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Musunde Hiraite Posted by Ginny on Jan 22, 2011
There is a cute Japanese children’s song called Musunde Hiraite (むすんでひらいて). Here is a video of the song. Note that the hand motions go along with the song. むすんで (musunde) Clench the palms together 開いて (hiraite) Open them 手を打って (te o utte) Clap your hands together むすんで (musunde) Clench the palms together また開いて (mata hiraite)…
Japanese Anime Posted by Ginny on Jan 19, 2011
It’s still not too late to make the commitment to learn Japanese! One way you can do this is by watching Japanese anime. If you’re not yet comfortable with your listening skills, you can still enjoy watching anime by making sure there are subtitles for each episode. That way, if you come across any words…
The 47 Rōnin Posted by Ginny on Jan 18, 2011
The shijū shichishi (四十七士) or the forty seven rōnin, were a legendary band of samurais who displayed the ultimate form of loyalty and sacrifice. The story of the forty seven rōnin is called chūshingura (忠臣蔵). Although the chūshingura is a widely loved story, it’s a fictional story, and there is little evidence that the forty…
Supernatural Animals Posted by Ginny on Jan 15, 2011
Japanese folklore is full of supernatural animals that perform amazing deeds. One of these creatures is called bakeneko (化け猫) or cat monster. Bakeneko are cats that have supernatural abilities and are able to shape shift into human beings. Many of the stories told about bakeneko are told orally and passed down through the centuries. Some…
Japanese Dramas of 2010 Posted by Ginny on Jan 10, 2011
As we move further into the year 2011, many people are making a New Year’s resolution to learn Japanese. One great way to enhance your listening skills is to watch Japanese doramas (ドラマ). A dorama is a television series that usually runs for ten episodes. Here is a list of some doramas of 2010 that…
Hot Pot Dishes Posted by Ginny on Jan 7, 2011
Nabemono (なべ物) refers to a Japanese dish that combines a variety of vegetables, meat and seasoning. They are also known as hot pot or steam pot dishes. Nabemono is large and is usually shared by family members. Eating nabemono is a way for people to get closer together, because they all eat from the small…
Japanese Song About A Hometown Posted by Ginny on Jan 3, 2011
Do you miss your hometown? ふるさと (Furusato) is a popular Japanese song about one’s hometown. Here is a video to the song : Here are the lyrics : うさぎ おいし かの やま (I chased rabbits on that mountain) こぶな つりし かの かわ (I fished for minnows in that stream) ゆめ は いま も めぐりて (I…