Language has always been the mirror that reflects its culture. Certain words and expressions are used quite often when we talk about Japanese culture in Japanese. As you can see from the title “Japanese Through Culture,” this textbook is designed to help you understand and deepen your knowledge of Japanese culture and its language by explaining important themes and keywords related to each topic.
This textbook has the following features.

? Focused on specific subjects from 6 areas in Japanese culture that are closely related to everyday life. Each issue is divided into 25 key topics; this textbook is designed to help Japanese language learners interested in Japanese culture and practically help learners who plan to visit Japan for various purposes such as traveling, studying, or working.
? In this textbook, both general and specialized contents related to Japanese culture are composed in a well-balanced manner. Each chapter’s key topic is explained as a whole and in detail in the introductive section of these chapters. On the other hand, a column with more expanded insight is presented in the latter part of the chapter to obtain both beginning and advanced learning materials.
? Particular tasks related to Japanese culture are presented in each chapter to facilitate the adjustment of various activities at the actual site of Japanese language education. Three staged missions of［キ?ワ?ドで見る日本文化］［話してみましょう］［調べてみましょう］promote not only active commitment of individual students but also some group activities within the classrooms.
? We have taken the utmost care for learners can easily acquire knowledge about Japanese culture regardless of their Japanese proficiency. By providing English translation to Japanese sentences and Japanese reading aids in Hiragana for reading Chinese characters, even students with lesser knowledge of the Japanese language can understand the contents without difficulties.

We sincerely hope that this textbook can be a great help for you to understand Japanese culture in depth.

[Author]
Youngnam Cho
Youngnam Cho is a professor in the Department of Japanese Language and Literature of Korea University in Korea. She received her Ph.D. in applied linguistics from Ochanomizu University in Japan, majoring in Japanese education.

Seongsik Chae
Seongsik Chae is a professor in the Japanese Language and Literature Department of Korea University in Korea. He received his Ph.D. in linguistics from Tsukuba University in Japan, majoring in Japanese linguistics and grammar.

Nana Komatsu
Nana Komatsu is an associate professor in the Department of Japanese Language and Literature of Korea University in Korea. She received her Ph.D. in applied linguistics from Ochanomizu University in Japan, majoring in Japanese education.

Munekazu Koide
Munekazu Koide is a former visiting professor in the Department of Japanese Language of Kangwon National University in Korea. He received his Ph.D. in literature from Korea University in Korea, majoring in Japanese linguistics.

Hyunsook Joo
Hyunsook Joo is a part-time lecturer for the Department of Japanese Language and Literature at Korea University in Korea. She received her Ph.D. in literature from Korea University, majoring in Japanese
education.

[Translation]
Miho Hirase
Miho Hirase is a freelance professional translator. She received her BA from George Washington University, majoring in International Studies, and MA from Chonnam National University in Korea, majoring in Japanese education.