The Hiragana Times and J-Clue has teamed up to launch a new test aimed at assessing Japanese language and cultural understanding. J-Clue doesn’t replace the JLPT, it is simply testing a different subset of your language skills.

Do you know what konkatsu means? Could you name the traditional Japanese art in which a person sits on a stage and tells a funny story? What does the phrase, “Shiranu ga hotoke,” mean?

Challenging the applicant’s knowledge not just of Japanese language but also of Japanese culture, the first ever J-CLUE test will be held in October 2011. From AKB48 to Mount Fuji, questions deal with both modern and traditional Japanese culture.

Launched by J-CLUB (The Japanese Culture and Language Understanding Board) and the Hiragana Times the test takes a revolutionary approach to language learning by focusing of cultural aspects of Japan

Depending on your fluency, you can take the test in either English or Japanese.

Over 260 academic institutions, including universities, colleges and Japanese language schools, in Japan have now signed up to support the new J-CLUE test. To find out more about the kind of questions the test will cover please visit the J-Clue website.

The first test will be based in Japan and applications for the first test are currently being accepted.

The cost of the test is ¥4,500 which compares favourably to the fee charged for the JLPT (¥5,500) and profits will be donated to the East Japan Disaster Fund.

Source: Hiragana Times

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