Compiled here is a list of Japanese language resources for those studying Japanese and for those who just need some Japanese help while shopping and bidding. Please reply to this post with other worthwhile resources you’ve come across!
Online Translators & Dictionaries
------------------------------------
http://www.polarcloud.com/rikaichan/
A very cool, very useful, and very free FireFox plugin. After you install this, you can just hover over a Japanese word on your webpage and you’ll get a floating window with the English translation instantly.
http://realimaginary.com/HanziBar/
Like Rikaichan, but this FireFox plugin costs $10 USD to register. However, Hanzibar goes both ways—meaning you can float over an English word and it will give you the Japanese translation. Hanzibar is also loaded with Chinese <-> English support.
http://translate.google.com/translate_t?hl=en#ja|en|
Google’s Japanese <-> English translator
http://tool.nifty.com/globalgate/
Nifty translator, which shows both the Japanese and the English translation on the same page.
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1C
Probably the most complete Japanese <-> English dictionary available. It offers a multitude of input and output options.
Online Lesson Resources:
-----------------------
http://www.japanesepod101.com
This is an excellent podcast site with daily updates to their Japanese language learning series. They have hundreds of free lessons all downloadable as mp3 files and with different levels so you can jump right in no matter how much of a noob or how l33t you are at Japanese. Registration and all the podcasts are free, but bonus materials like .pdf companion files of each lesson require a fee.
http://www.njuku.com (Nihongo-Juku)
Another audio/podcast site that provides streaming and downloadable mp3s as well as a written transcript and vocabulary list for each lesson for free. This site is geared toward intermediate & advanced students of Japanese, and the material would probably be overwhelming for beginners.
Online Language Tools & Resources:
----------------------------------
http://www.jgram.org (The Japanese Grammar Database)
An excellent reference for commonly used Japanese grammar points. The site is laid out with specific attention to the JLPT (the annual Japanese Language Proficiency Test).
http://www.mlcjapanese.co.jp:
These guys are actually a Japanese language school located in Japan, but they also have a very extensive free suite of useful study guides and tools for download on their website. Just scroll down and you’ll see a whole wealth of very useful material. Of particular note are the JLPT vocabulary lists down at the bottom of the page.
Nintendo DS Software:
---------------------
200 Man Nin no Kanken
This is a great kanji trainer that you can use to practice reading and writing kanji. It is probably the most user-friendly kanji game for non-native Japanese speakers, as it gives you a nice and easy learning curve.
iPhone Apps:
------------
Kotoba!
This is a free and awesome Japanese <-> English dictionary. If you put the settings on your iPhone to enable Chinese kanji input, you can even write in kanji and get translations using this app!
Kanji/Japanese Flip
A very good flashcard program with a progressive memory system that makes sure it drills you more often on the words you previously answered incorrectly. Kanji flip is focused on kanji for the JLPT, while Japanese flip is for all vocabulary, hiragana and katakana words included. These apps aren’t free, but they’re not that expensive either.
Kanji
Another kanji flashcard app, but this one is free.
