{"product_id":"learn-japanese-with-stories-volume-yumi-boutwell-9798762489836","title":"Learn Japanese with Stories Volume 14: Kicchomu-san + Audio Download","description":"\u003cb\u003eRead real Japanese today.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eShort stories make that possible. By keeping each tale brief and breaking it into small, digestible segments with full explanations, this reader lets you work through genuine Japanese page by page - without the wall-of-text intimidation that stops most learners cold.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVolume 14 introduces \u003cb\u003eKicchomu\u003c\/b\u003e, the loud, over-eager wit-hero of Kyushu. Where his southern cousin Hikoichi is quietly clever, Kicchomu is brasher, frequently wrong about the details, and somehow still ends up on top - usually by taking someone's advice a little too literally. Both stories here are 頓智話 (tonchibanashi), \"wit tales\" whose punch lines turn on language and assumption rather than magic or muscle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe two stories: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eKicchomu and the Falling Star\u003c\/b\u003e - He climbs onto the roof with a long broom and promises to knock a gold star down for the villagers. What actually falls is the joke.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eKicchomu Selling Crows\u003c\/b\u003e - Nobody wants a crow. So Kicchomu sets one bright pheasant on top of the basket and lets his customers' assumptions do the selling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEach story is presented three ways: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLine-by-line gloss\u003c\/b\u003e - every sentence broken down word-for-word with grammar notes, so you understand completely.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eJapanese only\u003c\/b\u003e - the full story with furigana but no gloss, for uninterrupted reading practice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eEnglish summary\u003c\/b\u003e - a straightforward translation to check yourself against (work through the Japanese first).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlso included: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFree native-speaker audio\u003c\/b\u003e - two recordings per story, one at natural speed and one slowed down. Download via the link or scan the QR codes inside.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFurigana throughout\u003c\/b\u003e the line-by-line explanations (the Japanese-only section drops it so you can test yourself).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eKanji in Focus\u003c\/b\u003e - key kanji broken into parts with readings, meanings, and memory hooks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eExercises and answer keys\u003c\/b\u003e - comprehension questions, particle fill-ins, grammar hunts, and translation comparisons.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMakoto+ Sentence Explorer\u003c\/b\u003e - free, unlimited access to every sentence from the book for interactive, word-by-word practice on the web or in the app.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBonus content\u003c\/b\u003e - Anki flashcard deck and printable PDFs, free with the book.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWho it's for: \u003c\/b\u003e upper-beginner to intermediate learners. If you can read hiragana and handle simple sentences, you'll get a lot out of these. Studied for a year or two and feel stuck? Start with the Japanese-only section, then use the gloss to cement what you missed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eQuestions or requests for future readers? Our email is in the book - we read it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUp next: \u003cb\u003eVolume 15, Hikoichi Strikes Back.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Yumi Boutwell,Clay Boutwell\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798762489836\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/08\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 100\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.28lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.21d","brand":"Yumi Boutwell","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48996663197951,"sku":"9798762489836","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/learn-japanese-with-stories-volume-yumi-boutwell-9798762489836","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}