General Resources on Japan, Japanese Language, Literature and Culture for Students
General Resources on Japan, Japanese Language, Literature and Culture for Students
(click on topic)
Language / Culture / General Japanese Literature
Classical Japanese Literature / Computing in Japanese / Modern Japanese Literature
Japanese E-Mail Lists / Other Interesting Japanese E-Mail Lists / Other Interesting Web Sites
- On Line Japanese/English Dictionaries
- Canada - Jeffrey's Japanese<->English Dictionary Server--All these are servers providing the same dictionary. The dictionary is Japanese into English or English into Japanese. People may use this dictionary whether their computer supports kanji/kana or not; just be sure to follow directions on initial page carefully. If one server is busy try another one. This web site also contains information about relevant published dictionaries and their merits.
- US - Jeffrey's Japanese<->English Dictionary Server.
- America - Jeffrey's Japanese<->English Dictionary Server.
- Free Online Bidirectional Japanese-English Dictionary(by Jim Breen). In order to view or search Japanese entries, your computer needs to be able to support Japanese text.
- Jim Breen's Japanese English Dictionary This site requires your computer to be able to read kana/kanji. A very versatile on-line dictionary with many ways to look up words and kanji through several methods. Various dictionary files available are through this site:
- 1.EDICT - the main Japanese - English file
- 2.COMPDIC - Computing & Telecommunications terms
- 3.ENAMDICT - a big file of Japanese place and person names
- 4.LIFSCIDIC - the Life Sciences dictionary of bio-medical terms
- 5.JDDICT - a short Japanese - German dictionary
- 6.FINMKTDIC - Financial and Marketing terms
- 7.MISCDIC - collection of small glossary files, covering: aviation, law, geology, concrete, pulp & paper, etc.
- 8.J_PLACES - a file of Japanese place-names derived from the big postal-code database (under construction).
- 9.THE_LOT - a combination of the EDICT, COMPDIC, ENAMDICT, LIFSCIDIC, FINMKTDIC and MISCDIC files. Useful for text glossing and wide-ranging searches.
- Japanese English Dictionary Portal Allows you to surf the web or read electronic text online and look up what you do not know by highlighting words, phrases or kanji.
- "Let's Study Kansai Ben"--This is a very brief introduction into Kansai-ben and not a complete dictionary by any means.
- About.com's Japanese Language Page - This lists various online and computerized dictionaries including freeware, kanji dictionaries and multilingual combinations (e.g., Chinese, Korean, Japanese, & English)
- Useful Sites for Learning Japanese and Learning about the Language. These sites include useful online references as well as places to practice.
Culture
(The following are in alphabetical order and not in order of usefulness or any other criteria.)
- About Japan - Information on numerous topics about modern and traditional Japan
- Another Japanese Links Page - This has hundreds links with web sites about Tokyo and Japan with guide to Japanese embassies and consulates.
- Discovering Japan Through the Internet - annotated links in a variety of subject areas that touch on many aspects of Japan and its people.
- Gateway Japan - large US-Japan database covering all topics of common interest. Special coverage on living in America for the Japanese community in Japanese and English.
- General Links on Japan
- Ian Buruma on-line. An important European writer on Japanese culture.
- Irasshai - educational site rich in annotated materials on Japan, Japanese language and Japanese culture.
- Japan - general information from the University of Texas.
- Japan: A Personal Perspective - photos and brief essays about Japanese history, culture, and the experience of living in Japan.
- Japan CyberGuide - original feature articles on life, business, and travel in Japan, and links to Japan - related resources.
- "Japan Echo"-- a magazine on line about Japan.
- Japanese Information - with sections on geography, culture and customs; also has an audio file of the Japanese national anthem, "Kimigayo."
- Japan Information Network - sponsored by Japan Center for Intercultural Communications. This contains comprehensive Information of Japan, including current status, regional info., statistics, directory, opinions etc...)
- Japan Information Resource Center
- Japan Links - on official and general life sites.
- Japan-related documents and search engine for database: The Japan Documentation Center (JDC) collects current Japanese
information on Japan's public policy, especially source materials in economics, commerce and industry, law, politics, the environment, national defense and social conditions. The materials are:
Collected from both government and private sources .
Difficult-to-obtain unpublished literature, usually referred to as "grey literature"(policy studies and reports, white papers and annual reports, draft legislation, think-tank reports,public opinion polls, conference proceedings).
Up-to-date source materials: The staff in Tokyo keeps direct and close contact with and collects materials from government departments and various agencies. These materials are sent to JDC by air mail, express mail or even by fax, to provide speedy delivery of up-to-theminute information to researchers.
Approximately 95% of the materials are in Japanese: The remainder are in English. An Englishabstract is created for each document to help users determine the contents of the Japanese materials. This site give information on how search the JDC database and request documents.
- Japan-related Web Links: History
- Japan-related Web Links: Music
- The Web Kanzaki: Music
- The Japan Web Guide
- Japan Web Site - see Japan through the eyes of a native turned tourist; there are sections on history, holidays, and well-known attractions across the country.
- Japan Window - categories include: government, tourism, business and technology; there is also a section devoted to children.
- JGuide: Stanford University's guide to Japan Information Sources (includes what was formerly known as WWW Virtual Library Site for Japan).
- Keiko Schneider's Page on Japanese Culture and Info
- National Archives of Japan
- Navigating Life in Japan - explains the logisitcs of daily life and more for would-be residents and visitors to the country.
- Nihongo.org - information on Japan and its customs for non-natives.
- Schauwecker's Guide to Japan - a guide to contemporary and traditional Japan. Includes information on many subjects, a variety of images and links, and a pen pal forum.
- U.S. Library of Congress Country Study - Japan - thorough introduction to the country, with sections on history, society and geography.
- Your Complete Guide to Life in Japan!
General Japanese Literature
Classical Japanese Literature
Modern Japanese Literature
Computing in Japanese
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How to do Japanese on your Computer: Theory and Practice
Useful information for both Macintosh and DOS/Window computers.
Japanese E-mail Lists for Students of the Japanese Language
The following e-mail lists are for students of the Japanese language who want to practice reading and writing the language. To subscribe, click on the appropriate list below for you to send an e-mail, leave the subject line blank, and in the text of the message write:
SUBSCRIBE NAMEOFTHELIST YOURGIVENNAME YOURFAMILYNAME
In the return mail, you will receive important information about the list about unsubscribing and other vital matters. Please save this message for later reference. More information as well as all previous exchanges are available in our archives.
- GAKUSEI-L This (romaji only) list is for novice readers and writers of Japanese. A few words of English here and there are allowed if necessary.
- GAKUSEI2-LThis (romaji only) list is for novice readers and writers of Japanese who have had two to three years of language study. A few words of English here and there are allowed if necessary.
- GAKUSEI3-L This (romaji only) list is for more advanced students of Japanese. English is discouraged, but not totally forbidden.
- GAKUSEIK-L This (kana/kanji only) list is for novice readers and writers of Japanese. Your computer must be set up to handle Japanese font codes (e.g., JIS, SHIFT-JIS, EUD).
- GAKUSEI2K-L This (kana/kanji only) list is for readers and writers of Japanese who have had a year or two of study. Your computer must be set up to handle Japanese font codes (e.g., JIS, Shift-JIS, EUD).
- BUNPOU-L This list handles grammar, vocabulary, cultural context and other problems of List Members. Members write both in Japanese and/or in English. List owners, list monitors, Japanese language teachers, native speakers and the more advanced students offer help, advice and solutions. List Members usually write in English, give examples in romaji and/or kanji. As some members cannot read kana/kanji code, it strongly urged that any Japanese be written in romaji as well as kana/kanji.
- SENSEI-LThis list is for teachers of the the Japanese Language who want to discuss how to use the lists in their classes or with their students. Other pedagogical issues are welcome to be raised on the list. Subscription for this list requires approval of one of the owners.
Other Interesting Japanese E-Mail Lists
JAPAN-RELATED LISTSERVS by Subject--Verified active as of June 1997. (Click on address below to send e-mail subscribing. Be sure to follow instructions exactly. Generally put nothing in the subject heading unless otherwise instructed.)
JAPANESE LANGUAGE-related
[SEE SECTION ABOVE FOR LISTS TO PRACTICE READING AND WRITING JAPANESE]
POLITICAL/SOCIAL ISSUES-related
Other Interesting Japanese Web Sites
Professional Associations & Journal
Bookstores' web sites to buy books in the original Japanese and/or translated Japanese books
(These links are not recommendations of any store or site.)
Compiled by M.J. Miller on August 30, 1999
Any comments or questions contact me by clicking the e-mail address below.
mjmiller4@facstaff.wisc.edu