Japanese

Learning Japanese is hard. But that doesn't mean it has to be boring!

Study Aids

Sura-Sura Kanji Quizzer

I created this website to help my fellow students at Yale University, where we studied intermediate Japanese from the Sura-Sura textbook. Located at the catchy kanjiquizzer.com domain, the site allows you to build a study list of Sura-Sura kanji with a few simple clicks, measure your progress, and even see how other students are doing.

Kanji Quizzer Excel Macro 4.0

This Excel spreadsheet helps Yale students study the beginner kanji presented in class before Sura-Sura. You must enable macros to use the quizzer. Older versions are also available: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0.

Skits

"Issunboosi no Kaeru" ("The Return of Issun Booshi")

A tiny stick figure returns home after a long journey. Authors: McDermott, Richman, me

"Heisenberg to Usi" ("Heisenberg and the Cow")

Heisenberg eats his best friend and regets it. Authors: French, McQuaide, me

"Te no Udezumou" ("Arm Wrestling")

When tempers flare, it's time for an arm wrestling contest! Authors: Duncan, Hiromoto, me

"Urusai" ("Noisy")

A noisy neighbor thinks he's a ghost buster. Who you gonna call? The manager. Authors: Guest, Delury, me

"Otera" ("Buddhist Temple")

What do you get when a misbehaving exchange student spends the evening at a Japanese monastery? You get a dinner of nothing but vegetables. Authors: Bascomb, Chung, me

Movies

"Rip It Baby!"

There's not really any Japanese in this movie, but at least it was filmed in Japan.

"Elrond-san no Council" ("Council of Elrond")

We overdubbed Lord of the Rings. Hilarity ensues. Script is also available.

"Hontoo" ("True")

I made this video after studying Japanese only a few weeks. It is based on the Budweiser "Whassaap?" commercial. (3 MB, MPG format)