You reached a pretty decent level of fluency, passed JLPT N1 and are looking for some new study material? Then I got a recommendation for you! 超級表現 + 使える名句– Super high level expressions and phrases you can actually use is the title of a book my former Japanese teacher gave me and it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for and some of you might be too. The book includes some expressions that are also part of the JLPT 1 grammar but there’s a lot of expressions and grammar I haven’t seen before. The funny thing is, the expressions in this book seem more useful than lots of the JLPT 1 grammar. So it makes actually sense to remember them as you will most likely really use them yourself or hear/read them somewhere.

The single grammar points are explained by similar easier expressions and three example sentences help you further to understand the grammar and what kind of context you use it in. These example sentences are usually dialogues but written like people actually talk and not like the regular textbook Japanese. What I personally really like about it is that the example sentences are always connected to some proverb or popular and contemporary words.

It also includes expressions that are similar to the newly introduced grammar point and sometimes even shows you how you would say it in a more informal environment. Every chapter closes with some exercises to make sure you really remembered the new grammar. I think especially the connection of the brushed up expressions with expressions you usually use in informal conversations is actually a pretty good point because I know for myself and some friends that it’s much easier to get used to an informal environment but then when you have to be really polite you can’t come up with the right expressions. This book helps you to fill this gap.

One thing that’s missing is an indicator that shows you who actually uses the proverbs. Of course you can use all of the expressions but there might be some expressions that are mainly used by older people. So if you are in your 20s and for example drinking somewhere with your friends and you through in one of the proverb it might come across a little bit weird if it’s an expression basically only like 50 or 60 years old Japanese salarymen use. Apart from that, I can only recommend this book if you want to bring your Japanese to the next level.

“In 1987-88, Feiler was a participant in the Japanese government’s Living English program, teaching English and American culture in the middle schools of Sano, a rural town north of Tokyo. His report is a light-hearted yet extremely perceptive analysis of an educational system which systematically and deliberately teaches students the work ethic and a strong group identity. After his first-day welcome in a communal bath, Feiler is encouraged by his host family and friends to participate in festivals, observances, and local customs, all of which he colorfully describes. He also contrasts Japanese and American school objectives while thoroughly examining Japanese educational methodology. His book is recommended to educators and all who want to understand contemporary Japanese culture.”

Review:
During my initial motivational phase of learning Japanese, in which everyone around me could see some kind of new passion in my eyes surrounding Japanese and eventually going to Japan, I was fortunate that my father was someone who always encouraged me. Upon noticing my peak of interest to find out everything I possibly could about Japan, I came home one day with several books waiting me on my study desk. Amongst these books, Bruce Feiler’s “Learning How to Bow” was one of the books that initially caught my eye. The title was provocative, and gave a sense that you would learn something about the Japanese culture and way of life.

At my stage of learning at that point way back in 2005, this book was an amazing read. It gave a very good look at Japan’s quirkiness from a North American perspective (things like dating, daily life, customs, education, etc), in an easy to understand and digest sort of way. Esstentially you see Japan through the eyes of Bruce, who at the time was pretty much in the same position you would be in having next to no knowledge about Japan, and not being able to speak a word beyond konnichiwa!

Although a very intriguing read, the biggest downfall of this book is that it recollects the experiences of Bruce during the late 1980’s. It has been over 20 years since then and a lot surrounding English education and the Japanese social and political landscape has changed drastically. Nonetheless, this is a moment in time captured by Bruce, and done so beautifully. It is well worth the read for those in the initial phases of their interest in Japan and considering visiting there one day to teach. There are not many books out there that really capture Japan from this kind of innocent perspective anymore. Nowadays everyone is telling you what to do and how to do it (heh, so are we in a way!), so it is refreshing to get a feeling of “seeing it all for the first time.”

Grab this book right now for a good price on Amazon!

The results for the last Japanese Language Proficiency Test have just been published and some of you might have passed and some of you might have failed. But no worries, the next test is coming up in a few couple of months and you still got enough time – if you really start studying.

Here is a personal recommendation. The book is called  完全マスター1級 日本語能力試験文法問題対策 and I used this book to prepare for JLPT N1 July 2011 and passed (Hooray!). The books covers N1 grammar and is structured in several chapters covering time related expressions, state/condition related expressions, stressing expressing and many more. Each chapter consists of pages explaining the meaning of the expression, how to connect it and gives example sentences. The overview page also indicates if it is a regular expression, formal/written, or colloquial language. After that follows a double page with exercises for you to practice a little bit. Every chapter closes with a test for you that covers the whole chapter as well as two texts including the grammar you just learned to show you how it is used and in what context. It closes with a huge test covering the whole grammar. What I really like about the book is that it actually uses questions from old JLPT tests (indicated by the year in brackets after the test).

It’s really a great book for a pretty decent price (1260 JPY) and I can only recommend all of you who are planning on taking the JLPT N1 sooner or later to get it and study and study and study. Obviously this one only covers only grammar but we’ll give you some recommendations for other parts of the test as well.

By the way, if you wanna check out the details for the next JLPT or just some general information, click here.

“The Dignity of a Nation is a book by the famous Japanese essayist and mathematician Masahiko Fujiwara. Since its publication in November 2005, sales of the bestselling book have exceeded two million copies in Japan. It was based on a 2005 lecture The Future of Japan and the Future of the Japanese People. This bilingual version translated by Giles Murray was published in Japan in May 2007 by IBC Publishing.

The book criticizes the emphasis on Western logic in Japanese society and calls for a return to what is described as ancient Japanese virtues. Masahiko Fujiwara stands against globalism and claims that it is a method employed by the United States to attain world domination in our post-Cold War setting. Other disputes are directed against the market economy, which Fujiwara claims is widening the economic gap between the wealthy and impoverished in Japan and that this economic system has been slowly eroding the supposed egalitarianism in postwar Japan.

Fujiwara states that Japan is “the only civilization of emotion and shape” in the world. He claims that the Japanese meaning of nationhood has been lost amidst the forces of Americanization and internationalization. Social ruin has been brought upon by the notions of “reform”, “logic”, and “rationality”. The book touches on topics that range from national language and democracy to the samurai spirit.”

What I like about this book:

It’s bilingual with the left side in English and the right side in Japanese. It’s perfect for people who start reading real Japanese and are sick of regular textbooks. But even more important than that, the book itself is just really interesting and kind of eye-opening. Some of the approaches really make sense and it helps you to widen your horizons.

What I don’t like about it:

Fujiwara and his theories are kind of controversial. Even if some of his theories and approaches are pretty good, stating that Japan is the only nation that will save the world (seriously, that’s more less the punchline), is just let’s say questionable.

“The Dignity of a Nation” explains about Japanese spirit and tradition in an interesting way and questions the status quo from an interesting perspective. Furthermore, as you can use it to improve your reading comprehension and learn some interesting expression like 弱肉強食 (“survival of the fittest”) it’s definitely a book that worth reading.

“With over 50,000 copies sold in its first edition, Riding the Waves of Culture dispelled the idea that there is only one way to manage, and was the first book to show professional managers how to build the cross-cultural skills, sensitivity, and awareness required in today’s global business environment. In this second edition, Fons Trompenaars and co-author Charles Hampden-Turner reveal the seven key dimensions of business behavior, and how they combine to form four basic types of corporate culture:

• The Family (Japan, Belgium)
• The Eiffel Tower (France, Germany)
• The Guided Missile (US, UK)
• The Incubator (Silicon valley)

This revised and updated edition features completely new sections including:

• An in-depth examination of one of the world’s most multicultural nations­­South Africa­­and how recent events make it an ongoing laboratory of intercultural reconciliations
• A detailed analysis of how gender differences within the United States affect workplace and problem-solving behavior
• Current research findings on how ethnic differences within a society can be more troublesome than international differences­­and how some managers are keeping the peace
• A systematic program for uncovering, understanding, respecting, and reconciling cultural differences at all levels of the organization”

What I like about this book:

Although it’s an academical book, “Riding the Waves of Culture” is easy to read and a perfect introduction for everyone who wants to learn a little bit more about the vague concept of “culture”. Japanese culture and for example American culture, or French culture is obviously different, but when it comes to the point where you are asked to explain exactly what different, you might find it difficult to point it out. This book helps you to understand the underlying patterns and operating frames behind culture.

What I don’t like about it:

Honestly, there’s nothing I don’t like about this book.

“Riding the Waves of Culture” is a must read for everyone who wants to develop an open mindset. It helps you a lot before you travel to Japan and even after you got there, you can use the information to cope with culture shock.