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Date News
February 16, 2023 Important: Launch of new ORT Audio Streaming Service

Dear Customers,
Thank you for using the audio streaming platform at oupjapan.co.jp
We are happy to announce that from today, anyone with an account can listen to Oxford Reading Tree audio without an access code. Simply log in and go to the My Audio tab.

Titles with online audio:
Oxford Reading Tree: Decode and Develop Level 1+ ~ 9
Oxford Reading Tree: Explore with Biff, Chip and Kipper Level 1+ ~ 9
Oxford Reading Tree: inFact Level 1+ ~ 5
TreeTops: Time Chronicles Level 11+ ~ 13+

If you don't have a My Account, you can create an account here.
My Account holders can purchase products on www.oupjapan.co.jp and access exclusive extra content. This is a separate account from Oxford Teachers' Club and Oxford ID.

We thank you again for your continued support.

November 22, 2022 Oxford University Press unveils landmark Read and Publish deal in Japan

Oxford University Press (OUP) has announced a transformative three-year Read and Publish agreement with major journals consortium, the Japan Alliance of University Library Consortia for E-Resources (JUSTICE). The Read and Publish deal is OUP’s first national agreement in Asia and its 30th worldwide.

Under this agreement, members of the JUSTICE consortium that opt-in to the Read and Publish programme will be able to rapidly increase the proportion of articles they publish open access in OUP journals. The consortium’s institutions will also benefit from discounts on article processing charges (APCs) for fully open access journals and comprehensive access to OUP’s full collection of high-quality journals. 

Read the press release.

September 7, 2022 Price changes to Oxford Reading Tree from 1 October

Due to price increases in the UK, the impact of exchange rate fluctuations, and the rising cost of logistics and materials, from 1 October 2022, we must unfortunately increase the price of Oxford Reading Tree products by between 3 – 10%. 
We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your ongoing interest in Oxford University Press products and services.

March 9, 2022 Oxford Reading Club now available for individual learners

We are delighted to announce the launch of Oxford Reading Club for individual English language learners. 

Already available for schools and universities, now individual learners can also access a digital library of over 1,000 Graded Reader e-books of all levels and genres designed to help learners read their way to better English. Plans start from ¥990 per month.

Read the press release.
View plans and purchase.

October 28, 2021 Change to Customer Service support hours

We are extending our Customer Service support hours from Tuesday 2nd November. Telephone support for teachers and general customers is available on weekdays from 10:30am to 5:00pm at 03-5444-5454. You can also email us at elt.japan@oup.com.

September 28, 2021 OUP launches new branding

This month, Oxford Univerisity Press launched new branding which supports our ongoing transformation to become a digital-first business and enhance our aim to make knowledge and learning more accessible through the power of technology. Find out more.

 

June 4, 2021 Important - About Copyright Infringement

We are aware that there are individuals who illegally circulate OUP products such as Oxford Reading Tree without getting the copyright holder’s permission.

It constitutes infringement of the copyright and it is illegal to engage in such an activity under Japan’s copyright law (Right of Rental under Article 26-3 of the Copyright Act). Such rental services are eligible for injunction relief and damage claim. Furthermore, there are substantial criminal penalties under Japan’s copyright law for engaging in such illegal activities, including fines (up to 10 million JPY) and prison sentences (up to 10 years). For a corporate entity, the fines can be up to 300 million JPY. 
 
Copyright infringement is not simply a breach of rights, but an act of wasting and deriding the efforts and contributions of many people involved in publishing works, such as authors and editors. OUP responds very strictly toward any form of copyright infringement.

 

October 9, 2020 OUP author Roger Penrose jointly wins the Nobel Prize in Physics

The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Sir Roger Penrose, Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez for their work on black holes. Roger Penrose is Emeritus Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. He received the award “for the discovery that black hole formation is a robust prediction of the general theory of relativity.”

September 29, 2020 Important - About Copyright Infringement Issue

On 25th September 2020, Discover 21, Inc. issued an announcement, “Apology and notice regarding book recall” on their homepage. It publicized that its publication violated OUP’s copyrighted title, Oxford Collocations Dictionary for students of English Second Edition (ISBN: 978-0-19-432538-7).
 
Discover 21, Inc. has already taken action to recall copies of the concerned publication and it has agreed to suspend the publication of the revised version.
 
We are currently discussing with Discover 21, Inc. to resolve this matter and will further update if necessary.
 
Copyright infringement is not simply a breach of rights, but an act of wasting and deriding the efforts and contributions of many people involved in publishing works, such as authors and editors. OUP responds very strictly toward any form of copyright infringement.

September 9, 2020 Ritsuko Nakata, Co-author of Let’s Go, has passed away

We are very saddened to learn that Ritsuko Nakata passed away on 1 September 2020.
 
As a co-author of the bestselling Let’s Go series and founder of the IIEEC Teacher Training Center, Ritsuko dedicated her career to the teaching of English to young learners.
 
Born and educated in the USA, Ritsuko moved to Japan early in her teaching career, where she began experimenting with more practical, effective ways to get children to learn English. Her focus on getting students to ask questions as well as answer them and to thus be able to engage in more natural dialogue is a cornerstone of the Let’s Go approach. The series was a pioneer when it was first published in 1992, setting the standard for many others that followed; now in its 5th edition, it remains a market leader. In fact, one of Ritsuko’s great pleasures was meeting English teachers who had studied with Let’s Go when they were children and who were now using the series in their own classrooms. She was a wonderful mentor and teacher trainer who could get roomfuls of teachers on their feet and practicing her signature action-based routines. Always kind and always enthusiastic, she was especially skilled at inspiring new teachers, putting them at ease, and helping them to feel confident in their teaching. 
 
It’s no exaggeration to say that through her work, a lifetime of teaching, authoring, and training, Ritsuko has touched the lives of millions of primary teachers and students -- in Japan where she lived, across Asia, and around the world. She leaves an amazing legacy and her loss will be keenly felt by the staff at OUP and all those who knew her.  We send our deepest condolences to her husband and three daughters, as well as to her fellow Let’s Go authors.

 

April 24, 2020 About the treatment of copyrighted materials in the course of school lessons under new Article 35 of the Copyright Act in Japan

We have received several inquiries about the treatment of copyrighted materials in the course of school lessons under new Article 35 of the Copyright Act in Japan. An explanation of the position is below.

New Article 35(1) allows teachers at non-profit schools to use copyrighted materials in online lessons as long as it does not unreasonably prejudice the interests of the copyright owner. Such teachers are therefore only permitted by the law to reproduce and share with their class online individual pages or other minor elements of materials already purchased by their school or their students, in order to assist with their online lessons. This is the same right that teachers always had to make copies of pages in order to teach their classes.

In addition, the new Article 35 requires that compensation for such online use be paid by the school. For this year only that compensation has been set to 0 by the relevant agency (SARTRAS), but from 2021 compensation will be payable and only those schools which have been admitted to the SARTRAS scheme will be protected by the new provisions of Article 35(1).

In all other respects the law is exactly the same as before. The new law does not allow teachers to reproduce or share multiple pages or large amounts of OUP materials, nor does it allow teachers to reproduce or share OUP materials not owned by their school or their students. If you wish to do so you are still required to obtain the permission of copyright holders (OUP Japan or our group) and should contact in the usual way. Use of OUP materials without such permission is still a breach of the copyright law.

For more information and guidance, please see the SARTRAS website: https://sartras.or.jp/

OUP Japan are very aware of the difficult circumstances under which schools, teachers and pupils are currently working, and we are happy to answer any queries about this or recommend any materials suitable for online learning.

 

April 24, 2020 Regarding video streaming of storybook readings to children using our copyrighted materials

We have received several inquiries about video streaming storybook readings to children using our products such as Oxford Reading Tree (ORT).

As long as you use and enjoy reading ORT and other products at your home or individually, there is no issue. However, if you upload or stream any video or audio of our copyright materials via the internet, it will infringe our copyrights. Therefore, please refrain from doing so.

Additionally, we have provided an explanation of our position regarding the treatment of copyrighted materials in the course of school lessons under new Article 35 of the Copyright Act in Japan. Please view the statement above.

If you have any question on this matter, please email elt.japan@oup.com

* When you contact us, please confirm your name and position at your institution, and your contact information.

December 3, 2019 Word of the Year 2019

The Oxford Word of the Year is climate emergency.
 
Climate emergency is defined as ‘a situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt climate change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental damage resulting from it.’
 
For the first time ever, this year's entire shortlist related to climate.
Read more.

October 31, 2019 Introducing Oxford Reading Club – a smarter way to read

We’re excited to announce the launch of Oxford Reading Club - a smart new way to read digital Graded Readers by Oxford University Press.
 
Get unlimited access to 900 e-books from 12 different series including Oxford Reading Tree and Bookworms, plus a range of easy-to-use features for learners and teachers, such as audio, quizzes, and a Learning Management System. For a low monthly cost, students can read as much as they want, whenever they want; while teachers can manage lessons and track student progress easily and efficiently.
 
Oxford Reading Club is the comprehensive reading solution for all educational institutions from private language schools to universities. Find out more.
 

June 12, 2019 New ORT Audio Stickers for Stages 6 to 9 and updated ORT Audio Pen in stock now!

Since launching, the Oxford Reading Tree Audio Pen and Audio Stickers have been a firm favorite with ORT fans, young and old. Now, we’re pleased to announce the release of brand new Audio Stickers for stages 6 to 9. What’s more, our bestselling ORT Audio Pen has been updated to include all audio files for ORT stages 1 to 9! A great way to develop children’s language skills, the new stickers and pen are available on our website now. Find out more

May 20, 2019 OUP author wins 2019 Pulitzer Prize

Jeffrey C. Stewart has been awarded the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Biography for his book The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke (Oxford University Press, 2018). Stewart meticulously recounts the life and achievements of Locke, the first African-American Rhodes Scholar and architect of the Harlem Renaissance. The book has collected numerous other prizes including the 2018 National Book Award for Nonfiction, the 2019 PROSE Award for Best Biography, and the 2019 Mark Lynton History Prize. Learn more about the prize.

October 16, 2018 OUP author wins ESSE Book Award

The 2018 European Society for the Study of English (ESSE) Book Prize for Literature in the English Language has been awarded to Catherine Maxwell for her illuminating monograph Scents and Sensibility: Perfume in Victorian Literary Culture. Read the review on the ESSE Book Awards website.

October 16, 2018 OUP Graded Readers win 2018 LLL Awards

Emma, from the Bookworms series, and Mulan, from Classic Tales, both won in their categories at the 2018 Language Learner Literature Awards. Every year the Extensive Reading Foundation recognizes the best new works of language learner literature in English and awards one winner in each of six categories. Also selected as finalists this year were It's Hot, The Snow Tigers and Hope on Turtle Island, from the Oxford Read and Imagine. Learn more.

August 30, 2018 New audio streaming to replace file downloads

We are pleased to announce that selected Oxford Reading Tree audio tracks are now available for streaming, replacing file downloads.  

August 29, 2018 OUP Author Wins Longman-History Today Prize

This year's Longman-History Today prize awarded OUP author, Emily Jones, for her Oxford Historical Monograph, Edmund Burke & The Invention of Modern Conservatism, 1830–1914. This is a prestigious prize, awarded by both Longman and History Today magazine since 1997, to foster a wiser understanding of, and enthusiasm for, history and is awarded for an author's first or second book. Learn more about the award.

February 20, 2018 OUP Author Receives the Ben Warren Prize

The author of Supporting Learners with Dyslexia in the ELT Classroom (Oxford University Press 2017), Michele Daloiso was awarded the 2017 Ben Warren-International House Trust Prize. This biennial award is given to the author or authors of the most outstanding work in the field of language teacher education. Daloiso teaches English and Italian language at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice and is the director of the DEAL Research Group, which investigates innovative language teaching methodologies for students with learning differences. 

December 19, 2017 Word of the Year 2017 is 'youthquake'

The noun, youthquake, is defined as 'a significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions or influence of young people’. The data collated by the Oxford Dictionaries editors shows a fivefold increase in usage of youthquake in 2017 compared to 2016, the word having first struck in a big way in June with the UK's general election at its epicenter. Please click here for more details on the Word of the Year 2017.

September 4, 2017 The Selfish Gene voted most influential science book of all time

Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene, published by OUP, has been voted the most influential science book of all time in a public poll held by the Royal Society to celebrate 30 years of their book awards. Second place was awarded to Bill Bryson for A Short History of Nearly Everything, followed closely by Charles Darwin' s On the Origin of Species. For more details, please visit the Royal Society website.

July 4, 2017 OUP Academic Book on Japan wins Kokkiken Japan Study Award

OUP author June Teufel Dreyer, a professor at University of Miami, has been named the 4th Kokkiken Japan Study Award recipient for her study The Middle Kingdom and Empire of the Rising Sun: Sino-Japanese Relations, Past and Present (2016, OUP). The award is given by the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals to non-Japanese researchers including first generation naturalized persons who conducted outstanding research which increases the understanding of Japan in the areas of politics, national security, diplomacy, history, education and culture. Her neutral analysis based on thorough objective research was evaluated and honored this time.

May 2, 2017 OUP Academic Book wins The AAG Meridian Book Award

Limits to Globalization: The Disruptive Geographies of Capitalist Development by Eric Sheppard, Alexander von Humboldt Chair, UCLA, received the Meridian Book Award for Outstanding Scholarly Work in Geography awarded by the American Association of Geographers (AAG). The AAG awards the annual prize for a book that makes an unusually important contribution to advancing the science and art of geography, written or co-authored by a geographer published in the previous calendar year.

November 17, 2016 Word of the Year 2016 is 'post-truth'

'Post-truth', an adjective defined as 'relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief' was named Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2016. This word appeared frequently this year in the context of the EU referendum in the UK and the presidential election in the US. Please click here for more details.

October 28, 2016 Important notice about Oxford CD-ROMs/Multi-ROMs

Due to a recent security release from Adobe Flash Player, some of our products that include  CD-ROMs/Multi-ROMs may require an update to function properly. If you are currently using any CD-ROMs/Multi-ROMs listed below, please click here to download your software update. You will find a file to download and install on your computer as well as step-by-step instructions to help you. If you experience any issues while installing this update, or after the installation, please get in touch with us by email at eltsupport@oup.com or by phone at +44 (0)1865 910007.  We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience.

Products affected by this issue:
Show and Tell / Express English for Aviation / Express English for Cabin Crew / Express English for Football / English for Socializing

October 28, 2016 OUP Graded Reader Wins 2016 LLL Award

Sherlock Holmes: The Speckled Band, from the Dominoes series published by Oxford University Press, was selected as the winner of the 2016 Language Learner Literature Award in the Adolescent & Adult: Beginner Category. Every year the Extensive Reading Foundation recognizes the best new works of language learner literature in English and awards winners in 6 categories. Also selected as a finalist this year was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, from the Oxford Bookworms Library, in the Adolescent & Adult Intermediate Category. Learn more here.

September 20, 2016 Important notice about Oxford iTools

Due to a recent security release from Adobe Flash Player, all iTools products require an update to function properly. If you are currently using any iTools, please click here to download your iTools update. You will find a file to download and install on your computer as well as step-by-step instructions to help you. If you experience any issues while installing this update, or after the installation, please get in touch with us by email at eltsupport@oup.com or by phone at +44 (0)1865 910007.  We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience.

February 17, 2016 OUP Author Receives the Ben Warren Prize

The authors of Exploring Psychology in Language Learning and Teaching: Oxford Handbooks for Language Teachers (Oxford University Press 2015), Marion Williams, Sarah Mercer and Stephen Ryan was awarded the 2015 Ben Warren-International House Trust Prize. This biennial award is given to the author or authors of the most outstanding work in the field of language teacher education. Co-author Stephen Ryan is a professor at Senshu University based in Tokyo, and his research covers various aspects of psychology in language learning.

November 20, 2015 'Face with Tears of Joy' emoji named Word of the Year 2015

A pictograph was named the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year for the first time ever. Each year Oxford Dictionaries selects a word or expression that reflects the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of that particular year. This year Oxford University Press have partnered with leading mobile technology business SwiftKey to explore frequency and usage statistics for some of the most popular emoji across the world, and the ‘Face with Tears of Joy’ emoji was chosen because it was the most used emoji globally in 2015. Please click here for more details.

August 20, 2015 Selected to partner with Otsu City on developing a teaching methodology

OUP was commissioned by Otsu City Board of Education in Shiga as their partner in a project to research and develop an ICT-based teaching methodology for their Foreign Language Activities classes. OUP will provide ELT materials along with a customised curriculum, lesson plans and extensive teacher training programme to enable all homeroom teachers in the city's 37 elementary schools to conduct English lessons with confidence and improve student proficiency. Please click here for more details.

May 25, 2015 OUP author wins 2015 Pulitzer Prize

The author of The Pope and Mussolini: The Secret History of Pius XI and the Rise of Fascism in Europe (Oxford University Press, 2014), David I. Kertzer was awarded the2015 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. His writings have been previously nominated for the National Book Award and Mark Lynton History Prize, and have been garnering attention in the field. He is active in the areas of anthropology, history and Italian studies.

March 9, 2015 Introducing Oxford Reading Tree Japan Facebook page

We recently launched the Oxford Reading Tree (ORT) facebook page. See the latest information and news for ORT in Japan. (Page available in Japanese only). Click the link below to access the page. www.facebook.com/ORT.Japan