Fusanosuke

Lower Intermediate Lesson S4 #2 - Giving and Receiving in Japanese-Kureru

誘ってくれてありがとう
誘う --さそう --- to invite, to call out
Thank you for inviting me.
for instance:

• 飲みに誘ってくれてありがとう
• 先日はお食事に誘ってくれてありがとう

先日 --せんじつ-- (n-adv,n-t) the other day; a few days ago;

Arukihenro --'walking pilgrims'- is how people doing Shikoku Pilgrimage are called. The island of Shikoku (四国) is famous for its 88 temples and hence Shikoku Pilgrimage is the task of visiting all the temples. The pilgrimage is approximately 1,200km long and I guess that's something I'd love to do one day.

歩き遍路
歩き --あるき-- (n) (1) (arch) walk; walking
遍路 --へんろ-- (n) (1) pilgrimage;
四国八十八箇所 --しこくはちじゅうはっかしょ-- (n) 88 temples of Shikoku (holy spots related to Kobo Daishi)

There is documentary Arukihenro with English subtitles about the pilgrimage. I've seen it in my Japanese classes and it reinforced my conviction that I'd love to do it.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S4 #1 - Giving and Receiving in Japanese-Introduction

私…恥ずかしくてあげることが出来ないの

わたし…はずかしくてあげることができないの。

I'm too shy to do it.

恥ずい --はずい-- (adj-i) (See 恥ずかしい) (col) (abbr) embarrassing
恥ずかしい ---はずかしい--- (adj-i) shy; ashamed; embarrassed;

There is one Japanese book I REALLY want to read. It has been translated in only in French. Though my French is sufficient enough for small-talk and reading fashion magazines, I doubt I could handle a book influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis... So, either my Japanese has to improve tremendously, or I'll need to deal with French...

ドグラ・マグラ (上) + ドグラ・マグラ (下)

Novel by 夢野 久作 (Yumeno Kyūsaku), written in 1935.
All the critic loves to point that this novel is a perfect example of the modern Japanese avant-garde gothic literature. Whatever it means. And all the psychological, Freudian aspect of the plot-line. I guess, I really need to read it at least French (Dogra Magra) to have my own opinion.

There is a movie , 1988.

And there is a manga DOGLA+MAGLA by 寿たらこ (Kotobuki Tarako) supposedly loosely linked with the novel. I read the manga - it's pure kafka, and if one wishes to see it Freudian - one has enough of the innuendos.

Lower Intermediate Lesson S4 #1 - Giving and Receiving in Japanese-Introduction

連続 --れんぞく --(n,vs) serial; consecutive; continuity; occurring in succession; continuing;
ことができる can (do); to be able to (do)

私は、30年連続バレンタインデーのチョコレートをもらう事ができなかったのか。

わたしは、30ねんれんぞくバレンタインデーのチョコレートをもらうことができなかったのか。

For 30 years in a row I haven't received Valentine chocolates.
Ok, that's a lie. I do get my Valinetine chocolate regularly, but it's such a nice phrase. Could not pass on it.

As for the word れんぞく, I had another one listed in my notebook:
連休 --れんきゅう -- (n) consecutive holidays;
Could I make a wild guess that it is made up of 連続 and 休み?

桐野夏生 (Kirino Natsuo) wrote her crime novel Out in 1997, later on it was published in English.  I read it in English and that's really a breathtaking suspense story.  As well it's been recommended as a poignant study of modern Japanese society.
OUT 上 + OUT 下

OUT is a very convenient for Western translations, just keep it - and everyone understands.  Except not.  German translation was titled Die Umarmung des Todes (The Embrace of the Death). I honestly had not a single clue that it's supposed to be OUT, until a salesperson has shown me in their database that it's so. A really strange German book-market...

Additionally there is a movie directed by 平山秀幸, Hirayama Hideyuki (2002) and it seems there will be a Hollywood remake.

Searching amazon, I've noticed that there is a brand new book (2009) IN. I cannot help, but wonder if this new book connect to the best-seller OUT.

インターネットでしらべる
インターネット - internet
調べる --しらべる-- (v1,vt) to examine; to investigate; to check up; to sense; to study; to inquire; to search
Actually, I'm not really sure about this expression. I had it written down in my notebook during the class and marked as "researching on Internet", but is it the same as "surfing the Internet"?
google gave me another option - しらべるネット, so I'm making a wild guess that しらべる is the verb to use for spending endless hours in Internet.
しらべる is worthy of some more attention:

調べ物 --しらべもの-- (n) matter to be checked or investigated
調べ --しらべ-- (n) (1) investigation; inspection; examination
調べて置く --しらべておく-- to examine beforehand
調べ直す; 調べなおす --しらべなおす-- to re-examine; to review; to recheck

河合隼雄 - Kawai Hayao (1928 – 2007) was a Japanese psychologist.

I only read his one book and it has impressed me greatly  - 昔話と日本人の心 (1982)

昔話 --むかしばなし-- (n) folklore; legend; reminiscence; (P); EP
心 --こころ; しん -- (n) mind; heart; spirit; (しん) (n) core; heart; wick; marrow;

Of course, I did not read it in Japanese, but in English -The Japanese psyche: major motifs in the fairy tales of Japan .  And that's the book I'd really recommend anyone interested in Japan.