Clay Boutwell

Yumi Boutwell

For Beginners to Intermediates
This book is ideal for upper beginners, but beginners who have a good grasp of hiragana and the most fundamental aspects of Japanese grammar and sentence structure will find it valuable.

ABOUT YAMAHA TORAKUSU
Yamaha Torakusu, born April 20, 1851, was the visionary founder of Yamaha Corporation, known for pioneering Japan's first reed organs. His company, originally called Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. in Hamamatsu, crafted organs, pianos, and harmonicas. In tribute to his legacy, the company was later renamed the Yamaha Corporation. Yamaha passed away on August 8, 1916, leaving a significant mark on musical instrument manufacturing.

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
The book features two versions of the biography. Begin with the simplified version, which uses primarily JLPT N5-N4 level vocabulary and grammar. Then, progress to the intermediate version, which presents the same information but in a longer format with more complex grammar and vocabulary.

The intermediate biography, initially featured in our Makoto Magazine (MakotoPlus.com), has been significantly revised and expanded for this edition. The book also includes a concise beginner-level version of the essay. Start by reviewing the vocabulary and grammar notes, proceed with the beginner-level essay, and then challenge yourself with the full intermediate essay.

BONUS MATERIAL
Access the bonus content via the link on the last page of the book to enhance your Japanese reading skills (PDF & ePub), listening comprehension (audio files - both slow and regular speed), and vocabulary acquisition (Anki flashcard decks). The Anki flashcard decks are a fast way to assimilate the vocabulary. An incredible value!
Bonuses include:

Audio recordings of both essays at slow and regular speeds.

An Anki flashcard deck to study and memorize the story's vocabulary.

QR Codes: Easily scan the QR codes in the book to stream the audio and listen along as you read.

Vocabulary Section: Before delving into the essay (either the beginner or the intermediate version), go through the story's vocabulary, sorted by parts of speech.

Grammar Section: Review key grammatical patterns featured in the stories.

Kanji in Focus: Explore essential kanji from the story, including on and kun readings, meanings, example sentences, and mnemonic stories for the kanji parts.

An enjoyable method of learning about significant Japanese figures while also boosting your vocabulary, grammar, and kanji knowledge. Perfect for upper beginners, but also accessible to beginners familiar with hiragana and basic grammatical structures. Every line and every word are meticulously explained and defined, making it a perfect resource for upper beginners to intermediate learners. Expand your Japanese vocabulary, grasp new grammatical structures, polish your reading skills, and enhance your listening capabilities. Each essay is accompanied by two MP3s, narrated by a native Japanese voice actress. Print the PDFs and load the MP3s onto your phone for studying on the go.

What are you waiting for? Unlock the full potential of your Japanese learning journey—purchase now and begin reading and learning.

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