Table of Contents
Introduction 7
Lesson 1 Greetings and Everyday Expressions 12
Lesson 2 Meeting People 20
Dialogue 1 How Do You Do? 21
Cultural Note: Introductions 24
Dialogue 2 Are You American? 26
Cultural Note: Foreign Words in Japanese 30
Cultural Note: Aizuchi: How to be a Good Listener 30
Dialogue 3 Introducing Yourself 32
Dialogue 4 Who is That Person? 38
Cultural Note: Senpai-Kohai "Senior-Junior" Relationship 40
Lesson 3 Schedule and Daily Activities 44
Dialogue 1 Taking a Bus Tour 45
Cultural Note: The Japanese Sense of Time 48
Dialogue 2 Practicing Your Japanese 51
Cultural Note: Virtue of Ambiguity 54
Dialogue 3 It's Lunch Time 56
Dialogue 4 Texting Someone 61
Lesson 4 Eating and Drinking 66
Dialogue 1 Visiting an Izaka-ya Resturant 67
Cultural Note: Eating out 72
Cultural Note: Drinking 72
Dialogue 2 At a Ramen Shop 75
Dialogue 3 Traditional Japanese Cuisine 82
Cultural Note: Tea 85
Dialogue 4 My Favorite Foods 88
Lesson 5 Where is It? 92
Dialogue 1 Going Shopping 93
Dialogue 2 Driving in Town 99
Cultural Note: Konbini "Convenience Store" 101
Dialogue 3 In the Department Store 104
Cultural Note: Depa-chika The "Basement of a Department Store" 106
Dialogue 4 Taking a Break in a Cafe 108
Lesson 6 Leisure Activities and Hobbies 112
Dialogue 1 Invitation to Kabuki 103
Cultural Note: Do $$$-a Spiritual Path to Mastery 117
Dialogue 2 Vacations 120
Cultural Note: Religions in Japan 123
Dialogue 3 Going Sightseeing 126
Dialogue 4 At a Nomi-kai (After-work Drinking) 132
Cultural Note: After Work Parties 135
Lesson 7 Getting Around 138
Dialogue 1 Commuting 139
Cultural Note: Taking Trains 141
Dialogue 2 Meeting at Hachiko, the Dog Statue 143
Cultural Note: Apology First 147
Dialogue 3 Taking a Taxi 150
Dialogue 4 Going to the Airport 153
Lesson 8 Family and Personal History 158
Dialogue 1 Birthday 159
Cultural Note: Hanami "Flower-Viewing Picnic" 165
Cultural Note: Japanese Calendar and Birthday Celebrations 166
Dialogue 2 Personal History 169
Dialogue 3 Family 175
Dialogue 4 Marriage 179
Lesson 9 Opinions and Feelings 186
Dialogue 1 A Good Idea 167
Dialogue 2 Being Sick 191
Dialogue 3 Emotions 196
Dialogue 4 Politeness 202
Cultural Note: Politeness in Japanese Culture 204
Cultural Note: Gift-Giving 204
Lesson 10 Do's and Don'ts 208
Dialogue 1 Please Enter Your Password 209
Dialogue 2 No Smoking 213
Cultural Note: The Virtue of Holding Back 214
Dialogue 3 Recycling 217
Cultural Note: The Concept of Mottainai and Recycling in Japan 219
Dialogue 4 Clothing 222
English-Japanese Dictionary 228
Japanese-English Dictionary 242