Learn kanji with my Kanji Kanban(漢字看板) Japanese street and shop sign series, an ever expanding database of kanji, hiragana and katakana characters in natural contexts. The word ‘kanban’ refers to shop signs in Japanese. This series focuses on the joyo kanji (常用漢字), the most frequently used characters. It includes various reference tools that make this … Read more
Rikaichan is a pop-up Japanese dictionary add-on that can really turbo charge your online Japanese reading practice. If I had to give up all but one of my printed and online Japanese language learning resources, rikaichan would be the keeper. And it happens to be free! You can download it and get more info here. … Read more
おまつり How do you say ‘festival’ in Japanese? If you’re learning hiragana, try reading this poster advertising an upcoming event. I noticed it on a community message board in my neighborhood in Kyoto. The お at the beginning is an honorific and is often omitted. Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool … Read more
あっ！あぶないですよ！！ ケータイに夢中になって歩く行為 お酒に酔ってのちどり歩き 列車接触などにより、思わぬ大けがにつながる恐れがあります。また、電車に遅れが生じ、多くのお客さまにご迷惑が掛かります。 ２０１０年度に発生した人者事故などにより、東急線全線で 約５００，０００人の方に影響が及びました。 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading this poster that I saw on a trip to Tokyo late last year at a station operated by Tokyu Dentetsu, a major private railway. Click on the photo to … Read more
学割 学生 家族 ３年タダ！ Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading this poster. It’s from the same SoftBank campaign that was featured in Kanji Kanban #75. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their order of … Read more
COWBOY家族 営業時間 平日 １１：００−１５：３０ １７：００−２３：３０ 土日祝 １１：００−２３：３０ ステーキ＆ハンバーグ サラダバー ステーキ、ハンバーグがサラダバー付 ９８０円（税込み１，０２９円）より Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photos if you need help reading this sign. Click on the photo to see the characters more clearly. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their … Read more
守り続ける京のまち昔も今もこれからも 毎月５日 ２０日 無火災推進日 京都市消防局 消火器 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photos if you need help reading this poster that I saw recently on a community bulletin board in my Kyoto neighborhood. Click on the closeup photo to see the characters more clearly. The character 京 is often … Read more
豚まん １コ ２２０円 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photos if you need help reading this sign that advertises a shop’s butaman steamed pork buns. I saw it on the morning of a big flea market, and the shop takes advantage of its proximity to all the … Read more
忠犬ハチ公 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photos if you need help reading the characters. Hachiko is likely the most well known dog in Japan, and thanks to the Hollywood remake of the Japanese film about his loyal devotion to his master, he’s known widely outside … Read more