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MCJP Boku Yomu Collection
日本語一覧
Since 2022, the Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris (MCJP) has been organising an activity called "Extensive reading salon - on delivery!": we pack suitcases with extensive reading books from our collection and travel around to offer extensive reading activities. So far (September 2024), we have visited almost 50 educational institutions throughout France, reaching many Japanese language learners.
As part of these activities, we then held a workshop in June 2023 to generate ideas for extensive reading material designed specifically for French-speaking learners of Japanese. The MCJP staff discussed, wrote and edited the ideas that came out of this workshop, and have now published 14 of them as a new collection called "MCJP Boku Yomu". "Boku Yomu" is a coinage combining the French word "beaucoup" (= "a lot") and the Japanese word "yomu" (= "to read").
"MCJP Boku Yomu" collection was created by thinking about what kind of Japanese books would be interesting and enjoyable to read for those studying Japanese in France. We hope that many learners from various places, in France and elsewhere, will pick up the books and enjoy reading them!
Language difficulty levels range from 0 to 3. Here are some guidelines for each level. With level-appropriate Japanese and plenty of illustrations to aid comprehension, the books are easy to read and stimulating for learners of all levels and generations.
Level 0: Learners at A1/A2 level who can read hiragana. The gist of the story can be understood just from the illustrations alone.
Level 1: Learners at A2 level who can understand slightly longer sentences. Illustrations help to understand the story.
Level 2: Learners at A2/B1 level. The overall story is slightly longer and includes some abstract content.
Level 3: Learners at B1/B2 level. Contains some difficult words and phrases. Longer stories overall.
Click on the icons to download free digital versions of the PDFs for reading [📖] and printing [🖨️], as well as audio files [🎵]. There is also an audiobook version available on YouTube [▶️].
Lots of Eiffel Towers!
Lots of Eiffel Towers!
エッフェル塔がいっぱい！
Sato*-kun, a Japanese friend of mine, comes on a trip to Paris and buys a lot of Eiffel Tower keyrings. After Sato-kun leaves, something strange happens in Paris...
* A phonetic transcription would show the long o : Satoo.
(318 signs)
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Writer/Editor: Takashi MIURA
Illustrator: Ayumi NAKAGAWA
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Baguette-chan and Anpan-kun!
Baguette-chan and Anpan-kun!
バゲットちゃんとあんぱんくん
This is the story of Baguette-chan from Paris and Anpan-kun from Japan. They meet on a beach on holiday and have a great time, but the day finally comes when they have to say goodbye...
(318 signs)
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Writer/Editor: Megumi KANEYUKI
Illustrator: MARIKO
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The crêpe shirt
The crêpe shirt
クレープのシャツ
My father loves crêpes. He bought a shirt made of crêpes and is very happy. He puts the shirt on and goes for a walk, but gets into a lot of trouble...
(157 signs)
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Original idea: Yuriko UNO
Editor: Takashi MIURA
Illustrator: Coline GILLET
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
My first onigiri
My first onigiri
はじめてのおにぎり
I have never had onigiri before. One day, I finally find some at the supermarket and decide to buy one. Bon appétit! But just when I am about to eat it...
(232 signs)
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Original idea: Kuniko SEKI
Editor: Moeko TANIGUCHI
Illustrator: Julie FRANCKE
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Yookai of the neighbourhood
Yookai of the neighbourhood
となりの妖怪
Do you like yookai (Japanese folk monsters)? Have you ever met one? There are many different yookai living next to you... Here are six of them!
(492 signs)
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Writer/Editor: Takashi MIURA
Illustrator: Ayumi NAKAGAWA
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The strawberry castle
The strawberry castle
いちごのお城
Ichi, go! Ichi, go! Ichi, go...
Have you heard about the last war between France and its neighbours? A king who hates numbers, a castle made of strawberries and a giant banquet... From a true story (maybe...)!
(459 signs)
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Writer/Editor: Émile NASS
Illustrator: Ayumi NAKAGAWA
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
A noisy okonomiyaki
A noisy okonomiyaki
うるさいお好み焼き
Emile-kun has okonomiyaki for the first time in Osaka. Just as he is about to eat the delicious okonomiyaki, he hears someone talking... When he looks in the direction of the voice, is it… the okonomiyaki?!
(553 signs)
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Writer/Editor: Moeko TANIGUCHI
Illustrator: Akiko ISOYAMA
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The onigiri who loved cheese
The onigiri who loved cheese
チーズが好きなおにぎり
Onigiri-kun loves cheese. He works hard so that he can visit France, the land of cheese. Finally, he's there! Onigiri-kun goes straight to a cheese shop...
(616 signs)
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Original idea: Asako KOSAKA
Editor: Megumi KANEYUKI
Illustrator: Coline GILLET
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Where do dogs sit?
Where do dogs sit?
犬の座席
I am a dog. I love going out with my friend Sophie. But today I have to sleep on the dirty train floor again. Oh, how I wish I could sit next to Sophie...
(262 signs)
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Original idea: Nariko MATSUI
Editor: Megumi KANEYUKI
Illustrator: Akiko ISOYAMA
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Freedom is good! Freedom is annoying...
Freedom is good! Freedom is annoying...
じゆうはいいな、じゆうはやだな
A Japanese boy reflects on freedom in France. At first, it seems to him that France is freer and better than Japan, but...
(183 signs)
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Writer/Editor: Ken SATO
Illustrator: Sae TSUKAGOSHI
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Paris' rats are on strike!
Paris' rats are on strike!
パリのネズミのデモ行進
The rats of Paris are very angry! They have gone on strike and are taking to the streets. How will people react?
(705 signs)
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Original idea: Saori NAKANISHI
Editor: Takashi MIURA
Illustrator: Akiko ISOYAMA
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
The torch is running!
The torch is running!
聖火が走った！？
This is a rather strange story about the torch relay in Paris. As the runner crosses the Seine, he falls and, to his horror, drops the torch into the river. Oh no! Can they still finish the relay?
(721 signs)
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Writer/Editor: Moeko TANIGUCHI
Illustrator: Ayumi NAKAGAWA
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Yookai of the neighbourhood
Yookai of the neighbourhood
となりの妖怪
Do you like yookai (Japanese folk monsters)? Have you ever met one? There are many different yookai living next to you... Here are six of them!
(814 signs)
___________________________________________
Writer/Editor: Takashi MIURA
Illustrator: Ayumi NAKAGAWA
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Donkeyskin
Donkeyskin
ロバの皮の女
Charles Perrault's masterpiece written in simple Japanese. A fantasy world that has also been made into a film, now available in Japanese!
(3114 signs)
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Original story: Charles PERRAULT
Adaptater/Illustrator: Loïce MENANT
This book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
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