Any recommendations for good books, animes, movies, dramas?

Ninja · JLPT Starter Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 17

Hi,

I'm currently preparing for the JLPT3 (correction N4) exams in Dec 2011, anyone has any books, anime, dramas or movies suitable for this level's learning and comprehension to recommend?

I think I'm gonna start with Hayao Miyazaki's anime-movie, Spirited Away. It's an entertaining watch, I've seen the movie a few years ago in English at the theatres, thought I'll try it this time in Japanese.

RGer · JLPT Starter Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Posts: 46

Good question as I'm also preparing for the N3 exam. I did probably pass the N4 and I can understand the custom made material for my Japanese course.

But listening to songs and watching anime I do not understand very much at all which can be a little disheartening.

I guess the problem is that the material I am exposed to in Japanese class is custom made to fit the things I've learned.

Anyways some people were talking about the book "Watashi wa neko de aru" but perhaps that one is way to complex.

Ninja · JLPT Starter Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 17

Correction to my earlier post... I meant to say that I'm taking the JLPT N4 exams this year, not JLPT 3.

JLPT 3 has been changed to JLPT N4 a while ago, my mind must have wandered to 2009 or earlier when I wrote that.

RGer · JLPT Starter Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Posts: 46

I saw that White Rabbit Press sells reading materials that suit various proficiency and JLPT test levels.

mac · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:47 pm Post subject:

I've read a few of the graded readers. They are pretty good and very helpful. The only problem is the subject matter. Some of the stories are pretty boring to be honest. So make sure you take a look at the summaries of the stories before you buy a set.

They also come with an audio CD, so you can listen to them as an audio book after you've read them or use them as listening practice.

RGer · JLPT Starter Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Posts: 46

mac · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 5:19 pm Post subject:

I read the level 3, vol 1 series. They were pretty good. One of the books is about the people on the Japanese currency. It was pretty entertaining.

It was about N4~N3 level, so might be a little too easy. Take a look:

http://www.whiterabbitpress.com/product.php?productid=16456&bid=35&partner=jlptbootcamp (affiliate link)

You can listen to the audio and read some excerpts and decide for yourself. They are suppose to be 'easy' reads in that you should know most of the words except for about 3 or 4 per page that you need to guess.

Level 4 of the graded readers is for the N3~N2 level. If you want something more difficult.

GameJon · JLPT Starter Joined: 12 Jul 2011 Posts: 1

'Graded Readers' books are pretty good.

For Anime, I'd suggest "mainichi kaasan" (also known as Kaasan, mom's life) The language is often pretty simple (as there are 2 kids) and often its everyday life and conversation, with same workds repeated many times.

fujifrantic · JLPT Starter Joined: 08 Oct 2011 Posts: 6