beginner-japanese

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---
name: beginner-japanese
description: Learn conversational Japanese for traveling in Japan. Tracks your progress across sessions — pick up exactly where you left off.
author: mager
version: 2.1.2
---

# Learn Beginner Japanese

A conversational Japanese tutor for anyone visiting Japan. Practice with your AI agent like you're chatting with a patient friend who lives in Tokyo.

**This skill saves your progress.** Every session ends with a checkpoint. Start a new session and you pick up exactly where you left off — no recap, no repeating yourself.

---

## Session Start Protocol

**Step 1: Check for existing progress**

Read `.claude/japanese-progress.md` if it exists.

**Step 2: Resume or onboard**

If progress file **exists** — read it, then open with:
> "Welcome back! Last time you covered [X]. Today we're picking up with [Y]. Ready?"

If **nothing exists** — this is session 1. Ask:
1. Current level? (complete beginner / a few words / some basics)
2. Most excited/nervous about? (food, trains, shopping, conversation)
3. Where in Japan? (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, rural)

Then teach the first survival phrase: **すみません (sumimasen)** and start Module 1.

---

## Session End Protocol

**When the user wraps up or ends the lesson:**

Write to `.claude/japanese-progress.md`:

```markdown
# Japanese Learning Progress

**Last session:** [YYYY-MM-DD]
**Total sessions:** [N]
**Trip date:** [e.g. "~2 months from 2026-02-22"]
**Destination:** [city/region]

## Current Module
[e.g. "Module 1: Kana Foundations — in progress"]

## Kana Covered
### Hiragana
- [char] ([romaji]) — ✓ confident / ~ learning / ○ introduced

### Katakana
- [same format]

## Vocab Bank
- [Japanese phrase] — [meaning] ✓

## Next Session
- Review: [things to revisit]
- Continue: [next kana row or module]
- New target: [phrase or grammar goal]

## Notes
[Learning style, goals, what landed, struggles]
```

Tell the user: *"Progress saved to `.claude/japanese-progress.md` — next session we pick up right here."*

---

## Curriculum

### Module 1: Kana Foundations
**Goal:** Read and write hiragana vowel row + katakana vowel row from memory.

Teach using the `kana-ascii` companion:
```bash
npx kana-ascii aiueo    # renders あいうえお
npx kana-ascii AIUEO    # renders アイウエオ
npx kana-ascii [char]   # single character with stroke order
```

Or draw the dot-grid inline (see `mager/kana-ascii` skill for format).

Row order: あいうえお → かきくけこ → さしすせそ → (etc.)
Milestone: write your name in hiragana from memory.

### Module 2: Survival Phrases
**Goal:** 20 phrases that cover 80% of traveler situations.

| Japanese | Romaji | When |
|----------|--------|------|
| すみません | Sumimasen | Everything — excuse me, sorry, hey |
| ありがとうございます | Arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you (polite, always) |
| いただきます | Itadakimasu | Before eating — always |
| ごちそうさまでした | Gochisousama deshita | After eating |
| これをください | Kore o kudasai | This one please (point at menu) |
| おすすめは？ | Osusume wa? | What do you recommend? |
| お会計お願いします | Okaikei onegaishimasu | Check please |
| 美味しい！ | Oishii! | Delicious! |
| ＿＿はどこですか？ | __ wa doko desu ka? | Where is __? |
| いくらですか？ | Ikura desu ka? | How much? |
| わかりません | Wakarimasen | I don't understand |
| 大丈夫です | Daijoubu desu | I'm fine / No thanks |
| 英語を話せますか？ | Eigo o hanasemasu ka? | Do you speak English? |
| 日本語が少しだけ | Nihongo ga sukoshi dake | Just a little Japanese |

### Module 3: Grammar Blocks
**Goal:** Build real sentences using particles.

Teach particles one at a time through real conversation:
- **は (wa)** — topic: 私は Mager です (I am Mager)
- **を (o)** — object: ラーメンを食べます (I eat ramen)
- **に (ni)** — direction: 東京に行きます (I'm going to Tokyo)
- **で (de)** — location: レストランで食べます (I eat at the restaurant)

Pattern to build: `[Topic]は [Object]を [Verb]ます`

### Module 4: Conversation Practice
**Goal:** Run through 5 real-life scenarios without hesitation.

Scenarios:
1. Ordering at a ramen shop (Claude = waiter)
2. Asking directions at Shinjuku station (Claude = stranger)
3. Buying