Welcome to the subject guide for Japanese Studies. This guide is divided by topic. You can scroll through the contents or click a topic to jump to it.
Language: Dictionaries, Citation Assistance, Japanese Language Texts, Practice Materials
Language
| Online Dictionaries | Print Dictionaries | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Word Reference | Periplus pocket Japanese dictionary | Imiwa for iOS |
| Weblio | Tuttle mini Japanese dictionary | Japanese by Renzo for iOS and Android |
| Jisho | Kanji King for Android |
Asian Citation Guide WIki by the University of British Columbia
This citation guide for Asian language sources was developed by the University of British Columbia and contains PDFs with citation instructions for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.
Project Gutenberg is a digital library and archive with over 60 000 documents and ebooks. This link will take you to the Japanese language selection.
Professor emeritus Eiichi Shibuya of Takushoku University maintains this site which provides the classic text of the Tale of Genji, the Japanese romanization, modern translation, and more. Available in Japanese and English.
百人一首 (Hyakunin Isshu)
This site provides the 100 waka poems in the classic 小倉百人一首 (Hyakunin Isshu Ogura). Each poem has an explanation of the grammar the author has used. Available in Japanese and English.
Database of Japanese langauge articles. Some articles are available in English translation.
This phrase book contains a quick reference dictionary, vocabulary words, and audio track to practice pronounciation and listening skills.
This video is a listening exercise for non-keigo conversations.
This video is a sample listening exam with the correct answers provided.
Related Research Guides: Modern Languages
Religion
Internet Sacred Text Archive - Shinto
"This section has scriptures of the Shinto religion, as well as other texts that relate to the spirituality of Japan, which combines Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, Animism and other themes. There is also a collection of Ainu Texts."
Grand Tsubaki Shine of America
"Tsubaki America Shrine was established in 1986 in Stockton, CA by Rev. Dr. Yukitaka Yamamoto the 96th High Priest of Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Mie, Japan. Tsubaki America was the 1st Shrine to be built on North American soil." Available in bothe English and Japanese.
Encyclopedia of Shinto (Archived)
"The online Encyclopedia of Shinto is the English translation of the Shinto jiten edited by the Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics and published by Kobundo in 1994 (the text as translated here reflects certain emendations to the original Japanese version). Links to video images, illustrations, photographs and sound files have been added anew."
Kokugakuin University Digital Museum
"The content is a collection of various databases (including various academic databases, online encyclopedias, digital libraries, etc.), including databases that can be used in languages other than Japanese, such as English and Korean. Each database is created for its own purpose, and the recorded data includes various formats such as text data, image data, audio data, video data, etc., but all of them are targeted. Cross-sectional access is possible by integrated search."
Historical Dictionary of Shinto (ebook)
"The expanded second edition of the Historical Dictionary of Shinto relates the history of Shinto through a chronology, an introductory essay, an extensive bibliography, and over 800 cross-referenced dictionary entries on Shinto concepts, significant figures, places, activities, and periods. Scholars and students will find the overviews and sources for further research provided by this book to be enormously helpful."
This resource provides English Translations of Buddhist texts.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Japanese Zen Buddhist Philosophy
"The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy organizes scholars from around the world in philosophy and related disciplines to create and maintain an up-to-date reference work." This link takes you directly to the entry for Japanese Zen Buddhism.
Buddhism Reasearch Guide by the University at Buffalo
This research guide includes extensive resources about the many forms of Buddhism.
Related Reseach Guides: Religious Studies, History
History and Culture
International Dunhuang Project: Silk Road Online
"IDP is a ground-breaking international collaboration to make information and images of all manuscripts, paintings, textiles and artefacts from Dunhuang and archaeological sites of the Eastern Silk Road freely available on the Internet and to encourage their use through educational and research programmes."
The National Archives of Japan offrers a large digital collection of archival material including images and text. This resource is available in English and Japanese.
Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures
"This exhibition presents portrait photographs of approximately 600 statesmen, government officials, military officers, businessmen, scholars and artists, who had an impact on building modern Japanese society." This resource is presented by The National Diet Library and is available in Japanese and English.
Centre for Japanese Studies Publications
This resource offers archival material and out-of-print books and peer-reviewed articles on the topic of Japanese studies. Archival material is in Japanese.
Database of Japanese langauge articles. Some articles are available in English translation.
Japanese Culture: The Religious and Philosophical Foundations - ebook
"Japanese Culture: The Religious and Philosophical Foundations takes readers on a thoroughly researched and extremely readable journey through Japan's cultural history. "
Related Research Guides: History