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September 2011

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

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

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

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WelcomeWelcome 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

Learn Japanese Pod NewsWe 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.

Google +We have just opened a new Google +

account for Learn Japanese Pod. We would love to meet you there, share ideas, comments and suggestions. So

please add us to your circles and keep the conversation going here:Learn Japanese Pod on Google +

Don’t forget you can also connect to

us via Twitter and Facebook.

Fun Friday If you haven’t heard the Fun Friday

editions of Learn Japanese Pod

check out the latest one here with

Alex and Asuka. The Fun Friday

podcast is where we put down our

Japanese textbooks and talk about

life in Japan, studying Japanese and

anything else that comes into our

heads at the time of recording. In the

latest one, we discuss what Asuka

misses from Japan, the difference

between American, English and

Japanese service and drug stores in

Japan. Check it out!

New Japanese Cheat SheetsAs well as this magazine, we will be

releasing a series of monthly email

Japanese cheat sheets including

grammar, vocabulary and dialogs to

help you with your language studies.

If you would like to receive these

cheat sheets, please sign up here to

have them sent to your email inbox.

Japan Events Please email us if you have any

Japan-related events in your corner

of the globe. We would love to hear

about your events so other people

interested in learning about Japan, its

culture and language can find

something near them. Please email

us at: info@learnjapanesepod.com

Contents

Japanese Lesson Interview Visiting NaraJapanese RecipeSeptember Events

3 45 ~ 789

Useful LinksHere are some useful links on the

Learn Japanese Pod Website:

All the podcasts

A comprehensive list of all the

podcasts to date on Learn Japanese

Pod.

Kana Invaders

This is a space invaders game for

learning Hiragana and Katakana

Forums

Check out our forums and start talking

to other students and teachers of

Japanese right now.

Learn Japanese Pod Shop

Check out some of our cute products

from Japan including mugs, T-Shirts

and more.

Learn Japanese Pod Show Notes

You can purchase the full set of show

notes to all our podcast lessons here.

[3]

TE+Miru Compound Verbs

In this month’s lesson we are going to

look at adding the verb MIRU (to see)

to the end of TE form verbs. The

resulting meaning denotes trying the

action of the first verb and seeing

what the results might be.

For example:

食べてみる - tabete miru

To try some food

飲んでみる - nonde miru

To try a drink

行ってみる - itte miru

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？

B: リンゴジュース。飲んでみて！

A: kono nomimono wa nani

B: ringo jyuusu. nonde mite.

A: What’s this drink?

B: Apple juice. Try (drink ) it.

Ex 2)A: 昨日初めてケーキを作ったけど食

べてみる？

B: うん、食べる！

A: kinou hajimete keeki wo tsukutta

kedo, tabete miru

B: Un, taberu

A: Yesterday I made a cake for the

first time, do you want to try it?

B: Yes, I’ll eat/try it

Ex 3) A: できる？

B: とりあえずやってみる

A: dekiru?

B: Toriaezu yatte miru

A: Can you do it?

B: Well, I’ll try it and see for now

Other ExamplesIt is also possible to modify the verb

MIRU as in these following examples.

1.

この本を読んでみたい

kono hon o yonde mitai

I want to try/read this book

2.

正直に言ってみろ

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

I was thinking of going/checking it

out

4.

やってみよう

yatte miyou

Let’s try it

5.

靴をはいてみてもいいですか

kutsu o haite mite mo ii desu ka

Can I try on these shoes?

So, try adding these phrases to your

daily Japanese conversation and see

what happens. 是非やってみてくださ

い。Try it out!

日本語

Learn Japanese Pod App

Please check out the Learn Japanese Pod app for both Android and iPhone. It’s the most convenient way to keep up with the latest episodes streamed directly to your portable device. For more information check out our website here.

JAPANESE LESSON

[4]

Fujimoto sensei, a Shamisen teacher in Tokyo. If you are looking for some easily

accessible traditional Japanese

music and other arts, then Kumiya

Fujimoto is your person. You can

usually find her hosting and

performing in “Japanese Lounge

Night”, a free monthly event, held at

the Pink Cow in Tokyo. Performances

include Shamisen, Koto, Taiko,

Japanese flutes and even live

painting to name just a few of the

acts. The standard is high as many of

the performers are professional

teachers and performers as is

Fujimoto. I caught up with her and we

talked about about music, the

shamisen and performing.

How did you get into playing the Shamisen? When my grandmother took me to

her Shamisen lesson, I completely fell

in love with her teachers voice and

presence. So I decided to take it up.

Who are your favorite Shamisen performers? My favorite Shamisen performer in

the whole word is my own teacher.

How did Japanese Lounge Night start? One of my students from Jamaica

took me along to an event at the Pink

Cow. I became friends with the

manager there and we came up with

the idea of putting on an event that

showcases the best of traditional

Japanese arts and talent.

For more information about Shamisen

lessons with Fujimoto sensei please

visit her website at:

Shamisen-Sensei.com

You can also find out more about the

Japanese Lounge Night here:

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 CowKumiya Fujimoto

Traditional Japanese Performing Arts in Tokyo

INTERVIEW Kumiya Fujimoto

[5]

Trip to NaraIn our last issue, we looked at sightseeing in Kyoto and

this month, we stay in the Kansai region with a trip to

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

lot of historical sites of interest and beautiful scenic walks

well worth a visit. Nara has also escaped more from some

of the ugly modern development that Kyoto has been

criticized for. Another great feature is that it is easy to get

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

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

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

shoot in Kyoto, I decided to walk around Nara at a more

leisurely pace. Here is the main route I took with some of

the highlights of the trip.

Mischievous deerWhen getting off at Kintestu Nara station and walking

north into Nara park, the first things you will see are the

deer. According to the legends of Kasuga shrine, the deer

are regarded as heavenly animals who are guardians of

the city and Japan. Although mostly docile, these are

heavenly animals not to be messed with when you get a

Shika Sembei in your hand. Those are special rice

crackers sold to tourists to feed the deer. You should be

careful because when food is added to the equation, the

deer become heavenly animals with attitude. There are

signs warning unsuspecting tourists of the occasional

bad behavior of the deer. For example:

かむ - kamu - biting

たたく - tataku - kicking

突く- tsuku - butting

突進 - tosshin - charging

I don't want to give the deer a bad reputation as they are

definitely very cute and have even learned to bow to

receive food with out charging…usually.

TodaijiOn the lead up to Todaiji temple before the Dainanmon

gate, there are some souvenir shops which are, in my

humble opinion, not too high on the tacky scale. They are

always great places to buy little fun gifts for friends and

family back home.

As you keep walking you'll pass under the impressive

Dainanmon gate with a few nonchalant deer chilling out

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

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

NARA

VISITING NARA

奈良

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The size of the hall and the statue is

simply staggering. In fact, the current

structure, rebuilt during the Edo

period, is roughly one third smaller

than the original temple built in the

8th century. There is a model of the

original temple inside Todaiji behind

the Daibutsu which gives you an idea

of how massive the original structure

was.

Scenic walksAfter 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.

After that is Mizutani Jinja, a beautiful

little shrine nestled in the forests of

Nara park.

One of my favorite things about

Japanese shrines is the way many of

them are built to feel interwoven with

their surrounding natural habitat. I

always feel that Shrines are a way for

busy Japanese people to reconnect

with nature and their spiritual side.

On less crowded days, places such

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.

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

NARA 奈良

[7]

Ryokans and Tea HousesWalking down the hill due west from Kasuga, I came out

into the main park again in the direction of Kofukuji and

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

beautiful tea houses and Ryokans which I had missed on

previous visits to Nara.

Kofukuji and the PagodaBefore 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.

NaramachiThe 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.

When to go to NaraYou won't be disappointed going to Nara at any time of

year, however Spring and Autumn are the most beautiful

seasons to visit Nara park.

Also, it tends to get a little crowded with tour groups and

school children during school and national holidays.

How To Get ThereFrom 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.

Virtual iPad Tour of NaraIf 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.

[8]

Wow your friends with these easy and delicious Japanese recipesAre you the type of person who loves Japanese food but

feels daunted at the prospect of preparing it yourself? It

does seem as if Japanese food requires the skilled hands

of a stony-faced sushi master who has made multiple TV

appearances on Iron Chef. However, don't worry

because there are also a lot of delicious recipes that are

quick and easy to prepare as well as being very healthy.

In this month's cooking section we will be looking at the

mother of all simple healthy Japanese cooking which is

miso.

MorokyuMorokyu is a really delicious and simple dish to prepare.

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

special kind of miso called Moromi Miso もろみ味噌. This

is a teiban 定番 which means it is commonly served in

Izakayas throughout Japan.

First of all, you'll need some Japanese cucumbers. If you

can't get your hands on them, mini cucumbers will do. In

the summer, it is common to chill them by soaking them

in ice water for 5 or 10 minutes. You can then take them

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

Moromi miso and try your chopsticks skills out on them.

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

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

and sweeter than other heavier misos.

Nasu misoThis is another delicious dish that is quite easy to

prepare. First of all, cut up some eggplants into flat

slices, brush them in oil and bake or grill them for 4 or 5

minutes until they start to turn golden brown. Now, brush

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

minutes until the eggplant is tender and the miso is

golden brown.

Before adding the miso to the eggplant you can also mix

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

need to experiment with the mix and the grilling but it is

an easy dish to make and tastes fantastic.

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

[9]

Festivals

Hassaku-Sai

September 1st

Osaka

Owara Kazeno Bon

September 1~3

Toyama City

Karazumo

September 9

Kamowake Ikazuchi Jinja

Hanamaki Festival

September 9~11

Hanamaki City

Morioka Festival

September 14~16

Morioka Iwate

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Festival

September 14~16

Kamakura

Kishiwada Danjiri Festival

September 17~18

Osaka

Aizu Byakko Festival

September 22~24

Aizuwakamatsu City

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri

September 23~24

Isumi City Chiba

National HolidaysRespect for the Aged Day

September 19

Autumn Equinox

September 23

Music Events

Tokyo Jazz Festival

September 2~4

Tokyo International

Forum

Linkin Park

September 10, 11

Makuhari Messe

September 13

Yokohama Arena

September 14

Nagoya

September 16

Osaka

Maxi Priest

September 12

Billboard Live Osaka

September 13

Billboard Live Tokyo

Kansai Music Conference

September 16~19

Osaka

A series of music events held in

Osaka to promote independent music

in Japan. This is a networking

opportunity for musicians, promoters,

distributors and music fans to get

together and network.

Other Events Sumo Tournament

September 11 ~ 25

Ryogoku Kokugikan Tokyo

Tokyo Game Show

September 17 ~ 18

Makuhari Messe, Chiba

We need your HelpWe are planning to extend our events

listings to Japan-related events

outside Japan and that is where we

need your help.

If you are holding an event in your

area that is related to Japan, please

let us know and we will include it here

in our listings.

Whether it is a Japanese festival,

musical performance, book reading

or special ninja training, we would

love to hear about it. It will also give

people a chance to experience a little

Japanese culture in their area.

Please write to us at

info@learnjapanesepod.com and let

us know about your events.

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

“Owara Kaze No Bon”

Festival in Toyama

© 2011 Learn Japanese Pod / Alex Brooke. All rights reserved