First, I’m giving a free online lecture about learning Japanese. It’s titled: “Top 10 Free Online Tools for Learning Japanese.” If you’re interested, it will be a great lecture, and I’ll be doing it twice, one for the folks in Eruope, and one for the folks in America. You can see both of them by clicking here. We’re currently in Beta testing for the classroom style lessons (or lecture, in this case), so it won’t cost you anything, and I think I’ll be giving a good lesson, so I hope to see you there. If you don’t intend to show up, though, please don’t sign up. Seats are limited, so please respect those who might want a spot.

Second, the little contest over on the edufirejapanese Youtube Channel was extended, so you have one more week to make a video and have the possibility of winning three free 1-on-1 lessons with any tutor you want. Also, eduFire has sweetened the deal, and is including a $25 gift certificate to each of the three winners for learnoutloud.com, as well as a t-shirt. Everybody on the Internet loves t-shirts. Even I don’t have an eduFire t-shirt. You can win it, and make me feel jealous.

There you have it. Join me in my lesson for free, and go make a video to take part in the eduFire contest! Thanks!

So, as I promised (and a day late), here’s how you can get you fill of free Japanese lessons, right from your own home. There’s two ways to do it. The first way involves a contest (I’ll talk about this more a little later) and the second way just involves clicking around a new Youtube channel I’m a part of. Let’s go into more detail!

Get Free Japanese Lessons on eduFire Contest

So, eduFire let me start up a little contest. Basically, we want you to tell us why you want to learn Japanese. We’ll pick our favorites from three categories. Here’s the video on that one:

I really encourage you to join this contest! I’d love to see your videos! I want to know why people want to learn Japanese too! It helps me to know what the Japanese learning world is doing, plus, you get a chance to win some free Japanese language lessons with any of the tutors on eudFire. I’m excited to see them!

The new eduFireJapanese Youtube Channel

I’ve been making “Japanese lesson” videos on a new Youtube Channel. There have been a lot of requests for me to do lesson videos, and so I saw this as a great opportunity. I won’t be the only one making videos on this channel, though, so you’ll get a whole lot of perspective, and it should be really really good. Here’s one of my recent videos on that channel.

There are more videos (and more in production), so go check it out and enjoy!

Announcement Video

And, in case you’re interested, I made a video on the Tofugu Youtube Channel announcing all this (just in case you don’t want to read. I know, it’s tough sometimes).

Anyways, thank you all for all the support so far, and I hope these things will help you get better at Japanese! I’ll continue to do the same old thing here at Tofugu, but definitely check out those other places I mentioned. Here they are: “Free one-on-one Lessons Contest” and “Lesson videos on Youtube“

If you’re a winner (one of those lucky people pictured above), contact me ASAP so we can choose you a flavor. More info about flavors further down.

So, what if you didn’t win? Well, here’s an option for you, if you want it:

I’ll send you some Gumi, but you’ll have to pay for it. The place I buy it at isn’t the cheapest place, and you might be able to find it for cheaper online, though from what I’ve seen so far other places charge tons for shipping. Still, someone else might have me beat on price; I don’t know, I haven’t really checked. I’ll throw in a handwritten note, though, so maybe that’s worth a little bit? Here are the flavors that are available. Winners, you should pay attention to this too, since you’ll have to choose as well.

• Grape
• Muscat (green grape)
• Kiwi
• Strawberry
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Litchi
• Peach
• Melon
• Orange

Now, I can’t guarentee that I’ll be able to get the one you want (since I get it at a grocery store), so please give me your top three choices, and I’ll do my best to get your #1 if at all possible. You’ve got a week to let me know, because that’s when I’m able to go get them, so if you’re interested in this offer, then do it before then. If you won this contest, please also do it by then. Trying to conserve car trips, ya know?

Here’s the price:

Domestic USA shipping: $10.00 for 1 Gumi + Shipment. $5.00 for each additional flavor.
International Outside USA shipping: $15 for 1 Gumi + Shipment. $6.00 for each additional flavor.

Not the best prices in the world, but I also don’t want to have to send out too many either. Still, I think it’s (somewhat) reasonable. You’ll also be helping me to pay my rent this month, though, profit margin is pretty tiny, I think, especially with gas considered into the equation :(

If you send money via paypal before August 21, I’ll send you tasty Gumi. My paypal address is koichiben@gmail.com.

Thank you so much for all that participated, I hope you enjoy Twitter!

I’ve been using Twitter more and more, and I thought I’d invite all of you to follow us! I wrote about Twitter before, and how it can be used to improve your Japanese, but it also has many more “normal” uses as well. Kind of like what we’re doing over on Twitter.

Over on the Tofugu Twitter page, I do updates about Japanese news, notify people about articles that come out here, give little tips on learning Japanese, share small experiences that would help you live in Japan, and much much more. I even will reply to people who Tweet at me (that’s what they call posting…tweeting)!

Visit Tofugu’s Twitter Page

So, for this week only (Until August 12), anyone who subscribes to my Twitter will automatically be entered into a drawing where they can win Gumi candy (グミ). Five people chosen at random will get one bag of this friggin’ amazing candy each, and you’ll even be able to choose what flavor you want sent to you. Need more information about how amazing the candy is? Hit the jump and watch the video:

Also, if you watched the video, you’ll know about my other Youtube channel, which is being tromped on by Tofugu. If you’re interested, and want to listen to my poor Japanese, go and check out Koichiben on Youtube! Heh, and also in the video I mentioned you can subscribe to Koichiben on Twitter as well. And yes, it counts as two submissions (twice the chance of winning some ridiculously tasty candy!)

P.S. Oh, and one way to help manage Twitter and make it easier to follow conversations is by using Twitter programs. I use Twhirl, but you can use whatever you want.

So now, let’s get to our four winners! If you won, send me your address so I can send you your prize!

King Kong & Godzilla Recreation Scene, By WOTDsctoo:

See the little postcard in the bottom right corner? His dog is Godzilla, and WOTDsctoo is King Kong (rock even included!). Nice job getting your dog to pose, and finding a “fabulous” pink background to take this picture at. You’ve even got the sophisticated King Kong frown down. Well done!

Surrounded by Godzilla, By クリス:

Chris is back again with his photoshopping mastery. Ever since the “New Nara Mascot” contest (he was #5), I think he’s been out for revenge (jk). Nice colors for the bg!

Godzilla vs Ghidora Face, By Janene

Now, Janene tried to make a bunch of submissions. Very tricky Janene. This was her official submission - note that that’s a toilet seat around her head. Hopefully you’re not trying to say that Tofugu’s heading towards the crapper! I kid - but we have to take a look at another one of her submissions. I gotta say, I like the second one better:

I mean, c’mon, it has a sheep…huh, what’s the singular for sheep?

And last, but not least…

Messy Desk, By Lily:

Sadly, this is what my desk usually looks like, though my copy of Juno is electronic. What’s that on the ipod? Looks almost like Sponge Bob. Did you know that I created Sponge Bob?

Anyways, you four, thank you for your submissions! I noticed that all three out of the four postcard designs were represented (Ghidora, Mothra, and King Kong), but no Gigan. What happened to Gigan? Guess he couldn’t find a good home. Too bad, I guess.

So as many of you know, I sent out the thank you cards in response to all of you helping me out with my thesis. Once again, Thank you very much for your help, it turned out pretty awesome! Still, I have a bunch of postcards left over, and I want to give some of them away. There were four different designs, so this is your chance to get a set of 12 (four of each design) that you can use however you want (probably for thanking people). Let’s go over the contest rules:

What is the Contest? All you have to do is take a picture with your postcard. The more creative it is, the better. I’m not going to define creative, so whether that means with a funny face, a strange location, or whatever else, I’ll leave that up to you folks.

Who Can Enter? Anyone who got a thank you postcard from me.

When is the Contest over? Two weeks from today. That would be June 25th, 2008.

How do I submit my picture? Send it to me (Koichi). Gotta do it by email: tofugu@gmail.com

Prizes? The three most creative pictures will get a set of 12 awesome Godzilla postcards. One winner will be chosen by each of Tofugu’s writers, which makes a total of three. If more than one of us wants to choose the same one, we’ll make sure there’s no overlap, and a total of three people win. Winners will be posted on this site, so if you’re too embarassed about being seen on Tofugu I can’t enter you in the drawing (though I suppose you could send me one anyways).

inally! The time has come to vote on Nara’s New New Mascot. I got a lot of submissions for this contest, so unfortunately I had to narrow it down to my favorite top ten to make voting easier on everyone. Also, I haven’t read any of the submissions for the “continue this story” contest, but I’ll be getting to that within the week. I hope the City of Nara sees this article and realizes the error of their ways.

The mascots will be listed after the break. Afterwards, there will be a poll that will allow you to vote on your favorite! Please vote for your favorite New New Nara Mascot by using the number/name I gave each mascot (which can be seen on each image). The winner of this contest gets a brand spanking new Japanese textbook of my choosing, so make sure you vote now! Somebody’s education is on the line!

Voting will end in one week! (That’s April 17 at Midnight my time)

Vote For Your Favorite!

***(click here to see it move)***

Vote Now!

Mascot Submissions that didn’t make it:

We love you, but we could only pick ten :(