using Web 2.0 for Japanese learners

14 useful online applications for educators. Several of these would be excellent for Japan (society/culture) and Japanese (language) uses:
adding audio comments or "post-it notes" to webpages, narrating a set of images, mapping of events & historical persons, and so on.
 
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2007/12/21/the-best-web-20-applications-for-education-2007/

online vocab builder

http://iteslj.org/v/jre/common_b.html
1554 Commonly-used Japanese Words
  Lower-level students can choose the 4-choice option, to also get Romaji.
[thanks to Charles Kelly in Nagoya]

bestsellers in Japan written on cell phones

via EDTECH e-list, 11 Dec 2007
[in the Sydney Morning Herald] http://tinyurl.com/26yvtg
blogged here, too, http://openacademic.org/news/yeah-ban-cell-phones-really

http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~edweb

Kanji and Kana (roots & mnemonics)

pp 18-19, Kanji & Kana. A Handbook of the Japanese Writing System, Hadmintzky and Spahn, Tuttle, 1981. See also, wikipedia, kanji-hiragana connection

Remembering 'kana, courtesy of Steven Heron (10/2008):
"Learn the Kana," http://learnthekana.com/

News of the Day

News of the Day, http://jplenews.blogspot.com

funny viewing

These are hilarious [M.W. Isoyama, JFLALC]

1. Perfect gift to bribe someone: http://www.yamabukiiro.com

2. Sweets for apology: http://www.shinshodoh.co.jp
(Article: http://www.asahi.com/komimi/TKY200711210219.html)

washoku - food of Japan (blog)

neat descriptions and good photos of various kinds of Japanese food
http://www.noodlesandrice.com/

student movie, "culture shock" 2008

"Culture Shock: Japan Discovery Challenge," a 10-episode Internet-tv series about Japanese and American high school students teaming-up and competing to produce short films about Japan:
from over 20 locations, including Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Toshodaiji, Chiba Lotte Marine stadium, will be released with each weekly episode.

series trailer at www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpXE8tVqQYU;
[ search: cultureshock2007 ]
-- or -- www.e-bukatsu.com/index_e.html to view "Intro Videos" and meet the 16
Jp and US high school students...

Episode Two of "Culture Shock," plus 4 team short films:
"Tokyo Earthquake Safety,"
"Akihabara, Digital Hollywood University,"
"Tokyo Fashion Adventure," and
"Yoyogi Park" http://www.kyoeiexchange.com/jdc2007/ep02_e.shtml


=> December 16: Global broadcast of "Culture Shock: Episode 1"
at www.youtube.com, search: cultureshock2007
(view episodes and "Tokyo Food Day" at www.e-bukatsu.com)

=> December 23 to February 17: Culture Shock, Episodes 2 to 10
at www.youtube.com, search: cultureshock2007
(view series and teams' 24 culture films at www.e-bukatsu.com)

=> February 17 to March 1: view, vote, and determine the winner