If you want to read web sites, email or other Internet communication in Japanese, you will need a web browser that has been configured to display Japanese text properly and has Japanese fonts installed. On our campus, any of the computers in the Hughes Computer Classroom/Cluster, in the Gerstenzang Science Library, can be used for this.
Here are some interesting Web sites that can start you off in the exploration of news, information, and the culture of Japan. These are naturally linked to other sites, so if you discover something that can be interesting to all, please make a note of the address, and bring the information to class.
News and Other Web Resources
- Japanese information in general: includes a tour of Kyoto, Japanese proverbs, and the Japanese anthem. (This is in English but there is a link here to a Japanese version.)
http://www.ntt.co.jp/japan/index.html
- This Gopher site contains information about staying in Japan, interesting facts about the Japanese language, Japanese computer programs, and books and magazines. (In English.)
gopher://gan.ncc.go.jp/11/JAPAN/SLJ
- While it lasts, TN's Japan-related Web Links is a great index of information about all things Japanese. (In English.)
http://www.panix.com/~tn/japan.html
- Newspapers are always a great source of information about a country you're interested in. Read the daily Yomiuri on the web. (English version also available at this site.)
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/
- The Japanese Tutor was produced by a student at Missouri; it's a cool website even aside from the fact that it claims it can "teach you Japanese for free." Don't try this one over a modem, it's got HUGE graphics and other technical doodads.
http://www.missouri.edu/~c563382/
- "Traveler's Japanese with Voice" -- the "Voice" part means you can download .AU files to hear pronunciation. English and Japanese.
http://www.ntt.co.jp/japan/japanese/
- Interested in Japanese literature? Check out 100 Poems by 100 Poets (Ogura Hyakunin Isshu) at
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/hyakunin/index.html
- More information about classical Japanese literature in general is available here:
http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~patkins/texts.html
- The Japan National Tourist organization can tell you a lot more than the amounts coins and paper money come in.
http://www.jnto.go.jp
- Japan Window is a cooperative site that has information on technology and living in Japan, government, business -- it even has a kid's window.
http://jw.nttam.com/HOME/index.html
- Asian Educational Media Service - dedicated to providing educational materials about Japan and Asia.
http://www.aems.uiuc.edu/
- Teaching (and Learning) about Japan - this is a great site, recently updated, about learning about Japan.
http://www.csuohio.edu/history/japan.html
This list of websites is largely based on the related list printed in Netstudy: Your Guide to Getting Better Grades Using the Internet and Online Services, Michael Wolff, ed., related to Japan and Japanese language.
Usenet Newsgroups (Bulletin Boards)
If you would like to read NEWSGROUPS, otherwise known as Usenet groups or Internet bulletin boards, you should be able to click on one of the listings below and read news. WARNING: posting messages or sending email will require that you enter your email a ddress and related information in the SERVERS area of the Mail and News preferences, which you will find in the Netscape Options menu.
To see a picture of how your Mail and News preferences should look, click here. The crucial items are circled in red; other items are optional but if you
- Want to be able to send email from this machine with this copy of Netscape but
- Don't want to use Netscape as your primary email reading program,
set all of the Mail and News preferences to match this picture, using your own username in place of the st774584 shown here.
Here are just a few newsgroups to get you started: