Learn Japanese Pod Magazine September 2011

LEARN JAPANESE POD MAGAZINE

September 2011

NARA 奈良 Lear nJapanesePod.com

TRAVEL

JAPANESE

EVENTS

This month’s travel feature focuses on visiting Nara on foot with recommendations on some of the best places to visit.

In this month’s edition we look at some really useful verbs to make you sound more natural in Japanese.

Find out what is happening across Japan this September with our full events listings.

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Welcome

Fun Friday

Useful Links

Welcome to the Learn Japanese Pod Magazine for September 2011. This month has even more great information on Japan and learning Japanese. In this month’s edition, we have a Japanese lesson, interview with a Shamisen teacher, a travel guide to Nara, full events listings for Japan for September and more. We hope you enjoy this magazine and would love to hear your thoughts, ideas, comments and suggestions so please feel free to drop us an email at: info@learnjapanesepod.com

If you haven’t heard the Fun Friday editions of Learn Japanese Pod

Here are some useful links on the Learn Japanese Pod Website:

Learn Japanese Pod News We have some exciting news for you from the Learn Japanese Pod website.

Over the next few weeks, we will be releasing some more Japanese lesson podcasts and ending at lesson #110. This will be the end of season one. After that, we are planning a totally new season of podcasts and videos in a new format. So please stay tuned for that.You can check out all the podcasts on the podcasts page.

check out the latest one here with Alex and Asuka. The Fun Friday podcast is where we put down our

All the podcasts A comprehensive list of all the

Japanese textbooks and talk about life in Japan, studying Japanese and

podcasts to date on Learn Japanese Pod.

anything else that comes into our heads at the time of recording. In the latest one, we discuss what Asuka

Kana Invaders This is a space invaders game for

misses from Japan, the difference between American, English and

learning Hiragana and Katakana

Japanese service and drug stores in

Forums

Japan. Check it out!

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Japan Events

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Please email us if you have any

Contents

Japan-related events in your corner of the globe. We would love to hear

Japanese Lesson Interview Visiting Nara Japanese Recipe September Events

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something near them. Please email us at: info@learnjapanesepod.com

about your events so other people interested in learning about Japan, its culture and language can find

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3 4 5~7 8 9

JAPANESE LESSON

日本語

TE+Miru Compound Verbs

Ex 3)

In this month’s lesson we are going to A: できる？ look at adding the verb MIRU (to see) B: とりあえずやってみる to the end of TE form verbs. The resulting meaning denotes trying the A: dekiru? action of the first verb and seeing what the results might be.

For example:

B: Toriaezu yatte miru A: Can you do it?

B: Well, I’ll try it and see for now

食べてみる - tabete miru

Other Examples

To try some food

It is also possible to modify the verb MIRU as in these following examples.

飲んでみる - nonde miru To try a drink

1. この本を読んでみたい

行ってみる - itte miru

kono hon o yonde mitai

To go and try/see something やってみる - yatte miru To try to do something

Example Dialogs Ex 1) A: この飲み物は何？

socchoku ni itte miro Try telling the truth (very strong) 3. 行ってみようかなと思った itte miyou kana to omotta

A: kono nomimono wa nani

I was thinking of going/checking it out

B: Apple juice. Try (drink ) it.

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2. 正直に言ってみろ

B: リンゴジュース。飲んでみて！

B: ringo jyuusu. nonde mite.

A: What’s this drink?

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I want to try/read this book

Ex 2) A: 昨日初めてケーキを作ったけど食

4. やってみよう yatte miyou Let’s try it

べてみる？

5.

B: うん、食べる！

靴をはいてみてもいいですか

A: kinou hajimete keeki wo tsukutta kedo, tabete miru

kutsu o haite mite mo ii desu ka Can I try on these shoes?

B: Un, taberu A: Yesterday I made a cake for the first time, do you want to try it?

So, try adding these phrases to your

B: Yes, I’ll eat/try it

what happens. 是非やってみてくださ

daily Japanese conversation and see い。Try it out!

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INTERVIEW Kumiya Fujimoto Fujimoto sensei, a Shamisen teacher in Tokyo.

in love with her teachers voice and presence. So I decided to take it up.

If you are looking for some easily accessible traditional Japanese

Who are your favorite Shamisen performers?

music and other arts, then Kumiya

My favorite Shamisen performer in

Fujimoto is your person. You can usually find her hosting and

the whole word is my own teacher.

performing in “Japanese Lounge Night�, a free monthly event, held at

Traditional Japanese Performing Arts in Tokyo

How did Japanese Lounge Night start?

One of my students from Jamaica

the Pink Cow in Tokyo. Performances took me along to an event at the Pink include Shamisen, Koto, Taiko, Cow. I became friends with the Japanese flutes and even live manager there and we came up with painting to name just a few of the the idea of putting on an event that acts. The standard is high as many of showcases the best of traditional the performers are professional Japanese arts and talent. teachers and performers as is Fujimoto. I caught up with her and we For more information about Shamisen talked about about music, the lessons with Fujimoto sensei please shamisen and performing. visit her website at:

How did you get into playing the Shamisen?

Shamisen-Sensei.com You can also find out more about the

When my grandmother took me to

Japanese Lounge Night here:

her Shamisen lesson, I completely fell Japanese Lounge Night on Facebook

Japanese Lounge Night If you want to experience some traditional performing arts from Japan for free, then head down to the Pink Cow in Shibuya Tokyo for the Japanese Lounge Night which is held every month. The event is hosted by Kumiya Fujimoto, a Shamisen performer and teacher based in Tokyo. Check the links below for more information: The Pink Cow Kumiya Fujimoto

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NARA 奈

良

VISITING NARA Trip to Nara

careful because when food is added to the equation, the deer become heavenly animals with attitude. There are

In our last issue, we looked at sightseeing in Kyoto and this month, we stay in the Kansai region with a trip to

signs warning unsuspecting tourists of the occasional

Nara. Compared to Kyoto, Nara is smaller but still has a

bad behavior of the deer. For example:

lot of historical sites of interest and beautiful scenic walks well worth a visit. Nara has also escaped more from some

かむ - kamu - biting たたく - tataku - kicking

of the ugly modern development that Kyoto has been criticized for. Another great feature is that it is easy to get

突く- tsuku - butting

around on foot or if you are feeling more adventurous, you can take a rickshaw tour. You can easily see the main temples, check out the old town in Naramachi and play

突進 - tosshin - charging

with the mischievous deer in Nara Park all in one day.

I don't want to give the deer a bad reputation as they are definitely very cute and have even learned to bow to

On my last trip, fatigued from a busy one day photo

receive food with out charging…usually.

shoot in Kyoto, I decided to walk around Nara at a more leisurely pace. Here is the main route I took with some of

Todaiji

the highlights of the trip.

On the lead up to Todaiji temple before the Dainanmon

Mischievous deer

gate, there are some souvenir shops which are, in my humble opinion, not too high on the tacky scale. They are

When getting off at Kintestu Nara station and walking

always great places to buy little fun gifts for friends and

north into Nara park, the first things you will see are the deer. According to the legends of Kasuga shrine, the deer

family back home.

are regarded as heavenly animals who are guardians of the city and Japan. Although mostly docile, these are

As you keep walking you'll pass under the impressive Dainanmon gate with a few nonchalant deer chilling out

heavenly animals not to be messed with when you get a

in the shade. Keep walking and you'll get to the hall

Shika Sembei in your hand. Those are special rice crackers sold to tourists to feed the deer. You should be

where the statue of the 1000 year old Daibutsu is housed.

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NARA ĺĽˆč‰Ż

The size of the hall and the statue is simply staggering. In fact, the current

After that is Mizutani Jinja, a beautiful little shrine nestled in the forests of

structure, rebuilt during the Edo

Nara park.

period, is roughly one third smaller than the original temple built in the

One of my favorite things about

8th century. There is a model of the original temple inside Todaiji behind

Japanese shrines is the way many of them are built to feel interwoven with

the Daibutsu which gives you an idea

their surrounding natural habitat. I

of how massive the original structure was.

always feel that Shrines are a way for busy Japanese people to reconnect

Scenic walks

with nature and their spiritual side.

On less crowded days, places such

After Todaiji, walking due east up the hill, I passed the belfry and then got to Tamukeyama Hachiman-gu Shrine with stone lanterns lining the entrance. I continued walking along the path towards Mizutani Jinja along the foot of Mt. Wakakusa which has some great views of Nara. Along the way are some craft shops and tea houses where you can stop for a break.

Around Nara From top to bottom: A tea house, the Daibutsu in Todaiji temple, a rickshaw outside the entrance to Todaiji and some deer in Nara Park.

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as Toshogu in Nikko are good examples of this.

There are some paths that connect Mizutani shrine to some other really beautiful woodland shrines, including Kasuga Taisha which was next on my itinerary. It is famous for its numerous lanterns made from stone and bronze. During festivals in February and August all the lanterns are lit which look almost otherworldly.

Ryokans and Tea Houses

When to go to Nara

Walking down the hill due west from Kasuga, I came out into the main park again in the direction of Kofukuji and

You won't be disappointed going to Nara at any time of year, however Spring and Autumn are the most beautiful

the Five story pagoda. On the way, I found some really

seasons to visit Nara park.

beautiful tea houses and Ryokans which I had missed on previous visits to Nara.

Also, it tends to get a little crowded with tour groups and school children during school and national holidays.

How To Get There From Kansai International and Osaka Itami airports there are Limousine buses that leave every hour to stations in Nara. From Osaka, the quickest way is to take the train on the Kintetsu Nara line from Namba station. From Kyoto you can take the JR Nara line or Kintetsu Kyoto line. From Tokyo, a cheap alternative to flying or taking the Shinkansen is taking an overnight bus.

Kofukuji and the Pagoda Before getting back to Kintestu Nara station, the penultimate part of my tour was Kofukuji temple and the Five Story Pagoda. As with Todaiji these are some of the most famous spots to visit in Nara. Again, as with the Daibutsu, this area can get very crowded during the school trip season and in the Spring and Autumn.

Naramachi The last leg of my journey took me to the shopping arcade just south of Nara Kintestu Station. Walking south from there, I got to Naramachi which is an old district of Nara famous for its beautifully preserved traditional architecture. You can also find cafes, restaurants, shops as well as Gangoji temple. This is a great area to take in the traditional feel of Nara, sample some of the local tea, sweets, and go shopping for souvenirs for friends and family.

Virtual iPad Tour of Nara If you can’t get to Nara just yet but want a virtual tour, then you should check out the Nara Travel App for iPad. I worked with my good friends at Glob Design to put this together for people interested in photography, travel and Japan.

The app includes over 100 high resolution photos of all the places I mentioned in this article. It also includes full explanations of names and places around Nara. Each place is located on an interactive map with GPS coordinates so you can find them if you decide to visit Nara.

We have also made other travel apps for the iPad which focus on Kansai including Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. You can check out all of the travel apps here.

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和食 RECIPES In our recipe section we look at how to make some delicious and healthy Japanese food but without the hassle.

Wow your friends with these easy and delicious Japanese recipes Are you the type of person who loves Japanese food but feels daunted at the prospect of preparing it yourself? It

the summer, it is common to chill them by soaking them in ice water for 5 or 10 minutes. You can then take them

does seem as if Japanese food requires the skilled hands

out, dry them and slice them as you want. Serve with the

of a stony-faced sushi master who has made multiple TV appearances on Iron Chef. However, don't worry

Moromi miso and try your chopsticks skills out on them.

If you can't get your hands on Moromi miso, you could

because there are also a lot of delicious recipes that are quick and easy to prepare as well as being very healthy.

get away with using 白みそ which is usually a little lighter

In this month's cooking section we will be looking at the mother of all simple healthy Japanese cooking which is

Nasu miso

and sweeter than other heavier misos.

miso.

This is another delicious dish that is quite easy to prepare. First of all, cut up some eggplants into flat

Morokyu

slices, brush them in oil and bake or grill them for 4 or 5 minutes until they start to turn golden brown. Now, brush

Morokyu is a really delicious and simple dish to prepare.

on plenty of miso paste and bake or grill for a few more

It is slices of cucumber (kyuri きゅうり) served with a

minutes until the eggplant is tender and the miso is special kind of miso called Moromi Miso もろみ味 . This golden brown. is a teiban 定番 which means it is commonly served in

Before adding the miso to the eggplant you can also mix

Izakayas throughout Japan.

in some rice vinegar, sugar and ginger to taste. You might

First of all, you'll need some Japanese cucumbers. If you can't get your hands on them, mini cucumbers will do. In

need to experiment with the mix and the grilling but it is an easy dish to make and tastes fantastic.

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SEPTEMBER 2011EVENTS LIST Music events, festivals, fireworks happening across Japan this Autumn.

Festivals Hassaku-Sai September 1st

Autumn Equinox September 23

Music Events

Osaka Tokyo Jazz Festival

“Owara Kaze No Bon” Festival in Toyama

Owara Kazeno Bon September 1~3

September 2~4 Tokyo International

Toyama City

Forum

Karazumo

Linkin Park

September 9 Kamowake Ikazuchi Jinja

September 10, 11 Makuhari Messe

Tokyo Game Show

September 13

Makuhari Messe, Chiba

September 17 ~ 18

Hanamaki Festival September 9~11

Yokohama Arena September 14

Hanamaki City

Nagoya September 16

We need your Help

Morioka Festival

Osaka

We are planning to extend our events

September 14~16 Morioka Iwate

Maxi Priest

listings to Japan-related events outside Japan and that is where we need your help.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Festival

September 12 Billboard Live Osaka

September 14~16

September 13

If you are holding an event in your

Kamakura

Billboard Live Tokyo

area that is related to Japan, please let us know and we will include it here

Kishiwada Danjiri Festival September 17~18

Kansai Music Conference September 16~19

in our listings.

Osaka

Osaka

Whether it is a Japanese festival,

Aizu Byakko Festival

musical performance, book reading A series of music events held in Osaka to promote independent music or special ninja training, we would love to hear about it. It will also give in Japan. This is a networking

September 22~24 Aizuwakamatsu City

opportunity for musicians, promoters, people a chance to experience a little Japanese culture in their area. distributors and music fans to get

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri September 23~24

together and network.

Isumi City Chiba

Other Events

National Holidays

Sumo Tournament September 11 ~ 25

Respect for the Aged Day

Ryogoku Kokugikan Tokyo

Please write to us at info@learnjapanesepod.com and let us know about your events.

September 19

© 2011 Learn Japanese Pod / Alex Brooke.

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