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Game Information
- Platform: Nintendo DS
- PEGI Rating: Ages 3 and Over
- Media: Video Game
Product details
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Product Description
Explore Japan as each point of interest opens up your vocabulary
- Lesson plans take place within interesting locations ranging from Tokyo to the country side
- Useful information for first time Japanese speakers planning to visit the country
- The world map is identical to the Japanese map and the locations of the country
Learn to pronounce sounds unique to Japanese by comparing your voice to a native speaker
- Voice recording and playback feature of the DS allows the player to compare his or her accent to a native Japanese speaker
- Ability to listen and compare phrases not just words but also phrases as well
Develop your calligraphy skills as you trace over animations showing the proper way to write in Japanese
- Write Japanese characters using the DS stylus and touch screen
- Stroke order and comparison ability allows players to properly write hiragana / katakana / kanji
Participate in mini-games that will test your grasp of the structured lessons featured in the game
- 12 mini-games reinforce lesson plans and the ability to write in Japanese
- Variety of mini games ranging from whack-a-mole, word search, bridge builder, and kanji writing
Use the built in reference tool to look up useful words and phrases
- Japanese Dictionary and phrasebook with over 12,000 Japanese words and hundreds of useful phrases
- Strong reference points and serves as an independent tool from the game thats very practical and useful
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Fun:
I studied Japanese and lived there many years ago and have been trying to keep up with the language every since, with varying success. I've purchased some Japanese games for the DS recently, which have been useful for Kanji and Kana learning (Kanji Sonomama DS Rakubikjiten and Tadashii Kanji Kakitori kun - both available from Amazon Japan).
I think this is the first game released for the DS that takes English speakers through the basics of the Japanese language. English learning games for the DS at all levels are very common in Japan, so this is well overdue. The Japanese games for learning English often don't have enough Japanese in them of the right level to be useful to English speakers, so this is a really interesting development.
Unlike books, this is very interactive and the games are very effective for testing your memory and learning. They allow you to practice and learn very efficiently if you are short of time. I don't think you can learn to speak Japanese fluently just on the strength of this game alone, but as a companion to a good teacher or textbook such as Japanese for College Students: Basic Vol 1 (Japanese for College Students Vol. 1), it is very useful. For me, as a revision aid, I have found it very helpful.
The main gripe is, as others have noted, the errors in the stroke order for the Kanji and Kana. You can work round this, but I suggest using a textbook, or Kakitorikun if it is important to you to learn these correctly.
The grammar explanations are complicated, because Japanese grammar is actually quite complicated in places and its difficult to condense into a DS screen. Again, I'd suggest A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar or equivalent here.
I find the bridge builder game and the flash card game on Audio only (you hear the word spoken in Japanese and choose the English option) to be the most useful so far. The write card game is also useful, but spoiled a little by the dodgy stroke order on a few of the characters. The microphone play-back function where you can compare your pronunciation to the game's voice is also very useful indeed, particularly if you are new to Japanese.
I think the built-in dictionary and phrase book would be very useful too, although I use Kanji Sonomama's dictionary now.
If you already have a DS and are serious about learning Japanese, you should get this game to help along your study, particularly if you are not fortunate enough to have a Japanese speaker giving you regular lessons.
I intend to buy My Chinese Coach when it becomes available in the UK, and I'm also looking forward to the DS Mind Your Language Japanese game, to see how they compare.
I think this is the first game released for the DS that takes English speakers through the basics of the Japanese language. English learning games for the DS at all levels are very common in Japan, so this is well overdue. The Japanese games for learning English often don't have enough Japanese in them of the right level to be useful to English speakers, so this is a really interesting development.
Unlike books, this is very interactive and the games are very effective for testing your memory and learning. They allow you to practice and learn very efficiently if you are short of time. I don't think you can learn to speak Japanese fluently just on the strength of this game alone, but as a companion to a good teacher or textbook such as Japanese for College Students: Basic Vol 1 (Japanese for College Students Vol. 1), it is very useful. For me, as a revision aid, I have found it very helpful.
The main gripe is, as others have noted, the errors in the stroke order for the Kanji and Kana. You can work round this, but I suggest using a textbook, or Kakitorikun if it is important to you to learn these correctly.
The grammar explanations are complicated, because Japanese grammar is actually quite complicated in places and its difficult to condense into a DS screen. Again, I'd suggest A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar or equivalent here.
I find the bridge builder game and the flash card game on Audio only (you hear the word spoken in Japanese and choose the English option) to be the most useful so far. The write card game is also useful, but spoiled a little by the dodgy stroke order on a few of the characters. The microphone play-back function where you can compare your pronunciation to the game's voice is also very useful indeed, particularly if you are new to Japanese.
I think the built-in dictionary and phrase book would be very useful too, although I use Kanji Sonomama's dictionary now.
If you already have a DS and are serious about learning Japanese, you should get this game to help along your study, particularly if you are not fortunate enough to have a Japanese speaker giving you regular lessons.
I intend to buy My Chinese Coach when it becomes available in the UK, and I'm also looking forward to the DS Mind Your Language Japanese game, to see how they compare.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Fun:
Got this game a few days ago and finding it hard to put down. Much as I've wanted to learn Japanese over the previous years, I'm not one to sit down with books. This being a game which also teaches is ideal. Overall very good. You begin with single words, but are introduced to sentence structure as you progress.
When you first switch on, you make a profile where you are given a test of your Japanese knowledge. This then determines which lesson you are started at. But its easy enough to review any previous lessons.
One gripe would be the kana (hiragana and katakana). Having some knowledge of these I was surprised that a few were shown with incorrect stroke order. No big deal you may think but this would make me wary of any kanji that are taught. Especially as the stroke order is a major factor in finding any kanji in dictionaries.
When you first switch on, you make a profile where you are given a test of your Japanese knowledge. This then determines which lesson you are started at. But its easy enough to review any previous lessons.
One gripe would be the kana (hiragana and katakana). Having some knowledge of these I was surprised that a few were shown with incorrect stroke order. No big deal you may think but this would make me wary of any kanji that are taught. Especially as the stroke order is a major factor in finding any kanji in dictionaries.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Fun:
Having been to Japan two years ago I fell in love with the place. It is without doubt one of the few places you must visit before your heart stops beating. I used to download my Japanese lessons from ITunes and whilst in Tokyo it proved quite invaluable - one of the locals even asked me if I studied the language (we were in a pub at the time so perhaps the alcohol was the cause of flattery?) made me smile though!
This game arrived yesterday (just missed the pesky postal strikes - hurrah) and I must say that I am simply blown away! The learning curve is just right and it allows you to go at your own pace. Fun games and the prospect of 'mastery points' keep you coming back for more!
In less than a day I now know my colours, the days of the week and my numbers up to nineteen! (No need for the applause but thank you all the same heh heh)
What is really wonderful about this lil gem is that you can revisit all the lessons you've gone over and repeat them for all eternity! There is also a glossary of words and phrases that range from Entertainment to Conversational - you can tick your favourite words and phrases and they'll appear in your 'favourites' - you can then practice them until your pronunciation is spot on!
Another cool innovation is the 'mimicry feature' which allows you to record your pronunciation and play it in unison with a local, ensuring that you say the correct thing and not something rude by mistake!
I plan to return to Japan again before the year is out and will be taking this brilliant learning tool along with me (who knows I may just click the things I want to say n let the Dsi do all the work for me? : D )
No, no I won't do that especially seeing as I can now say:
"Sumimasen, nomimono wo oggotte mo ii?" (Excuse me, do you want a drink?)
I'm not psychic or anything but something tells me that that lil phrase with come in handy ; )
Get this game - you will love it!
This game arrived yesterday (just missed the pesky postal strikes - hurrah) and I must say that I am simply blown away! The learning curve is just right and it allows you to go at your own pace. Fun games and the prospect of 'mastery points' keep you coming back for more!
In less than a day I now know my colours, the days of the week and my numbers up to nineteen! (No need for the applause but thank you all the same heh heh)
What is really wonderful about this lil gem is that you can revisit all the lessons you've gone over and repeat them for all eternity! There is also a glossary of words and phrases that range from Entertainment to Conversational - you can tick your favourite words and phrases and they'll appear in your 'favourites' - you can then practice them until your pronunciation is spot on!
Another cool innovation is the 'mimicry feature' which allows you to record your pronunciation and play it in unison with a local, ensuring that you say the correct thing and not something rude by mistake!
I plan to return to Japan again before the year is out and will be taking this brilliant learning tool along with me (who knows I may just click the things I want to say n let the Dsi do all the work for me? : D )
No, no I won't do that especially seeing as I can now say:
"Sumimasen, nomimono wo oggotte mo ii?" (Excuse me, do you want a drink?)
I'm not psychic or anything but something tells me that that lil phrase with come in handy ; )
Get this game - you will love it!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
If you have an iPod touch get the app instead
While this is a very good application for learning Japanese on the Nintendo, people are trying to resell it at stupid prices. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Stephen
EXCELLENT!
This game is absolutely brilliant!! I've been learning Japanese for around 3 months now, and this is by far the best thing i've bought. Read more
Published 15 months ago by MissZoeAnn
Great Game! If you wanna call it that!
Really helpful, I wouldn't use it on it's own though...I have the Pimsleur course and it's great to get a better understanding of the language using both. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Holly
Definitely one for you if you're serious about learning!
This game is very good at teaching you japanese, however only if you want to learn the language. If you're looking for something to teach you just enough to get by on holiday or... Read more
Published on 17 May 2010 by F. Lake
Great learning Material
This is a fun way to learn quick Japanese phrases quickly. Lots of fun games to play to keep you occupied and they are no shortage of words to learn. Read more
Published on 3 May 2010 by Miss Berry
Great for all round learning
This product is great for many things; improving vocabulary, learning the correct brush strokes for writing and pronunciation. Read more
Published on 26 April 2010 by A. E. Robinson
Surprisingly good.
I was very positively surprised with this game. I have been studying Japanese for around 5 years now, including a year in Tokyo and have since tried to expand my knowledge or at... Read more
Published on 8 April 2010 by M. S.
une mine d'or !
La méthode de japonais la plus complète (sérieux, reconnaissances d'écriture et vocale). Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2010 by Sylvie Descombes
Whack a mole!!
This handy bit of software makes learning Japanese fun and inticing. There are games after each set of new words but the one that I found the most fun was the whack a mole! Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2010 by samantha
Great, educational game
My daughter is mad on manga and anime and has a fascination for all things Japanese. She found this game really enjoyable and it also teaches her Japanese in a fun, easy way. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2010 by F. Turner
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