JapanLive - Little Stories from Japan

  This sunset has a somewhat dystopian touch.

If you go there early enough in the day, the sun let the colors of the Japanese larch trees explode. Together with the Japanese maple (orange and red) and the Gingko tree (yellow), the Japanese larch produces extravibrant colors in autumn (orangebrown). They are especially beautiful when seen together with blue skies. I added a close-up photo of the leaves as some people couldn't believe that it is a larch. If you scroll through my account you can see many more photos of the Japanese autumn colors. Larix kaempferi or Japanese larch or karamatsu (唐松 or 落葉松) in Japanese, is a species of larch native to Japan, in the mountains of Chūbu and Kantō regions in central Honshū. Acer palmatum, commonly known as Japanese maple, palmate maple, or smooth Japanese maple (Japanese: irohamomiji, イロハモミジ, or momiji, 栴), is a species of woody plant native to Korea, Japan, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo or gingko also known as the maidenhair tree...

  (Something for the older Germans among us: " Aufi muss I, I muss, I muss. ") Throughout my entire time in Japan, I never climbed it, and I don't think I ever will either , seeing the many people in videos or pictures. I can see it from Narita (distance about 130km), should be enough.

 So you want to learn Japanese? First advice, don't believe the services popping up on Instagram and Tik-Tok or wherever that you can learn Japanese in a month. That is absolutely unrealistic. They only say this that you subscribe to their paid programs. It is a long way until you will be able to say that you can speak Japanese. You can use Gemini or ChatGPT to get help in learning. "How to do" * Start with the basics. * Learn the Japanese writing systems. For a good overview see Wikipedia article on  Japanese language Japanese writing system Hiragana and Katakana Kanji If you have read these articles then you probably understand that you will have to go a long way. But a famous proverb tells you to just start and not to be overwhelmed by its length. " A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step ".  * Learn basic characters, grammar and vocabulary. * Practice regularly. So, what are basic characters? Hiragana Katakana Kyoiku kanji, followed by Joy...

 These files are available now at my  Google Drive : Many influencers/companies try to tell you that you can learn Japanese in a few weeks if you buy their services - even alongside your normal life. Don't fall for that. It is wrong as wrong can be. Even for the basic A1 level you will need several months. Don't forget, you also need to learn reading - and writing - necessary, if you really want to learn the language. Writing and reading requires repetition, repetition, repetition, repetition and repetition. For this, you need some help with prefabricated materials. I will show you how you can make a few by yourself. 1) Hiragana and Katakana: The best is you learn them side-by-sidhttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1amUz-wHzwMXsOuNfUh6dEc2asPHSiaTO?usp=sharinge, you see か (which is Hiragana "ka") then you should be able to write "ka" in Katakana too. 2) Kanji You want to learn the Kyoiku Kanji Level 1. If you see one of these Kanji, you should be able to ...

  The weather in Japan in autumn and winter is typically bad - very often, it is cloudy.

   The city of Narita in Japan has recently tested a new local transportation concept.   The results are still pending.  

  The Japanese chemical company  DIC Corporation , formerly Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, is the owner of an art museum,  Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art . The founding family was very interested in art and bought many drawings and sculptures. To make sure that other people can also enjoy these works they founded a museum, the Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art.  If you have the opportunity to visit the Tokyo area, try to find time to visit this museum. It is located about half an hour away from Tokyo but it can be easily accessed by train and bus (see the homepage for details).  In the same town is also the  National Museum of Japanese History , visit this one too if you go to the Kawamura museum. The founding family did more for spreading art. As they were also the CEO of the company, they published art books for the 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th anniversary of the company and gave each employee such a book. From left to the right: 1) Art of Contemporary Japan ...

  The Complete Guide to Japanese Systems 全図解 日本のしくみ  I just saw the new edition of this book at my local library. This seems like a book worth to study. Important topics in Japanese "daily" life are briefly addressed. Short but they can serve as an entry point for further study. The older editions have a few bad "reviews" on Amazon. I call them bozo reviews, just giving points, no explanations => no meaning.   So, better have a look for yourself when you visit your preferred bookshop. If you have to say something about this book or the older editions, please comment. Thank you.  Click on the photo with the contents view to see it enlarged.   Publisher：IBCパブリッシング Authors：安部 直文（著）／Michael Brase（訳） publication date：2023/11/04 ISBN-13：9784794607881 220 pages MRSP 2200 yen

 "Just" a link to openculture.com An Archive of Vividly Illustrated Japanese Schoolbooks, from the 1800s to World War II LINK Image is from Japan’s National Institute for Educational Policy Research License: CC BY 4.0

  Only one more working day, then many holidays, then retirement.  28 Years, 5 months have passed at this place. Official day of retirement June 30, 2024. I have crossed this bridge many, many times.  In summer, it is like an oven, in winter, it is like a walk-in fridge.  Fortunately, it is not the famous rainbow bridge.

  近代日本の美術　相行90周年記念　大日本インキ科学工業　非売品　1998年 Modern Japanese Art The chemical company Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, now DIC Corporation, gave this book to their employees for the 90th anniversary of the company in 1998. As DIC is also the owner of an art museum, the Kawamura Memorial Museum of Art , it had access to a number of experts to make this book.  It is said that each book cost more than 15000 Yen at the time of the making. In this book, 100 artworks are explained in details, including an abstract in English. See details below in the pictures. In can be yours, for free - only paying the shipping cost is required. Contact me at mkengel@gmail.com