App Store

Google Play

image.devices-Singapore 2x

Step into an infinite world of stories

Listen and read

Clay Boutwell

Yumi Boutwell

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★
Now includes audio files, PDF, ePub, and an Anki flashcard deck of all the vocabulary found in the stories with sound and pitch accents. (See the link at the back of the book to download all this for no extra charge)

Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying. 

Now you can learn about yokai and read stories about them while polishing your Japanese. ♥

ABOUT THIS VOLUME

The kappa is one of Japan's most well-known yokai. It lives in or near rivers, loves cucumbers, and occasionally plays tricks on humans. They are not all bad, though. Kappa have been known to teach humans special knowledge such as medicine or help people in times of trouble.

FEATURES

Includes three essays or stories about the kappa

Each story is presented in three formats:
1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below
2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability)
3) English translation (to confirm your understanding)

The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English

A link to download sound files for the stories is provided (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book

Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi

The download also includes a PDF version of the book and an Anki flashcard deck with all the vocabulary found in the stories. The Anki deck has sound, definitions, pitch accent diagrams, and the sentence using the word in context.

STORIES INCLUDED

① What is the Kappa?

② A Kappa Mummy

③ A Kappa Repays a Debt

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4.

If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, click the Buy Now button and get your copy now.

Kotoba Inc

Learn Japanese with Yokai!

Learn Japanese with Yokai! The Kappa

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★

Now includes audio files, PDF, ePub, and an Anki flashcard deck of all the vocabulary found in the stories with sound and pitch accents. (See the link at the back of the book to download all this for no extra charge)

Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying. 

Now you can learn about yokai and read stories about them while polishing your Japanese. ♥

ABOUT THIS VOLUME

Tengu is a legendary creature associated with mountains and forests. Tengu can cause mischief, but as you will read within these pages, tengu also can show kindness to people.

Earlier depictions make the tengu out to be more bird-like, but, eventually, tengu came to be drawn in the form of an ascetic mountain priest called yamabushi. Unlike normal yamabushi, however, tengu have unnaturally long noses, carry a scroll called “tora no maki,” and have magical powers. They say, the tengu even taught ninjas their legendary skills! 

FEATURES

Includes three essays or stories

Each story is presented in three formats: 
1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 
2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 
3) English translation (to confirm your understanding)

The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English

A link to download sound files for the stories is provided (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book

Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi

STORIES INCLUDED

 ① About the Tengu

 ② Origin of the Tengu

 ③ Tengu Stories

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4. 

If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now.

Learn Japanese with Yokai! Tengu

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★

Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying. 

Now you can learn about yokai and read stories about them while polishing your Japanese. ♥

ABOUT THIS VOLUME

With their horned heads and foul behavior, the Japanese oni has often been compared to the ogres in the Western tradition. But in Japan, oni are everywhere. Traditional tales, children's songs, and proverbs are full of references to them. In this way, not only will this book help you enhance your reading ability, but you'll also increase your Japanese cultural literacy. 

FEATURES

Includes three essays or stories

Each story is presented in three formats: 
1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 
2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 
3) English translation (to confirm your understanding)

The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English

A link to download sound files for the stories is provided (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book

Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi

STORIES INCLUDED

 ① Oni Part One

 ② Oni's Descendants

 ③ Namahage

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4. 

If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, buy now to begin studying now.

The Oni, a Japanese Reader: Learn Japanese with Yokai!

★For Upper Beginners Learning Japanese ★

Living in shadows and the in-between world of dreams and reality, yokai thrive in Japanese imagination. What are yokai? They are monsters, ghosts, unnatural beings, and even sentient household items. Yokai can be harmless and amusing, or they can be terrifying. 

Now you can learn about yokai and read stories of them while polishing your Japanese. ♥

ABOUT THIS VOLUME
The 山姥(やまんば) is a scary youkai mountain witch. She eats whoever enters her mountain. In this volume, we’ll look at two legends involving the 山姥(やまんば).

The first is about an ox-cart man (someone who made deliveries) who encountered a 山姥(やまんば). The second story is about a young priest who has three magic charms to protect him from the 山姥(やまんば).

FEATURES

Includes two full stories

Each story is presented in three formats: 

1) Sentence-by-Sentence with definition and commentary below 

2) Japanese only (to test your reading ability) 

3) English translation (to confirm your understanding)

The Sentence-by Sentence section of each story presents a small chunk of the Japanese with furigana over the kanji and a complete glossary of all the words; important grammatical patterns are pointed out and explained in plain English

A link to download sound files for the stories is provided (for no extra charge) on the last page of the book

Each story has a slow and normal speed recording of the Japanese read by Yumi

STORIES INCLUDED

 ① Ushikata and the Yamanba

 ② Yamanba and the Three Magic Charms

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This book is designed so that both those fairly new to Japanese and those in the intermediate stages can equally find value. The ideal level, however, is for the upper beginner, somewhere around the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4. 

If you are learning Japanese and are fascinated by yokai and traditional tales of old Japan, click the Buy Now button to begin studying now.