperity and protection from disease, the practice has been virtually ignored in academic studies or relegated to the margins as a uh_product of superstition or an aberration from the true dynamics of religion. Basing their work on a fusion of textual, ethnographic, historical, and contemporary studies, the authors of this volume demonstrate the fallacy of such views, showing that, far from being marginal, the concepts and practices surrounding genze riyaku lie at the very heart of the Japanese religious world. They thrive not only as popular religious expression but are supported by the doctrinal structures of most Buddhist sects, are ordained in religious scriptures, and are promoted by monastic training centers, shrines, and temples. Benefits are both sought and bought, and the authors discuss the economic and commercial aspects of how and why institutions promote practical benefits. They draw attention to the dynamism and flexibility in the religious marketplace, where new products are offered in response to changing needs. Intertwined in these economic activities and motivations are the truth claims that underpin and justify the promotion and practice of benefits. The authors also examine the business of guidebooks, which combine travel information with religious advice, including humorous and distinctive forms of prayer for the protection against embarrassing physical problems and sexual diseases. Written in a direct and engaging style, Practically Religious will appeal to a wide range of readers and will be especially valuable to those interested in religion, anthropology, Buddhist studies, sociology, and Japanese studies.

This is a concise guide to learning beginner Japanese and includes an accompanying audio CD This pocket book is intended for people who want to learn the basics of the Japanese language quickly. Whenever you have a few minutes—waiting in a hotel lobby, riding on a train, or whatever—open this book and you can learn phrases you'll use again and again during your stay in Japan. The book is divided into twenty–one chapters, each covering a specific topic. Each chapter includes the following three sections: Words & Expressions: This section introduces words and expressions needed in specific situations. Vocabulary is presented systematically for quick and easy understanding. Expressions in Context: This shows how to use in context the words and expressions given in the preceding section. Gives you confidence in using new words in original sentences. Additional Words & Expressions: This section enables you to create many new sentences using the patterns just learned. There's no need to memorize all the words or phrases presented here: concentrate on just those you want to use. To use this book, start by reading the first three chapters of the book. These introduce many of the most commonly used words and phrases and familiarize you with the basic sentence structures. After Chapter 3, go straight to any chapter that interests you. If you want to know what to say on the phone, read Chapter 14: if you have to take a train, a few minutes with Chapter 6 should enable you to reach your destination quickly and conveniently. Although this book contains over three hundred carefully selected words and expressions, there is very little grammar included and there is no need for hours of rote memorization. All that is required is a few minutes of your time.

This book is an entry-level Japanese textbook comprising 10 lessons. It aims to teach the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing to students at university and other tertiary institutions, but will be found useful by anyone interested in learning the language. Pictorial illustrations bring each language pattern to life and easy-to-follow grammar language skills. Other features include lively conversation texts, numerous role-playing and other activities, listening practice, Japanese cultural notes, kanji reading and writing, and comprehensive grammar exercises.

Over 700 photographs and illustrations include step-by-step features, colour plans and diagrams, and inspirational pictures of a stunning array of Japanese gardens throughout Europe, Japan and the US. Presents 15 projects for creating complete Japanese gardens, together with clear explanations, illustrations and photography - each complete garden consists of three special features. Special sections on the five Japanese garden styles (pond gardens, dry gardens, tea gardens, stroll gardens and courtyard gardens) explain the characteristics of each style with practical tips on how to achieve them. This is an invaluable, comprehensive guide to creating the Japanese gardening style in locations ranging from large gardens to small yards. A plant directory gives a detailed evaluation of the various types of plants with advice on flowering habits, key growth stages and hardiness.