JapanSoc J-web Community Toolbar Project - JapanSoc Bloggers

As a huge fan of JapanSoc and Japan-related collaborative projects I am putting the future of the Japanese language toolbar into the hands of the JapanSoc.org community. This is now YOUR toolbar.

This is a project for you, the JapanSoc group, to tailor to your needs.

You can do that by editing this page with requests.
Below you'll find a list of the major categories (colour-coded) with current functionality listed for each one.

You can add items as you wish, and I will add that functionality to the toolbar as soon as possible.

Thanks! (And thanks to Nick for the idea)

NOTE: Please edit the "Requested Functionality" section further down the page, not the "Current Toolbar Functionality" section.

Current Toolbar Functionality

Search -

Nipponster Web Search

Search engine powered by swicki that gives Japan-related results. Looking to improve it (don't want to give away too many details), open to suggestions.

Nipponster Video Search

Like the above but for video.

Tools -

Jim Breen Dictionary

Japanese --> English dictionary

English --> Japanese dictionary

Japanese Text Translation

Rikai Translation Tool (popup)

Rikai-chan does a better job (and I'd like to integrate it into the toolbar, have to see if that is possible) which is why it is listed in the "Japan Links" section for language. This tool pops up a box where you can enter the url of a site that you want to use rikai on and then it takes you to that site adding rikai translation

Open Japan Text Assistant (popup)

I foresee this feature going under the axe. This tool is useful (maybe) for people who do not have Japanese text support on their computer. For those people it displays the Japanese text via little character pictures (rather than the gobbledygook they would see without it)

Write japanese online without software (web-based AJAX IME)

Another tool for those lacking software. This ajax tool allows people without Japanese PCs or Japanese typing software to type in Japanese. Brilliant, no?

Search Wikipedia

Maybe this should go. Why it is there now: Let's say you are researching something about Japan and want to check wikipedia.

I can make it so that you can highlight text and then click the button. Should I do it, or just forget it altogether?

Kanji of the Day (from Rikai.com)

Self explanatory

Kanji Recall Quiz (from Rikai.com)

Japanese phrase of the day (from Rikai.com)

Japanese photo of the day (from Rikai.com)

Radio & TV

Self explanatory? Let me know if there are broken links. Also Feedback.

Japan-a-radio

NHK Radio Japan Online

Online Jpanese Lessons from Nihongo.fm

Japanese Internet Broadcast TV

Impress TV

Channel J

Biglobe

NHK

IIV TV

Ohsama TV

Japan Links

Self explanatory? Let me know if there are broken links. Also Feedback.

Tofugu's Top 10 Japanese Language Resources

Japanese Language at About.com

Help with Typing in Japanese

Learning Kanji and Kana

Japanese Lessons

Blogs, Podcasts, and Videocasts

Forums and Communities

JapanSoc Top Stories Popup (new . added April, 2009)
JapanSoc Upcoming Stories Popup (new . added April, 2009)

RSS

Japan Blogs Big RSS feed

100+ J-blog rss feed.

Toolbar Updates

JapanSoc It! (button)

Submit content to JapanSoc with a click.

The "gadgets" and other items are there for those who find them useful. If you don't find them useful you can hide them by going to the drop down arrow next to the nipponster logo and clicking on "toolbar options"

Requested Functionality