The Genki II teacher’s set of six CDs for the second portion of the Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 2 is just as good as the first. The Japanese English-language newspaper, The Japan Times, was instrumental in developing the only Japanese learning system that actually takes its students into account. For those who take the full the course, they will experience an entire set of twenty-three lessons, and this Genki II set is absolutely perfect for anyone who has already taken the first set of lessons.

Just like the first, it is equally at home in the classroom, and the organized textbook and workbook sets that it interfaces with can work perfectly to teach a class in an academic or business environment. Unlike so many others, each of the lessons in this system has helps students to master hiragana, katakana and 300 of the most common Kanji characters. Anyone beginning Japanese, or trying to get up to the third level for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, will find that this language learning set works perfect for his or her own needs.

Those that have the textbook and companion workbook will find that these teacher sets have a complete set of dialogue, vocabulary, comprehension and conversational materials from the text. They are housed in a clamshell case that will hold up to most of the damage that a classroom environment can throw at it, and come complete with a track guide to match them up to the pages in the text. Considering that teaching a number of students can get rather hectic, this will prove to be very handy.

Moreover, teachers will like the fact that these are not the only compact disks that the Genki learning system uses. While the teacher’s sets are indeed the master sets for the classroom, there are student versions for those times when they need to study without guidance from their sensei. Of course, it will be up to the teachers themselves to figure out how to actually get their students to study alone. A CD set can only do so much by itself, but considering how fun this system makes learning Japanese, it might not be too hard after all!

You can order your Japanese language CD from J-list

The DX 3 tier Jubako box with a floating Mari, fan and flower design is truly something special. Naturally, one’s eye might initially turn towards the impeccable workmanship. The design is truly impressive, and needs to be viewed in person to be completely appreciated. That being said, it does not make the stackable nature of this box any less remarkable. While those who want to use it as a mobile bento box will surely want to have a bento belt to keep the contents from spilling out, the three tiers serve an important purpose. They can be used to store different types of food.

For instance, one might want to place rice in the bottom and steam vegetables or meat in the middle section. The top might be reserved for desert or something special after a boxed lunch. The box itself is quite spacious at 7.8 x 7.8 x 6.2 inches, so anyone who wants to grab a meal in this time honored method will certainly find ample room for their food. That is, if one can stop admiring the work done on it. As well as the design on top, everyone’s head will turn at the pattern on the sides of the box as well. Anyone who gets a grip on this Jubako bento box will surely feel like they were Japanese nobility from a bygone era.

Of course, some individuals might feel that it is simply too nice to be used for holding food, and in that case, the ample room might make a great storage place for jewelry. Naturally, with this quality design, the DX 3 tier Jubako certainly stands on its on own as an attractive piece of art. It could easily become the focal point of a room if used as part of a tasteful Japanese motif.

You can purchase your DX 3 Tier Jubako Box here

Those who have already explored the farmer’s markets at Morinosankakuboshi and Yumesanchi will certainly find plenty of other things to do in Kihoku. While the western imagination might consider Japan to be a country obsessed with modernity, the nation has perhaps more pride in their natural beauty than any other. A visit to the Narukawa Valley should prove this to anyone. Hikers, campers and fishers will certainly enjoy the natural amenities. The scenic valley is beautiful, and simply gazing at the area should be enough to settle the spirit. Of course, that isn’t to say that physical needs aren’t thought of as well, and visitors will be able to treat themselves to a meal of pheasant at the lodge that accompanies the valley. For those who want to have a traditional bath, the valley also boasts an onsen.

The Yasumorido Somennagashi is something of a seasonal attraction, and is open between mid-July and the end of August. Clumps of somen noodles get forces through a trough and customers pick them out with their own chopsticks. A dipping sauce is provided, and the process is really quite unique. A small pond is located nearby, and is stocked trout for those who’d like to enjoy some fishing. Of course, the Yasumorishonyu Cave attracts people during the hot summer months because of the cool temperature it boasts.

The Kawanobori Ekiden is a so-called river climbing relay race that consists of teams that rush along the Hiromi River. Though they can run in shallow areas, each single step must land in the water. As well as this one of a kind athletic event, the town also hosts a Tetsujin iron-man race for individual runners. Perhaps it isn’t so strange, then, that professional baseball player Tadashi Shiba is from the town. A dynamic and athletic area was probably also a great home for Tadashi Hyodo, who was the first female in Japan to gain a pilot’s license.

Since it is located to the north of Mt. Onigajo, the name of Kihoku in Ehime Prefecture reflects where it is. Naturally, this makes it a great place from which to enjoy the Onigajo rage, and it often receives crisp weather because of the elevation. Those who enjoy the cool mountain air should certainly enjoy Kihoku, though it can be warmer than Matsuyama or Uwajima at certain times of the year. Nevertheless, snowfall usually does not stick for too long and the summers bring some heat and humidity. As with many places in this area of Japan, the rainy season in June and July has become quite famous.

During the day, one can find a train between Uwajima and Kihoku nearly every hour. Travelers who aren’t hurried should feel comfortable with the several buses that move daily, and Route 320 also connects the town to Uwajima. It really is a great place to explore the small town feel that many Japanese tours lack, and the town relies on agriculture. The Dechikonka festival is, to many visitors, a celebration of the local delicacy: pheasant. Nabemono stew made from pheasant is made for the festival, and is given away. Local economic activities also include pottery, wood and numerous other agricultural products.

Naturally, with all of this farming, visitors will want to visit the farmer’s markets that the town boasts. Morinosankakuboshi is located in Hiromi, and features vegetables as well as rice. There are numerous local products sold in the area. Those with adventurous pallets might want to dip into the boar curry, but there are other foods being bought and sold in the adjacent marketplace. Those looking for souvenirs might also want to try Yumesanchi in Hiyoshi. Vegetables, rice and other food products are again highlights, but shops there have a much wider variety than one might otherwise expect.

There are those that have the idea that Kyoto’s position as a cultural center has made it a stuffy and dull place. For some people, history will always be boring. However, it really doesn’t need to be. For those that enjoy history, a visit to any of the 17 titled Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto is a fascinating proposition. Those that don’t find that interesting might still find that a few places are still exciting, however.

The period drama genre known as Jidaigeki has an interesting relationship with the city, and even the most jaded visitors will want to check out the Toei Uzumasa Eigamura where many samurai action films were shot. The Eigamura complex has numerous mock ups of famous traditional Japanese sites that are used for filming. Occasionally, a film will actually still be shot there and visitors to the complex are actually invited to have a look.

Shijo Street is the end all to shopping in the city, and it has changed quite a bit since the time of its naming. The term refers to it being the fourth street in Heian-kyo, which was the ancient capital at Kyoto. While it may still be as charming as it was in 19th century photographs, today there are numerous methods of modern public transportation to help people around the city.

The Hankyu Kyoto Line goes underneath the street, and has stations at Omiya, Karasuma, Kawaramachi and Nishioji. The street goes east to west straight through the commercial heart of Kyoto, and this should put it on the top of anyone’s list that is interested in modern shopping. Interestingly, the city has a ban on smoking in this district. The eastern end of the street is home to the Yasaka Shrine, and the intersections often feature delightful department stores. Kyoto doesn’t have to be a dull stop.

While a boxed lunch might evoke images of black lacquer ware, the Kiki’s Delivery Service themed Jiji Thermal Bento Box Set is about as far from that stereotype as possible. As anyone who has seen the Miyazaki masterpiece can tell you, Jiji is the talkative black cat that accompanies Kiki nearly everywhere. Just like that faithful companion, this box can go all over the place with the lucky individuals who purchase it or receive it as a gift. It might even be perfect for those who have to handle some witch training duties and have to deliver herbal concoctions for a close member of the family.

Anyone who has been looking for a little more variety in his or her Japanese lunchboxes will be pleased with the Jiji Thermal box. There is very little in this world that could make work feel more like home than the pleasant image of a talking cat, and that is exactly what this provides. It really is a little piece of home that can travel all over the world, and is therefore perfect for messengers.

Naturally, Studio Ghibli officially licensed the set. Therefore, fans can be proud that they have supported this classic animation studio when they carry it around with them. Other individuals will naturally be quite envious! Moreover, the set itself is quite unique, and truly contains a deluxe set for those that want to serve themselves a lunch good enough to remove the sting of having to grow up.

Two plastic containers and an airtight cup will willingly accept a full meal. The cup is perfect for holding rice or soup, and in fact, the bento can hold around the equivalent of 1.5 heaping bowls of rice in total. The set is protected by hardened aluminum, and each of the individual cups can hold up to 160 mL. The carrying case measures 7 x 3.9 x 4.5 inches, and even comes complete with a fork that fits underneath the case. It doesn’t even take magic to reassemble the bento box set, but it is best to wash it by hand to ensure that it stays young for as along as possible.

Shibuya refers to a very well-known shopping and entertainment area of Tokyo.  It is best known for the busy intersection in front of the train station known as the Hachiko Exit. Huge numbers of people come here every day to shop, meet friends or use the train station. This corner of the region is heavily decorated with large neon advertisements and giant video screens rather like Times Square in New York City.

One of the most famous landmarks in Shibuya is the Hachiko Statue, found outside the train station exit. Hachiko was a very loyal dog who waited for his master every single day in front of Shibuya Station. After his master passed away, Hachiko continued his daily vigil. The statue honors the loyalty shown by this dog. This is a very popular meeting point in Tokyo, and it is always crowded.

Did I say crowded? That is an understatement! Hundreds of people cross to and from the train station every time the light turns green. There are lots to see and do here in Shibuya. There are several museums, the NHK Studiopark, where you can go see them filming a television show, and the National Yoyogi Stadium, which hosts ice skating and volleyball competitions, concerts and many other popular events.

If you still want entertainment, be sure to visit Bunkamura. This is a small “village” which houses a concert hall, two movie theaters, a live theater, a museum and some restaurants and shops. Speaking of shopping, there are so many shops and boutiques here that your head will spin. High fashion, eateries, department stores and more all vie for your money. The Shibuya 109 features over 100 boutiques on ten floors!

If you are planning a visit to Japan in the near future, you will not want to pass up the fantastic shopping the cities have to offer. If Tokyo is in your plans, be sure to visit one of the several 100yen shops in the city. Similar to an American dollar store, 100yen shops offer a variety of treasures for shoppers of all tastes.  Japan also has a variety of department stores, including Matsuya, Mikimoto and Wako. At all of them you can find a variety of fashions and accessories in all price ranges and for all tastes.

In addition to department stores, bookstores and yen shops, Japan has neighborhood flea market and rummage sales, similar to what you might find in European and American neighborhoods. These flea markets are a great place to find discounted souvenirs, as well as used books, clothing, pottery, shoes and trinkets.

Both Tokyo and Osaka have regularly scheduled flea markets that boast hundreds of vendors.

Another aspect of Japanese shopping culture to be on the lookout for is stores that specialize in trendy, of-the-moment items that young Japanese citizens go crazy for. Many boutiques are hidden away off the main drags and you will find unique clothing and items that can’t be found anywhere else. These items would make excellent souvenirs and while shopping for them, you will experience a bit of Japanese culture that is often unique to the locals.  Shopping in Japan gives visitors a chance to experience the culture and economy of the country while enjoying their vacation.