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Writing Lelters in Japanese General Editors Kikuko Tatematsu Yoko Tateoka ‘Takashi Matsumoto ‘Toukasa Sato Other Center Staff Members: ‘Sumie Tani Koichi Nishiguchi Tamaki Kono Takeo Goto Soichi Aoki Hisao Aoyagi Yuka Inamoto Copyright ©1992 by Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. First edition: November 1992 ith printing: May 1998 English translation: Jon McGovern Cover art: Hiroko Kobayashi . Published by The Japan Times, Ltd. 5-4, Shibaura 4-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0023, Japan, ISBN4-7890-0664-6 Printed in Japan PREFACE For over 20 years the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies has been offering instruction in Japanese formal expressions and letter-writing skills. In June of last year, The Japan Times published our Formal Expressions for Japanese Interaction, which met with a reaction greater than we had expected. Up to this time, there was another manual we had been using at the Inter-University Center, a manual that had carned high praise for its usefulness by our students. This was Tegami 10 Kakikata (edited by ex-associate director Kiyoko Takagi and other center staff), and our students had so worn their copies with use even after graduation, that we were deeply impressed. We thereby decided to publish the manual in full-fledged textbook form, and set about revising its contents, adding explanatory notes, having it translated into English, and finally having it published by The Japan Times. In comparing the Japanese language of 20 years ago to current Japanese, one can see how letter-writing has become simpler along with the simplification of keigo, or respect language. On the other hand, however, mastery of skills such as the proper level of politeness needed in formal letters (such as those to cne’s former teachers) continues to be a burdensome task for students of Japanese. Over these 20 years, the number of foreigners studying Japanese, living in Japanese society, and even working in Japanese companies has dramatically increased. It is most likely that the occasions calling for these people to write letters in Japanese has increased as well. If this textbook can help to serve such people, we would be most happy. Finally, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to Chiaki Sekido of The Japan Times for her valuable advice, and to Jon McGovern for his efforts in translating this book. October 1992 Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies 4 PREFACE i

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