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Preface to the Third Edition

Thanks to you readers, Making Out In Japanese has long been a perennial favorite among people who want to boost their ability to jump in and converse. To help you keep it going, this new edition has eliminated some outmoded phrases and added some new ones. And because Japan, like the US, moves on a faster track than ever, we’ve added a chapter to help ensure your social savvy is up-to-date.

In a culture where social networking sites are growing increasingly popular, and having a cell phone (or two) is expected, being able to communicate about communicating has taken on an importance of his own. The realm of electronic communication has a constantly evolving and shifting language of its own, as well. The Making the Scene chapter includes a few terms and phrases to help you expand your virtual social network, decode the language of the Internet, and generally stay connected to your new friends, whether your preferred mode is a desktop computer or your smartphone.

We’ve also included new information on that other way to connect: face time. The not-so-new phenomenon of gokon, or a group date, is covered in the new chapter. (Not your usual date, it’s competition, Japanese-style. Modesty is key, but don’t be afraid to flaunt your gaijin-card.) This section shows you how to introduce yourself, how to make yourself sound more interesting and attractive than the next girl/ guy, and the protocol that can be expected after most gokons have been fleshed out. We’ll also introduce you to some of the archetypes you’ll see mostly in cities, but whose influence can be seen in less populated areas of Japan as well.

Some chapters now include a short vocabulary to help you get up to speed on some new and not-so-new terminology.

Have fun, and 頑がん張ばって!^* Ganbatte!

* Hang in there!