Re: addressing someone without -san or similar

From: Bob Clark (bclark_at_NO_SPAMairmail.net)
Date: 06/21/04 

Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2004 11:42:11 -0500

"Michael Cash" <REMOVEmikecashCAPS@sunfield.ne.jp> wrote in message
news:1nodd0llbd88ccla0541v9m528qq0e0qo5@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 12:23:10 +0000 (UTC), "Adam Atkinson"
> <ghira@mistral.co.uk> brought down from the Mount tablets inscribed:
> >
> >I can't _read_ anything more complicated than the "Minna No Nihongo
> >I" reading book, and it doesn't take much of "Mr Tanaka went
> >to Kyoto. He likes coffee. It rained yesterday" to drive you mad.
>
> I did tons of reading on four panel comics. I've never cared for that
> multi-page bull***. But to each his own. Whatever works for you.
> >
> >I ought to have a look at some Go or Shogi stuff to see if I
> >can understand anything, but it seems pretty obvious that I won't.
>
> But if you intend to continue your Japanese studies and happen to come
> across some material that you think you *may* possibly be able to work
> your way through in the future, go ahead and grab it and put it on the
> shelf. Anyway, if you're familiar with and/or interested in a
> particular subject area, then books which limit themselves to that
> area may be somewhat less daunting a task when you are trying to get
> used to reading Japanese books. 90% of what you'll hear mentioned
> around here are Genji Wazzit and that Heike thingy, but don't fall
> victim to thinking that if you ain't reading Japanese fine literature
> that you ain't reading Japanese. If you go for that stuff, good. If
> you don't, then read what you *do* find appealing. My first Japanese
> book that I read all the way through was called fZfLfZfCfCf"fR,ÌZ",¢.û
> ?E'?,â,µ.û (The Raising and Breeding Of Parakeets).
>

I agree, I would buy what you like. I just bought 3 mangas from
Amazon.co.jp because I like them. They looked fun to read and the amount of
kanji is manageable. I also bought Last Samari in region 2 coding so I can
see the Japanese sub titles. I like the move and can't wait to watch it in
Japanese. I also attended the Japanese School bazaar here 2 weeks ago. Soft
 bound items were 3 for $1:00. I got a who set 1 to 13 of novels written at
a junior high or young adult level. They cover the shogun period. So far I
have not found any kanji above 1123. My teacher said it would be hard.
It's a goal, so those books are now on my shelf. I also got a set of 9
books that are at a 6 to 7 year old level. I will start on them this week.
Then there is the 14 books at the 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7 level. Mostly hiragana
and some katakana, but almost no kanji. All of this cost me $20.00. Look
around in your area for similar sales. The first time I attended, I did not
get anything. This time I had a year under my belt and found great stuff
that I understood. I had spent $36 US at a book store in Chicago for a
airplane book in hiragana with light kanji. It's still neat as it is in my
area of interest. I could not hope to read it when I got it, but I am
looking forward to it now and glad I paid the $$ for it.

Regards,

Bob