TheJapanShop Learn Japanese Culture Bundle -- Book, Ukiyoe Print, and Japan Map Shitajiki Set

A disclaimer - I was invited to examine a complimentary sample of this product in exchange for the following candid review of the product. The product's review and information provided below is strictly my own.This is a nifty little package for those with interest in Japan or have begun studying the language. The package encompasses a taste of Japanese art and culture and language. I review each item in turn:1. Ukiyoe print - Ukiyoe art flourished in the 17th to 19th centuries and is often recognizable to people in the form of some of Japan's famous woodblock prints. The common themes were women (geisha or otherwise), samurai warriors, and scenes of pastoral beauty. This print represents an example of the last category, Japanese sailboats in a scene of tranquility. The print is about 10' by 7', so it's not going to be hung in your living room, but it is nice and will look good in a frame in my office along with all my other Japanese paraphernalia. **** four stars2. The Japanese map pencil board is a very nifty learning tool for both language and Japanese geography. Each of the Japanese prefectures are enumerated, and to the right is a quiz key which allows you to learn each prefecture and its capital. It is a bit advanced, with the names in kanji (but in tiny print, the hiragana as well), but it is a nice learning tool, and the material is a glossy plastic which, as the name suggests, would be considered a pencil board (a.k.a. s***ajiki, in Japanese) that can be used even just for decorative purposes. **** four stars3. "Ninja Penguin" book - written and professionally printed by Clay and Yumi Boutwell of The Japan Shop, this is a great accompaniment to the map in the set. The book traces the path of a penguin who travels to Japan to learn to ninjutsu, but in order to do so, he must travel through Japan, from the warm island of Okinawa to the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. The story is pretext for a book that discusses each of Japan's 47 prefectures, which are individually discussed with loads of information on trivia, what the prefecture is famous for (for example, karate started in Okinawa), places to see, and easy-to-digest language lessons and vocabulary. Those studying the Japanese language, or just have an interest in Japan generally, will enjoy this book. ***** five stars

*Full Disclosure: I received this bundle at a discounted price as part of a promotional deal. What follows are my own opinions* The book "Ninja Penguin Talks Japanese in Japan" Is a good beginners introduction to the 47 prefectures that make up Japan and what each of them is known for. The story follows a cartoon penguin as he travels from Okinawa all the way up to Hokkaido on a quest for martial Arts Mastery, and chronicles each prefecture as he passes through.The book also contains small lists of beginners vocab words that will come in handy to anyone just starting out in their study of Japanese. I will say that I generally don't agree with reliance on Romaji, as it usually becomes something of a crutch that one has to un-learn when studying the language in earnest, but for this kind of book (which is more a fun little info book than anything else) it works.The little comics that are interspersed throughout the book chronicling Penguin-kun's adventures are cute and serve as nice page-breaks that keep the material from becoming dry. The little maps that accompany every chapter (showing the location of the relevant prefecture) are serviceable, but putting them against a lighter background would have made them easier to see.The little card featuring all of Japan's prefectures that comes with this book is a fun little way of quizzing yourself as you get more comfortable with the names and placements of the prefectures, and serves as a better way to test yourself than the crosswords the book uses to test your knowledge of the vocab words it introduces. The small copy of Ukiyo-e print that it comes with isn't super high quality, but looks nice enough, and is a bargain when considering what else you get in this collection.Overall, I was very happy with this package, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a fun way to learn a little bit more about the areas that make up the Japanese Archipelago.