-- Newspaper reading

   -- Short sentence composition

   -- Intellectual conversation

'A Dictionary of INTERMEDIATE Japanese Grammar'
Written by Seiichi Makino and Michio Tsutsui
Published by Japan Times, 1995

'Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary', THIRD EDITION
ISBN: 4095102535   Published by Shogakukan, 2001
3,500 yen

Good complete example sentences in Japanese, 
which are longer than many other dictionaries contain. 
This is originally meant for high school and college students 
who learn ENGLISH as a second language in Japan. 
However, as there are no advanced-level Japanese-English 
dictionaries available which are originally prepared for 
non-Japanese native speakers, this dictionary is a good alternative. 

More dictionaries/books

Example Textbooks:

'500 Essential Japanese Expressions'
-- A Guide to Correct Usage of Key Sentence Patterns
ISBN: 4872345894  Published by ALC Press

The above is a good textbook to prepare you for the 
"Nihongo Noryoku Shiken" proficiency exam, "1-Kyu" and "2-Kyu", 
namely the first and second classes from the top level.

Beggining and Intermediate level version written by the same 
authors of the "500" book.
Explanations are in Japanese, English and Chinese.
This book has many things that only advanced students would 
really appreciate.

UCLA Extension Programs
University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, Los Angeles: UCLA
East Asian Languages & Cultures: EALC
Civilizations of China, Korea, Japan and India.
BA, MA, PhD.
Center for Japanese Studies

USC: University of Southern California
East Asian Languages and Cultures

Pomona College
Asian Languages and Literatures
4-year private college located in Claremont, California, 
35 miles east of Los Angeles.
Pomona College is one of The Claremont Colleges, 
a consortium of five undergraduate and two graduate 
institutions: 
Claremont Graduate University, Scripps College, 
Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, 
Pitzer College, the Keck Graduate Institute of 
Applied Life Sciences, and Pomona College

Santa Monica College: SMC
Japanese classes

El Camino College: ECC
Japanese classes
Torrance, CA

Pasadena City College: PCC
Japanese classes

Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD)
Most of the nine college within the district offer 
Elementary Japanese classes.
West LA College (WLAC), Los Angeles City College 
(LACC), Valley College (LAVC), Pierce College, 
East LA College (ELAC), Harbor College (LAHC), 
Southwest College (LASC), Trade-Tech College (LATTC), 
Mission College

Cal State Northridge (CSUN)
California State University, Northridge

Cal State Long Beach (CSULB)
California State University, Long Beach

Cal State Los Angeles (CSULA)
California State University, Los Angeles

Moorpark College (in Ventura County)
Address:
7075 Campus Road
Moorpark, CA 93021

Japanese-Online
Free online Japanese lessons, online dictionary, 
discussion forum, etc.
If you are just starting, you can get some idea about 
Japanese language from the lessons.

Japanese-English Conversation Exchange
in Little Tokyo, downtown L.A.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
At Little Tokyo "Koban" Police Sub-Station
307 E. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
(at the corner of San Pedro St.: Click for the map.)
(213) 613-0281 (Koban number)
NO LONGER at 
the "Japanese American Culture and Community Center"
Virtually free. On-site open registration. 

"Language Door" formerly "Foreign Language Society"
Language school in West Los Angeles area and in Orange County.
They have monthly Japanese language conversation meetings (free).
11870 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 202 
Los Angeles, CA 90025 
(Moved from Westwood Blvd. & Pico Blvd.)
Phone: (310) 826-4140 

Osaka Sangyo University L.A.: OSULA
Studio City, CA 91604

Berlitz Language Centers

Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies (IUC)
Yokohama, Japan
Stanford Administrative Office
Sponsored jointly by 16 US universities 
(formerly 11 US and Canadian universities, "11-Daigaku"):
University of California, Los Angeles; Columbia University; 
Cornell University; Harvard University; Indiana University; 
Ohio State University; Princeton University; 
Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; 
University of Chicago; University of Hawaii; 
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; 
University of Michigan; University of Washington; 
University of Wisconsin, Madison; Yale University.

Defense Language Institute (DLI) Foreign Language Center: DLIFLC
Presidio of Monterey, California
formerly:
Military Intelligence Service Language School
and 
Army Language School
Originally it began as a secret language school named 
the Defense Language Institute in November 1941 at 
Crissy Field on the Presidio of San Francisco 
to teach Japanese.

Have you heard of Edward Seidensticker and Donald Keene?

Monterey Institute of International Studies: MIIS
Graduate School of Translation and Interpretation: (GSTI)
Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese 
(Traditional), English, French, German, Spanish, Russian
Address:
460 Pierce Street
Monterey, CA  93940
Phone (831) 647-3520

Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa
The Japan Foundation 
Training Programs for Teachers (of Japanese Language)
Address:
5-6-36 Kita Urawa, Urawa-ku
Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken 330-0074, Japan
"Urawa-ku" was formerly "Urawa-shi" before the city 
merged with Omiya-shi and Yono-shi and became part 
of "Saitama-shi" in 2001, the 13th year of Heisei period.

The National Institute for Japanese Language: NIJLA
Kokuritsu Kokugo Kenkyujo
Formerly The National Language Research Institute: NLRI
The English title of the Institute was changed in April 2001.

Kyodo System: The Japanese Language School Unified System
A group of Japanese language schools in Southern California, 
whose main mission has been to teach Japanese to descendants 
of Japanese Americans.  So-called "heritage Japanese" category.
There are some classes for adults too.

Seven member schools:
Rafu Chuo Gakuen (Preschool, Elementary, Jr. & Sr. High School) 
202 N. Saratoga Street, Los Angeles 90033 
Phone: (323) 268-4955 (Saturday) 

Rafu Daiichi Gakuen (Elementary)
1218 Menlo Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90006 
Phone: (213) 383-4706 

JR. and SR. High School (Jr. & Sr. High, Cultural Classes)
1218 Menlo Ave., Los Angeles CA 90006 
Phone: (213) 383-4706 

Valley Gakuen (Elementary, Jr. & Sr. High School)
8850 Lankershim Blvd., Sun Valley, CA 91352 
Phone: (818) 767-9921 (Saturday) 

Pasadena Gakuen (Elementary/ Jr. High School)
595 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena CA 91103
Phone: (626) 356-9061 (Saturday) 

Orange Coast Gakuen (Elementary, Jr. & Sr. High School) 
9700 Levee Dr., Huntington Beach, CA 92646
Phone: (714) 964-7446 (Saturday) 

Riverside Gakuen (Elementary)
8172 Magnolia Ave., Riverside CA 92504 
Phone: (213) 383-4706 

Non-Kyodo "heritage Japanese" schools:

Japanese Institute of Sawtelle
2110 Corinth Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310-479-2477

Venice Japanese Language School
12448 Braddock Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
310-822-7781

Gardena Japanese Cultural Institute Japanese Language School
1964 W 162nd St.
Gardena, CA 90247
310-324-6611

Gardena Buddhist Church: Japanese Language School
1517 West 166th Street
Gardena, California 90247
310-327-9400

West Covina Japanese Language School
1203 W Puente Av, West Covina, CA 91790
626-337-6174

Orange County Japanese Language School
909 S Dale Av, Anaheim, CA 92804
714-827-9590

"Japanese Immersion Program" for children
El Marino Language School, an elementary school
Also a "Spanish Immersion Program" at this school.
Address:
11450 Port Road
Culver City, CA 90230
(3l0) 842-4241
Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD)

Nishimachi International School
Famed co-educational and non-sectarian school 
in central Tokyo, Japan.
Taught in dual-language: English and Japanese. 
Kindergarten through Grade 9. 
Address: 
2-14-7 Moto-Azabu
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0046, Japan
Phone: 03-3451-5538 or 03-3451-5520
E-mail: admissions@nishimachi.ac.jp

Venice High School
Foreign Language Magnet
For grades 9-12.
Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, 
Italian, Latin, Spanish.
Address: 
13000 Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 306-7981
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)

Asahi Gakuen
Serves mainly children of expatriate Japanese 
business people, somewhat mistakenly called "shosha".
The students are native speakers of Japanese.
Main Office:
244 S. San Pedro St., #308, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-1325

Santa Monica site:
DANIEL WEBSTER MIDDLE SCHOOL
11330 W. Graham Place, Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 478-5707 (Saturdays: school hours only 8:45 to 16:00)

Torrance site:
TORRANCE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
4801 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 373-1177

San Gabriel site:
SOUTH EL MONTE HIGH SCHOOL
1001 N. Durfee Ave., South El Monte, CA 91733
(818) 579-6966

Orange site:
Santiago High School
12342 Trask Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92843
(714) 292-6190

ISS Translators, Inc.
Interpreter Training Center
Teaches consecutive and simultaneous interpreting 
techniques to mostly Japanese native speakers.
English to/from Japanese.
Classes are not meant for speakers of Japanese 
as a second language.
Address: 
3528 Torrance Blvd., #215
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 316-3121

Japanese Input Method: Web-based Ajax IME
You can input Kanji on non-Japanese PCs anywhere.
All you need is a browser on a computer of your friend or a work place.

Separately, for your own PC with Windows 7, Windows Vista,  XP or 2000: 
Your installation CD includes input system and fonts for Japanese 
as well as for many other languages.
Control Panel > Regional and Language Options > Languages tab
Under "Supplemental language support", 
choose "Install files for East Asian languages" 
and figure out the rest yourself.

Google Japanese Input (IME)
You can input real Japanese characters, Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana on your PC and Mac as long as your machine has Japanese fonts installed.
Published on 12/03/2009 as a beta version.
Free.  You install the software on your PC or Mac.  Internet connection is not required when you use it.
You can input real Japanese characters, Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana on your PC and Mac as long as your machine has Japanese fonts installed.
Published on 12/03/2009 as a beta version.
Free.  You install the software on your PC or Mac.  Internet connection is not required when you use it.
Available on Windows 7, Vista, XP SP2 and Mac OS X v10.5 (Leopard) and later.
The user guide is available in Japanese and Chinese only.

Japan Foundation Language Center
(Kokusai Koryu Kikin)
Address: 
333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2250
Los Angeles, , CA, 90071, U.S.A
This center moved from 
the "Water Garden Office Park" business complex 
in Santa Monica to 
Downtown Los Angeles in May 2002.
They have a good library anyone can use. 
To check out books, you would have to be a teacher 
of Japanese language.

Japan Foundation, the headquarters in Japan
Notes: 
Japan Foundation, Kokusai Koryu Kikin, should not be confused with 
DBA Nippon Zaidan (Nippon Foundation -- formerly, The Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation 
or The Sasakawa Foundation), which is funded by motorboat racing and 
was originally founded by the late Ryoichi Sasakawa, also pronounced as "Sasagawa".  
This organization is now headed by Yohei Sasakawa, Ryoichi's son.
Ayako Sono, a well-known novelist, is a onetime Chairman.
DBA Nippon Zaidan (Nippon Foundation)
Official name: Nihon Senpaku Shinkokai 
(Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation)

Japanese Language Proficiency Test: JLPT 
(Nihongo Noryoku Shiken) ADMINISTERED IN JAPAN
Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: JEES
(Nihon Kokusai Kyoiku Shien Kyokai)
Notes: 
1) For the test given in North America: 
Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Honolulu, 
Vancouver, Toronto, 
try "The Japan Foundation" site mentioned earlier.

2) Level One (1-Kyu) is rather the "First Class", 
the highest level.  Do not be misled by 
their official English translation.  
Our way of translation below is owed to one of 
the school's former students.  Thanks Nick.
Level 1 (1-Kyu; First Class): the highest proficiency
Level 2 (2-Kyu; Second Class)
Level 3 (3-Kyu; Third Class)
Level 4 (4-Kyu; Fourth Class): the lowest proficiency 
among the 4 levels

EJU: Examination for Japanese University Admission 
for International Students
The same link above to 
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)

JETRO Business Japanese Proficiency Test
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
The test consists of two parts, 
a listening and reading comprehension test (JLRT) and 
an oral communication test (JOCT).
The exam's listening and reading comprehension test 
(JLRT) will have only one level (formerly three) and 
numerical test scores will be issued as grades 
(formerly pass/fail).
JETRO Los Angeles Office:
777 S. Figueroa St., Suite 4900
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 624-8855
Ask about their free lessons.

College Board 
AP Japanese Language and Culture


Japan-America Society (Nichi-Bei Kyokai)
Japan America Society of Southern California
345 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071-1002
Phone: (213) 627-6217
Fax: (213) 627-1353

JET Program: Japan Exchange and Teaching
Work in local government organizations or at high schools.

JET Alumni link
JET Alumni Association of Southern California (JETAA)
c/o Consulate General of Japan, Los Angeles

Consulate General of Japan, Los Angeles: Ryoji-kan
350 S. Grand Ave., Suite 1700
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 617-6700

Embassy of Japan: Taishi-kan
2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington D.C. 20008
Tel: 202.238.6700
fax: 202.328.2187

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan: Gaimu-sho
Tokyo, Japan

Bookstores / Distributors/ Publishers

Amazon.com has presence in Japan now: Amazon.co.jp.
You can order books directly from Japan.
Many other online bookstores in Japan refuses to send 
their merchandize to the areas outside of Japan.
Your click links to a page titled
"Information for English-Speaking Customers."
Friendly Advice:
As a delivery option, choose the "Express" delivery, by air, 
over the "Economy", by sea. 
The "Economy" might take more than a month and there is 
no tracking system available for this option.
Imagine your possible frustration.

Amazon.com's US site: 
Foreign Languages > Japanese

BonjinshaA major distributor of textbooks for Japanese language studies
Address:
1-3-13 Hirakawa-cho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0093, Japan
TEL 03-3263-3959

Fujisan.com
Online vendor based in Berkeley, California.
1942 University Ave #105
Berkeley, CA 94704

Sasuga bookstore
Based in Massachusetts, U.S.A.: 
A good place to mail order Japanese textbooks.
Kinokuniya Bookstores of America Co., Ltd.
(213) 687-4480
123 Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka St. (Weller Court)
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Downtown L.A., 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
* Good selection of textbooks for Japanese language learning.
Not "Kiinokuniya" though you may think from its name written in Kanji.

Sanseido Bookstore, Torrance
(former site of Asahiya Bookstore)
Do NOT pronounce the kanji characters of the store name 
as "Sanshodo."
21515 S Western Av.
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 782 2900
* Free parking all the time.

Asahiya Bookstore, Downtown L.A
-- (no longer in business) --
333 S Alameda St #108
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 626 5650

Nippon Book, Downtown Los Angeles
Little Tokyo
114 Japanese Village Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)617-1966

Asahiya Bookstore, Santa Monica 
Ceased its operation in 2002.

Sawtelle Books & Music
2105 Sawtelle Bl.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310-477-8686

Sanseido Bookstore
The largest Japanese bookstore in Orange County.  
Opened on June 6, 2003.
Costa Mesa Store (at Mitsuwa Marketplace)
665 Paularino Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 556-2200
9:00AM - 8:00PM

Shojikiya: Used books
You may see some sewing machine-related products, 
their original line of business.
707 E 4th Pl.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Downtown L.A. near the Little Tokyo Shopping Center, 
which used to have a large Mitsuwa/Yaohan market.
(213) 680 0173

Book Market: Used Comics and CDs
Former site of Asahiya Bookstore, Santa Monica branch.
3760 Centinela Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066 
310-313-1213

Book Off: Used books
1610 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.
Gardena, CA 90247
The former site of Tokyo-do bookstore.
310-532-5010

Japan Book Center / Bonjinsha (a bookstore-distributor)
They moved from Santa Monica to San Francisco, CA, in May 2002.

Dictionaries on the Web

Japanese<->English Dictionary
Jeffrey E. F. Friedl

Jeffrey's Kanji Lookup
Learn more Kanji, Chinese characters. 
There is more to Japanese than just 
Hiragara and Katakana, the two sets of 
syllabic letters.

PSP's Bi-Directional English Japanese Dictionary
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
For J to E look-ups, only real Japanese input is accepted. 
Romanized Japanese, Romaji, is NOT allowed. 
Maybe good for simple reference.

Yahoo! (JP) Dictionaries
Progressive Japanese-English, English-Japanese dictionaries by Shogakukan; 
Shin-jisen Japanese-Japanese dictionary by Shogakukan

Kenkyusha, New College Japanese-English and 
English-Japanese dictionaries.
Not just tango, words, but plenty of 
jukugo, expressions.

Sanseido, EXCEED Japanese-English, English-Japanese dictionaries 
and Japanese-Japanese dictionary (Dai-jirin)
Notes: Shogakukan's dictionaries became unavailable 
when the Lycos was merged with Infoseek in 2003, which is owned by Rakuten: 
Progressive Japanese-English, English-Japanese dictionaries; 
Shin-jisen Japanese-Japanese dictionary and 
Nipponica abridged encyclopedia
For some of those, try Yahoo! (JP) Dictionaries instead.

Sanseido, J-J dictionary (Dai-jirin) and EXCEED J-E, E-J dictionaries
Goo.ne.jp search engine site (NTT-X).

Wikipedia encyclopedia
A multilingual project to create a free-content encyclopedia 
started in January 2001.
For the content in Japanese, click "Nihongo (Japanese)" from the 
"In Other Languages" list.

Portable Electronic Dictionaries
Since July 1, 2003, electronic dictionaries and 
PDAs became available at Amazon JP site.  
Unfortunately though, most of these electronic 
products are deliverable only to addresses in Japan.  
If you have friends in Japan, maybe you can ask them 
to forward the ordered items to you. 

Rikai.com instant translation
Very innovative dictionary.  
Move your mouse pointer over a Japanese word 
to see its reading and definition.
If you want the same at a Japanese website of 
your own choice, do the following: 
Under the title "Read Text or Webpages with Popups!", 
enter the web-address of your choice, such as "asahi.com" 
in the box and click "GO!".  
In the newly opened page, do the same 
as in the original pages of Rikai.com.

"Eijiro", user-supported J-E, E-J dictionary: 
Space ALC
Look for "Eijiro (in Kanji) on the Web" and a search box 
at this "Space ALC" site.
The large vocabulary is growing even further.
Electronic Dictionary Project (EDP)

Technical dictionaries online
***(This free service is no longer available.)***
Look in the menu for "Jisho Sansho" service in Kanji.
Cross Language Inc. 
Formerly Nova Asia.
Address:
2-20-9 Nishi-Waseda
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0051, Japan
Tel: 03-5287-7588 
Email: info@crosslanguage.co.jp

German-Japanese dictionary
Sanshusha Publishing Co., Ltd.

More languages?
In addition to dictionaries in English-Japanese, 
if you know good online Japanese dictionaries in 
French, Spanish, German, Russian, Korean or Chinese 
languages, please e-mail:
AdvancedJP@hotmail.com

Newspapers / TV stations / Magazines

ANN News, TV-Asahi
Streaming videos and the exact texts in Japanese 
of their narration.
Verify your listening skills. This can be your own 
self-paced tutorial.
Once there, click an icon: 
"Real Player" or Microsoft "Media Player".

Japan News Network, JNN
Tokyo Broadcasting System, TBS
Broad/narrow band video.  
Nearly exact text of the narration.

NHK TV, News
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation): 
Nihon Hoso Kyokai
Streaming video and the text.

Asahi Homecast
Los Angeles local TV station
Now on UHF Channel KXLA 44, no longer on KSCI 18.

United Television Broadcasting Systems: UTB
Los Angeles local TV station
Now on UHF Channel KSCI 18, no longer on KDOC 56.
Address:
6779 Hawthorn Ave.
Hollywood, CA 90028
Phone 323 469 2929

TV JAPAN: 24-hour satellite/cable broadcasting
Japan Network Group, Inc., a joint venture of 
NHK public broadcasting and Itochu trading company groups.
This is a subscription-based Japanese TV service 
available on DISH Network (EchoStar) satellite TV, 
not on DirecTV, and through limited number of 
cable TV systems.
The original programs in Japan are arranged and 
broadcast 24 hours a day for North American viewers.

(US) TV Listings: Zap2it.com
Tribune Media Services

(JP) Internet TV Guide
Only in Japanese

'Asahi Shimbun' newspaper, a leading Japanese daily: 
link to English version (now "Herald Tribune/Asahi")
Asahi Shimbun (also spelled Shinbun): 
link to Japanese version.

'Nihon Keizai Shimbun': 
Japan's leading financial paper better known as Nikkei (English version)
Nikkei Japanese version.

'Mainichi Shimbun', Daily

'Yomiuri Shimbun', Daily

Kyodo News: Kyodo Tsushin
An Associated Press of Japan on a much smaller scale.
In English, Japanese and Chinese.
Also, links to many regional newspapers in Japan.
The company is in the process of moving its headquarters 
from Toranomon area to Shiodome area 
(Shiodome Sio-Site, Shimbashi), a new business/shopping 
town which has been known as the birthplace of 
Japanese railway system. 

'Rafu Shimpo' Los Angeles local Japanese daily newspaper
L.A. News Publishing Company
Japanese-American daily newspaper established in 1903 
in Los Angeles.
Close ties with the Mainichi Shimbun of Tokyo.
Notes: "Rafu" is an abbreviated and old-fashioned way 
of calling Los Angeles based on the Kanji characters 
that are used to transliterate the city's name, 
just like San Francisco is sometimes called "Soko" or 
America is rendered as "Beikoku" as you know.
Address:
259 South Los Angeles St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 629-2231

JapanToday: News/Discussions
Web-based English-language newspaper published in Tokyo, Japan.
Comprehensive Japan-related topics.
Published by Mark & Mary Devlin's Crisscross KK.
Their main news source is Kyodo News (Kyodo Tsushin).

Japan Times
Japan's leading English-language newspaper.

'Nihongo Journal': 
Monthly magazine for Japanese language students.
Published by ALC. 
'Eijiro' E-J, J-E dictionary in CD-ROM.

'Mangajin' magazine
The site of the legendary magazine is revived by Wasabi Brothers.

Hiragana Times
Good for beginning students.

'U.S. FrontLine News'
New York-based bi-weekly magazine
Their main audience is Japanese expatriate living in U.S.

Libraries

Los Angeles Public Library: Central Library
630 W. 5th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 228-7000
The International Languages Department
Japanese, Korean, Chinese; 
Arabic, Armenian, Czech & Slovak, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, 
French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, 
Lithuanian, Norwegian, Pilipino (Tagalog: Filipino language), 
Persian (Farsi: Iranian language), Polish, Portuguese, 
Russian, Serbian & Croatian, Spanish, Swedish, Vietnamese, 
Yiddish.

and

Little Tokyo Branch Library, LAPL
(new location)
203 S. Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 
(213) 612-0525
Borrow Video tapes, DVDs and CDs in addition to books.

Torrance Library
Katy Geissert Civic Center Library
3301 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA  90503
Phone: 310-618-5959

Gardena Public Library
Gardena Mayme Dear Memorial Library
1731 W. Gardena Blvd.
Gardena, CA 90247
Phone: (310) 323-6363 

Nihongo Library
The Japan Foundation Language Center
Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Anyone is welcome. 
To check out books, you need to be a teacher of 
Japanese language.
Parking validation no longer provided.
333 South Grand Avenue, Suite 2250
Los Angeles, CA 90071, U.S.A.

East Asian Library
University of California, Los Angeles 

National Diet Library: 
Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan
Japanese counterpart of US Library of Congress
Address:
1-10-1 Nagatacho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8924
Japan
Phone: 03-3581-2331

Classical Japanese literature on the Web
The Japanese Text Initiative sponsored by 
The University of Virginia Library 
Electronic Text Center 
and 
University of Pittsburgh East Asian Library.

The Gordon W. Prange Collection
University Libraries, University of Maryland
Publications issued in Japan from 1945 to 1949: 
the immediate post-World War II years.
Books, pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals, 
news agency photos, political posters, maps ...

(US) Library of Congress
The Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20540
General Information: (202) 707-5000

The British Library
96 Euston Road
London, NW1 2DB
United Kingdom

Government

The Three Branches of the Government

-- Executive Branch
Prime Minister: Sori-daijin (Shusho)
and 
his/her Cabinet: Naikaku

-- Legislative Branch
Diet (Parliament): Kokkai
House of Representatives: Shugiin
and
House of Councilors: Sangiin

-- Judicial Branch
Courts: Saibansho

Major Reorganization of the Central Government: 
January, 2001
Monbu-sho, Education Ministry, is now 
Monbu-Kagaku-sho.  
The "notorious MITI" is now METI.
Major reorganization took place in January, 2001.  
Compare the English and Japanese names of 
the major agencies.

Video coverage of the Diet, Japanese parliament: 
Kokkai
Japan's answer to C-SPAN, US Congress cable channel
House of Representatives: Shugiin
Streaming videos: Live broadcasting and video library

House of Councilors: Sangiin
Streaming videos: Live broadcasting

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ): 
Minshu-to
Japan's new ruling party since September 2009.
President: Yukio Hatoyama, since May 2009, now the Prime Minister.
Other promiment members are Naoto Kan, Ichiro Ozawa, 
Katsuya Okada, Seiji Maehara, Tatsuo Kawabata, Akira Nagatsuma ...

Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP): 
Jiyu-Minshu-to (Jiminto)
Now the largest opposition party in Japan.
President: Sadakazu Tanigaki, since September 2009.
Former presidents: Taro Aso, Yasuo Fukuda, Shinzo Abe, Junichiro Koizumi, 
Yoshiro Mori, Keizo Obuchi, Ryutaro Hashimoto, etc.

Law Database by Somu-sho, 
a Central Government agency
The Japanese Government is finally making the law 
available free to its people.
Since April 2001, you can search for the constitution, 
laws, cabinet ordinances, ministerial ordinances and 
other regulations at this still lesser known site. 
Only in Japanese.  
No official English translations available.

Prefectural and Local Governments: Chiho Jichi-tai
Names of the Prefectures ("-ken", "-to", "-fu" or "-do")
(Note: The order here is very arbitrary.)

Kanto Region (Kanto Chiho): 
Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi

Kinki Region (Not "kinky", also called "Kansai" Region):
Kyoto (Bush administration does not seem to like this protocol.), 
Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Mie, Shiga, Wakayama

Chubu Region:
Aichi, Nagano (Remember the Winter Olympic Games?), 
Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Gifu, 
Shizuoka

Tohoku Region:
Miyagi, Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima

Chugoku Region:
Hiroshima, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Yamaguchi

Shikoku Region:
Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi

Kyushu Region:
Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto. Ooita, Miyazaki, 
Kagoshima, Okinawa

Hokkaido Region:
Hokkaido (Yes, just one entity.)

Jobs

"Metropolis" magazine
Weekly English city guide in Japan
Their "Classifieds" section is a good source of job information.
Part of the "Japan Today" network.

JET Program: Japan Exchange and Teaching

Local government organizations or high schools in Japan.

Working Holiday Programs in Japan
For Citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, 
Korea, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, USA is not included in these programs. 
As they are reciprocally agreed-upon programs between 
the governments, there might be little chance for 
US citizens, particularly after the 9/11 incident, 
unless Washington loosened up its policy.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan site: 
www.mofa.go.jp

Entertainment / Video Games

"Sudoku" number placement puzzle
This game was published by a Japanese publisher Nikoli in Japan in 1986.

Animations and Comics: Japanese
Anime & Manga (graphic novels) -- Amazon.com sites
Amazon's DVD link
Amazon's book link
Amazon JP's anime video link
Astro Boy, Baikin-kun, Bomberman, Bust-A-Move, 
Card Captor Sakura, Cowboy Bebop, Cutey Honey, 
Devilman, Dinozone, Digimon, Doraemon, Dragonball Z, 
Dragonball Z Budokai (not "Budokan"), Dr. Slump, 
Evangelion, Gamera, GaoGaiGar, Ghost in the Shell, 
Giant Robots, Godzilla, Gundam, Hello Kitty, 
Jenny and Licca Dolls, Kamen Rider, Kikaider, 
Kinnikuman / Muscleman, Lupin III, Macross, Microman, 
Monster Rancher, Namco, Neon Genesis Evangelion, 
Neo Henshin Cyborg, Ojamajodoremi, Pepsi Man, 
Microman, Piyo Piyo, Pokemon, Princess Mononoke, 
Queen Emeraldas, Ranma 1/2, Rockman/Megaman, 
Sakura Wars, Saint Seiya, Sentimental Graffiti, 
Sanrio, Sailor Moon, Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi, 
Space Sheriff, Speed Racer, Star Blazers, 
Street Fighter, Tare Panda, Tatsunoko, Tenchi, 
Tokimeki Memorial, Totoro, Ultraman, Vampire Savior, 
Wacky Races, Yu-Gi-Oh, Zoids ...

Studio Ghibli
Hayao Miyazaki: the director of anime movie "Spirited Away",
the Best Animated Film of 2002, which has the Japanese original title 
"Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi."
Partial Filmography:
-- "Neko no ongaeshi" (2002), aka "The Cat Returns"
-- "Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi" (2001), aka "Spirited Away", "Miyazaki's Spirited Away"
-- "Princess Mononoke" (1997), aka "Mononoke hime"
-- "Mimi wo sumaseba" (1995), aka "Whisper of the Heart"
-- "Kurenai no Buta" (1992), aka Porco Rosso, "The Crimson Pig"
-- "Majo no takkyubin" (1989), aka "Kiki's Delivery Service" 
-- "Tonari no Totoro" (1988) aka "My Neighbor Totoro" 
-- "Yanagawa Horiwari monogatari" (1987), aka "The Story of Yanagawa's Canals"
-- "Tenku no shiro Rapyuta" (1986), aka "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" (1986)
-- "Space Adventure Cobra" (1982)
-- "Akage no An" (1979) TV series, aka "Anne of Green Gables" (1979) 
-- "Mirai shonen Conan" (1978) TV series, aka "Future Boy Conan" (1978)
-- "Haha wo tazunete sanzenri" (1976) TV series, aka "3000 Leagues in Search of Mother" (1976) 
-- "Furandaasu no inu" (1975) TV series, aka "A Dog of Flanders" (1975) 
-- "Arupusu no shoujo Haiji" (1974) TV series, aka "Heidi" (1977) (West Germany), "Heidi: Girl of the Alps" (1974) 
-- "Panda kopanda amefuri saakasu no maki" (1973), 
-- "Panda kopanda" (1972), aka "Panda! Go Panda!" (1972) (USA), "Panda, Little -- Panda" (1972) 
-- "Sarutobi ecchan" (1971) TV series, aka "Ecchan the Ninja" (1971), "Ninja Girl Ecchan" (1971)
-- "Ari-Baba to yonjuppiki no tozoku" (1971), aka "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" (1971)
-- "Dobutsu takarajima" (1971), aka "Animal Treasure Island" (1971) (UK) 
-- "Himitsu no Akko-chan" (1969) TV series, aka "Akko's Secret" (1969)   ......
   ......

Ghibli Museum: Mitaka-no-mori Jiburi Bijutsukan
Animation museum of Hayao Miyazaki
Address:
1-83 Shimorenjaku 1-chome
Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-0013, Japan
Phone: 0570-055777 (10:00 to 18:00)
Managed by 
Tokuma Memorial Culture Foundation for Animation.

--- JTB USA: travel agency site

(US) All Movie Guide
You can find some Japanese movies too.
AEC One Stop Group, Inc.

Movie database
PIA corporation, the dominant ticket agency in Japan.  
Only in Japanese.
Get info on Akira Kurosawa, Yasujiro Ozu, Hayao Miyazaki, 
Takeshi Kitano (Beat Takeshi), Juzo Itami, Nagisa Oshima,
Masayuki Suo  ...
"Zatoichi", "Shall We Dance?", "Tampopo", "Tokyo Story", 
"The Ceremony", "Rashomon", "Seven Samurai" ...

(US) Internet Movie Database: IMDb

"Backstage Pass" to film subtitles translation
Transtators include Natsuko Toda, Yukiko Furuta, ...
a HERALD ONLINE page

Oricon Inc.
Pop music info.  In Japanese only.
Ranking Charts:
Singles, Albums; Karaoke, Enka ...

(US) All Music Guide
Part of "All Media Guide"
Useful for Japanese artist lookup too.

Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)
RIAA's Japanese counterpart

Taiko drumming: Kodo Cultural Foundation
Sado Island, Japan

National Theatre of Japan
Japan Arts Council
Kabuki, Bunraku, Noh, Kyogen, Engei (Rakugo, Manzai, etc.)

Kabuki Theatre (Kabuki-za)
Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

Origami: the art of paper-folding
Diagrams in Adobe Acrobat and Shockwave. 

Bonsai: dwarf trees
Bonsai Web: 
Articles, galleries, discussion groups, forums and links.

"Go" board game, also called "Goh", "Igo"
Very popular in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea and 
incresingly worldwide.
Both in English and Japanese
Japan Go Association: Nihon Kiin
Tokyo Head Office Address: 
7-2 Goban-cho
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8668, Japan
Telephone: 03-3288-8727

The International Go Federation (IGF) link

American Go Association: AGA
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 397
Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10113-0397
Phone: (917) 449-8125

Shogi: Chess-like game very popular in Japan
Japan Shogi Association: Nihon Shogi Renmei
Only in Japanese
Headquarters:
2-39-9 Sendagaya
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-8516, Japan
Telephone: (03) 3408-6161

Haiku / Senryu poems
Funny version of "Haiku" (5-7-5-syllable poetry) is 
actually called "Senryu" in Japan.  
To enjoy this type of humor, you need facility in 
idiomatic expressions and good cultural literacy 
in Japanese society.
A Mainichi Shimbun newspaper site: updated daily.
Small archives available.

Video Games & Computer Games
Amazon.com page
PC Games, Linux Games,
Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Mac Games, NES, 
Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PlayStation2, Sega Dreamcast, 
Sega Game Gear, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Xbox

(In Japanese) Video Games & Computer Games
Amazon (JP) site

PlayStation
Sony's official sites

Nintendo video games

Online Game portal site: BB Games
Large collection of online games from Korea and Japan.
A Yahoo! BB site (Softbank group).
Open on July 25, 2003.

Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disneyland, opened in April, 1983
and 
Tokyo DisneySea, opened in September, 2002
Oriental Land Co., Ltd. 

Roppongi Hills
A new shopping complex opened in Roppongi area, Tokyo, in 2003.
Former site of the Defense Agency headquarters.

Sports / Martial Arts

Sumo wrestling
Nihon Sumo Kyokai.  English/Japanese
Not "Somu wrestling"

MLB, Major League Baseball, Japanese players
Ichiro Suzuki
Seattle Mariners

Hideki Matsui known as Godzilla
New York Yankees

(Book)
"The Meaning of Ichiro: 
The New Wave From Japan and the Transformation 
of our National Pastime" (April, 2004)
By Robert Whiting
The same author of "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat (1977)" 
and "You Gotta Have Wa (1990)"

Major League Baseball: MLB
Official (US) MLB site
Some team sites have English, Japanese and Spanish versions.

Japanese Pro Baseball official site
The Professional Baseball Organization of Japan: NPB

Japan Karate Association : JKA


Judo: Kodokan Judo Institute
Kodokan School of Judo
Dojo events
From enrollment to Black Belt (Kuro-obi)
"Dan" promotion

US Judo Federation (USJF)
Links to USJF Club Sites.

All Japan Judo Federation: YAWARA -- judo's informal name
Zen Nihon Judo Renmei (Zenjuren)

International Judo Federation

Aikido World Headquarters
Aikido: a martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba

Kendo: Art of Japanese Swordsmanship
All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF): 
Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (Zenkenren)
Concept of Kendo, Books & Videos
Office Addresses:
2-3-14 Kudan-Minami
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0074, Japan
TEL 03-3234-6271

2-3 Kitanomaru-Koen (at Budokan)
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0091, Japan
TEL 03-3211-5804

All United States Kendo Federation (AUSKF)
Links to US Regional Kendo Federations

Search Engines

Goo.ne.jp
Number-one search engine in Japan for a long time.
There has been a lawsuit against the owner of 
the similarly-named Goo.co.jp, an adult site.  

Google.com
This increasingly popular search engine worldwide is 
good at handling Japanese too.
When you want searches in Japanese, 
make sure to set 
"Preferences" >> "Search Language" to "Japanese."
Or alternatively, 
Google.co.JP: Google's Japanese site

Museums

The Pavilion for Japanese Art
Also known as Shin'en Kan
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Buddhist and Shinto sculptures
Ukiyo-e woodblock prints from the Edo period. 
Prints from the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods. 
Kimono. Netsuke miniature sculptures. 
Inro lacquer boxes.
LACMA address:
5905 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-857-6000

Japanese American National Museum
History of Japanese Americans
Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles
369 East First Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
(213) 625-0414

National Museum of Ethnology , Osaka, Japan
Commonly called "Minpaku", which is short for 
Minzokugaku Hakubutsukan.

National Museum of Japanese History
Sakura City, Chiba-ken, Japan
Commonly called "Rekihaku", which is short for 
Rekishi Hakubutsukan.
Note: The place name "Sakura" has nothing to do with 
the cherry blossom.

Edo-Tokyo Museum
Tokyo's history and culture
Located in Tokyo, Japan, 
NOT in Little Tokyo, downtown L.A.

Japanese Gardens

James Irvine Garden
Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC)
244 South San Pedro Street 
(between 2nd and 3rd Streets)
Los Angeles (Little Tokyo), CA 90012
(213) 628-2725

"Japanese Garden in the Sky"
Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens
(Formerly "New Otani Hotel & Garden")
120 South Los Angeles St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-629-1200

Rock Garden: Sekitei
Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto, Japan
A large picture of the garden.
A page of Kansai Institute of Information Systems.

Rock Garden: the temple's own site
Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto, Japan
Temple's name is normally NOT pronounced as "Ryuanji".
The site is in Japanese only.

T-shirts with Japanese themes

T-shirts: Got Sake? / Ochazuke? / Mugicha? / Natto?
License Plate Frames with Japanese themes too.
rotem gear / rotem design
Los Angeles-based free-lance designer's site

Engrish.com
"Japanese English" collections.  Go ahead and 
make fun of our Engrish, you Americans.

Food, Japanese

Restaurants / Culinary Arts
Sushi Chef Institute: Tokyo Sushi Academy
Basic and professional classes.
Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, Atlanta, GA, USA; 
Tokyo, Osaka, Japan;
Paris, France.
Head Office Address:
927 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 299
Rolling Hills Estate, CA 90274
310-544-0863

Sushi, Tempura, Soba, Udon, Yakitori, Sukiyaki ...
Epinions' guide/reviews: Los Angeles Japanese Restaurants


"SUSHI & TOFU" magazine
All Japan News
Japanese food, restaurants, things Japanese.
324 E. First St., Suite 324
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Tel: (213) 680-0011


Iron Chef(foodnetwork.com)
a TV show produced in Japan that pits the "Iron Chefs"

Groceries

Mitsuwa Marketplace, formerly Yaohan
Mitsuwa Corporation

Mitsuwa Marketplace
Torrance Store 
21515 Western Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501 
(310) 782-0335

Mitsuwa Marketplace
Santa Monica Store 
3760 Centinela Ave. (at Venice Boulevard)
Los Angeles, CA 90066 
(310) 398-2113

Mitsuwa Marketplace
San Gabriel Store
515 W Las Tunas Drive
San Gabriel, CA 92111
(626) 457-2899
9:00AM - 8:00PM

Mitsuwa Marketplace
Costa Mesa Store
665 Paularino Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 557-6699
9:00AM - 8:00PM

Little Tokyo Marketplace in the Little Tokyo Shopping Center
Now a Korean supermarket
(Formerly Mitsuwa/Yaohan)
333 S. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013 
(213) 617-0030

Nijiya Market
Torrance store
2121 W.182nd St.
Torrance, CA 90504
(310) 366-7200

Nijiya Market
West LA store
2130 Sawtelle Blvd., Suite 105
Los Angeles, CA 90025 
(310) 398-2113

Pacific Supermarket, formerly "Meiji Market"
1620 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 323-7696

Marukai Wholesale Mart: membership chain
Marukai Corporation

Marukai 
Main Store
1740 WEST ARTESIA BLVD.
GARDENA, CA 90248
Phone: 310-660-6300

Marukai 
Little Tokyo Store
123 S. ONIZUKA ST. #101
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
(Former site of Matsuzakaya department store 
on the Weller Court shopping mall)
Phone: 213-893-7200

Marukai 
West Covina Store
1420 SOUTH AZUSA AVE.
WEST COVINA, CA 91791
Phone: 626-430-0900

Marukai 
98 Cent Store
1360 W. Artesia Blvd.
GARDENA, CA 90248
Phone: 310-516-8160

Sister Cities (Shimai-toshi): US-Japan

Los Angeles: Nagoya, Aichi-ken

Santa Monica: Fujinomiya, Shizuoka-ken

Culver City: Kaizuka, Hyogo-ken

Gardena: Ichikawa, Chiba-ken

Torrance: Kashiwa, Chiba-ken

Pasadena: Mishima, Shizuoka-ken

Montebello: Ashiya, Hyogo-ken

Monterey Park: Nachi-Katsuura, Wakayama-ken

Glendora: Mooka, Tochigi-ken

Burbank: Ota, Gunma-ken

Carson: Soka, Chiba-ken

Long Beach: Yokkaichi, Mie-ken

ABC Unified School District (Artesia, Bloomfield and Carmenita):
Kakamigahara, Gifu-ken

Anaheim, Orange County: Mito, Ibaraki-ken

Newport Beach, Orange County: Okazaki, Aichi-ken

Brea, Orange County: Hanno, Saitama-ken

La Mirada, Orange County: Isehara, Kanagawa-ken

San Bernardino: Tachikawa, Tokyo-to

Still More Links

Jim Breen's Japanese Page
Monash University, Australia
There a lot of broken links, still this is a useful site.

Keiko Schneider's Bookmarks
For those who study and teach Japanese and Japan. 
Japanese teachers and students.


Advanced Japanese Language School of Los Angeles
E-mail: AdvancedJP@hotmail.com