
Other books leave out key phrases like “Isn’t the president of your company a Reptilian?”, but not this one!
Not everyone stays in the field for an extended period of time, but a large portion of foreigners who live in Japan have spent at least some time teaching conversational English to Japanese students. Individual experiences and satisfaction levels vary wildly from person to person, but just about everyone who’s taught English in Japan has at some point been saddled with a textbook that, linguistically accurate or not, is God-awful boring in the dialogues and situations it presents.
However, coming soon is an English phrase book that looks to shake things up, thanks to monthly magazine Mu, which is publishing the Official Mu Practical English Conversation for Super Everyday Situations. The focus on linguistics might make you think that Mu is an education or travel periodical, but nope. Mu is a magazine that peddles tales of the occult and conspiracy theories, and its English-learning book seeks to equip users with the necessary vocabulary and grammar to handle situations such as reporting ghost or alien sightings, discussing past lives, or establishing a New World Order.
Among the phrases students will learn are:
“I need to get another room, because I’m seeing a ghost in here.”
“I can’t get rid of the smell of the blood, no matter how hard I wash my hands.”
“I believe that we were both Atlantians in a previous life.”
“This contract period includes your nest life.”
“Can I get the insurance money if a kaiju appears and tears my house into pieces?”
“Ancient people could levitate gigantic stones using sound vibration.”
“I really want you to have this cursed doll, which has been passed down in my family for generations.”
“Isn’t the president of your company a Reptilian?”
Skimming through the index reveals that among the other topics covered are alien autopsy films, ancient nuclear war, chemtrails, the Chupacabra, contracts with devils, crystal skulls, and exorcisms, so by the time they’re finished with the book, students should have a well-rounded crazy-talk vocabulary.
The Official Mu Practical English Conversation for Super Everyday Situations goes on sale August 23, and is available for preorder from Amazon Japan here, priced at 1,296 yen (US$12), making it an affordable way to spice up your English lessons, though probably not likely to improve your students’ scores on any standardized tests.
Sources: Mu, Amazon Japan
Images: Amazon Japan
[ Read in Japanese ]










New book teaches Japanese people English to help out foreign travelers
English for otaku – New book provides fans with skills to internationalize their oshikatsu
Japanese book “nekotan” teaches foreign language the best way possible: by talking about cats
“Don’t worry, he is a docile pervert” and other useful phrases in Japanese and English
Beautiful anime fantasy mom is now teaching Japanese people how to speak English
Saitama is home to the best strawberries in Japan that you’ve probably never even heard of
Survey finds that one in five high schoolers don’t know who music legend Masaharu Fukuyama is
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Ichiran ramen fukubukuro lucky bag comes with big and small surprises
A look back on 40 years of Japanese schools banning stuff
Osaka establishes first designated smoking area in Dotonbori canal district to fight “overtourism”
Satisfy your sweet tooth with cheesecake and more all-you-can-eat sweets at Cheese Garden
Permanent Sailor Moon stage show theater announced for Tokyo
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is Sapporio’s Snow Festival awesome enough to be worth visiting even if you hate the snow? [Pics]
Japan has trams that say “sorry” while they ride around town…but why?
Sakura Totoro is here to get spring started early with adorable pouches and plushies
Poop is in full bloom at the Unko Museums for cherry blossom season
Shibuya Station’s Hachiko Gate and Yamanote Line stairway locations change next month
Japan’s new “Cunte” contact lenses aren’t pronounced like you’re probably thinking they are
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
New English textbook for Japanese learners is completely full of crap, looks pretty useful
Bizarre English test in Japan asks students about winged vegetables, launches new meme
English textbook characters get anime-style makeover to appeal to linguists and otaku alike
Anime-style English textbook character who stole Japan’s heart now has her own calendar series
Newest tool to help Japanese people learn English: An all-English isekai light novel
English-learning smartphone app teaches Japanese students to say “I just took a dump”
Japanese students learn English with help from a dating sim artist
English conversation school in Japan has clever reminder that students don’t have to be perfect
Anime-style isekai story is actually an English-learning textbook from Japan’s public broadcaster
Sega’s Like a Dragon yakuza teaches “useless” English, let’s use it to learn some useful Japanese
Sumikko Gurashi origin book gets English/Japanese bilingual release, great for language learners
The reason why Japanese students don’t pronounce English properly
Iisjhaisha? Japan’s biggest English test sends out a baffling message