Let's Learn Japanese is a video-based Japanese language

Japanese language

is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...

 study course for English speakers produced by The Japan Foundation.

The two seasons (Series I and Series II) were originally aired on television at a rate of one episode per day, with each episode consisting of two lessons. Text books which complement the series were also available; these contained vocabulary lists, explanations of grammar, transcriptions of scenes from within the program, and cultural information about Japan. By now, the first book is out of print but the second book is still available from some sources.
Both seasons used a drama called Yan and the Japanese People for instruction. This drama consisted of scenes which focus on the experiences of a young man named Yan (played by Nick Muhrin), a foreigner living and working in Japan.

Let's Learn Japanese Basic I

Series one of "Let's Learn Japanese" was made in 1984 and 1985. It was presented by Mary Althaus and featured a number of skits, featuring Mine-san (Yusuke Mine

Yusuke Mine

Yusuke Mine, is a Japanese-born actor who is probably best known for his role on the 26-lesson TV program Let's Learn Japanese. On the program, he performed in skits that contained the sentence patterns that each episode focused on and assisted viewers with the day's material with pronunciation...

), Sugihara-san (Miki Sugihara), and Kaihô-san (Hiroyuki Kaihô), which were designed to help the viewer memorize, and practice the use of, new words and grammatical structures. The series also followed the story of Yan's new life in Japan working as an architect.

Let's Learn Japanese Basic II

Series two was created in 1995 – 10 years after the end of the first series – and was presented by Tae Umino. The skits were performed by Andô-san (Seiji Andô), Koyanagi-san (Chinatsu Koyanagi) and Kodama-san (Yorinobu Kodama). In this series the story of Yan is continued (based on Episode 14–26 of the original Drama), only this time it is much darker and more interesting. Yan's heart is torn asunder by the young lady he had a crush on in series one, and he goes to Niigata

Niigata

is a name of a place of Japan and the Chubu region.Niigata may refer to:* Niigata - a city in Japan and the capital of Niigata Prefecture* Niigata Prefecture - prefecture in Japan* Albirex Niigata - the city's professional football club...

 to drown his sorrows in the wild winter Sea of Japan

Sea of Japan

The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...

.

NHK Let's Learn Japanese Series

There was also another Japanese language study series named NHK Japanese: how to survive in Japan? which was produced by the Japanese TV Network NHK in 1989. This 40-part series was about an "American" David Roberts, who went to Japan for work. He was assisted by a beautiful girl named Yukko Gotto, and in later episodes they are joined by David's wife, Cathy Roberts. David was going to introduce to Japan American culture and food with the American Train.

Erin's Challenge! I can speak Japanese

A fresh start to the Japan Foundation program was the third series, "Erin's Challenge! I can speak Japanese", which aired first in spring 2007 and is also available as DVD and in form of a interactive website. As it is especially designed for young people it features skits about Senior High School Students which are explained by computer animated figures. The main character Erin is learning Japanese with the help of the teacher Honigon and a small robot called N21-J. Besides the regular skits and explanations, there is also more information about Japan, its students and people around the world who are learning Japanese, too.

Let's Learn Japanese Basic I

1. I'm Yan.
2. What's that?
3. There's a cat.
4. Where is it?
5. Please give me some stamps.
6. Please turn left at the next corner.
7. May I look at this?
8. May I write with a pencil?
9. She gets up at 6 o'clock every morning.
10. He doesn't drink milk.
11. I went to Nikkō.
12. When did you go?
13. They're watching a baseball game.
14. He's drinking beer while watching TV.
15. It's hot every day.
16. Is it hot enough?
17. I want to drink some cold beer.
18. Do you dislike fish?
19. Mt Fuji will come into view before long.
20. It looks good.
21. I can't speak English.
22. Is it possible to see the model room?
23. Why aren't cars passing?
24. We're a little late so let's hurry
25. What's in the briefcase?
26. Do you remember

Let's Learn Japanese Basic II

1. I think I can be there by 4 PM
2. Maybe you should go and meet her soon
3. He said he's going to Nagasaki today
4. I got them from a friend
5. We're thinking of singing Beethoven's ninth
6. Try reading the Japanese
7. It's nice and clean now
8. Will you turn up the volume on the TV a little bit?
9. Turn the stove off when you leave the room
10. I'm so bored I don't know what to do
11. Shall I change the towel?
12. Mr.Terada has been taking care of me
13. If this design is chosen, I'll go back to my country
14. You mustn't tell Yan
15. He doesn't seem to be there
16. Even if we invite him, I don't think he'll come
17. I was in a hurry, so I couldn't buy it
18. I'm planning to see the sea, visit old houses and so on.
19. It's hard, working like that in this snow
20. What's this fish called?
21. The sakura hasn't bloomed yet, has it?
22. There's only one bottle left
23. We'll miss you when you've gone
24. I've never traveled abroad before
25. Give it to him when he's come down
26. If you're ever in Japan again please stop by

External links

• Homepage (English) for "Erin's Challenge! I can speak Japanese"
• USN-Page about LLJ; especially interesting for people who want to order the second book
• Homepage of the Japan Foundation, with further information about these and other series & books