Audio Book Oto-boki Series: Introduction to the Level 3 Bookkeeping Test -- Now Available at the iTunes Store

Tokyo Legal Mind K.K. (LEC), offering a wide variety of training courses and prep tests for qualifications and national exams, has commenced selling its ‘Introduction to the Level 3 Bookkeeping Test’ -- the maiden work of the Audio Book “Oto-boki” (Audio-Bookkeeping) Series, jointly-developed by the Itochu Corporation (HQ: Minato-ku, TOKYO, CEO: Mr. Eizo KOBAYASHI) and LEC Tokyo Legal Mind – as a Podcast at the online iTunes® Store starting the 3rd of October, 2007.

Innovative iPod-based Learning

One of LEC’s top collaborators, Mr. Masayuki SHIBAYAMA (certified public accountant and a certified public tax accountant) -- best known for his sought-after Level 3 Bookkeeping Test workbook, “Derujyun Mondaishu Nisshoboki 3-kyu” -- has now created the Audio Book “Oto-boki” (Audio-Bookkeeping) course.

State-of-the-art technology enables users to study possible exam contents by simply listening to the downloaded content on one’s iPod, and thus begin mastering the basic journal techniques of double-entry bookkeeping – anytime, anywhere.

LEC recognizes that busy students and working people often have difficulty finding time to study. Our new audio book will be your indispensable study companion, helping you to review the textbooks and courses on bookkeeping provided by LEC and enhancing your learning efficiency.

Status of the Current Audio Book Market

With the proliferation of MP3 players and related digital gadgets, non-musical downloads such as audio books have also grown in popularity worldwide -- especially in the US, with consolidated sales of approximately 100 billion yen according to estimates by the Association of American Publishers (AAP). In Japan, along with the widespread popularization of digital audio players such as iPod, the number of downloads offering voice-guided instructional content (for Yoga, language learning, etc.) has also been solidly rising. At the moment there are already more than 25,000 downloads available at the Japanese iTunes Store, English-language works included.

TITLE	Introduction to the Level 3 Bookkeeping Test “Oto-boki” (Audio-Bookkeeping) Series
RELEASE DATE	Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007
DELIVERY AGENT	‘Audio Book’ Category at the iTunes® Store (possibly available on other sites in the future, pending demand)
RETAIL PRICE	900 yen
DURATION	90 minutes
NARRATOR	Ms. Megumi MORITA (Successful applicant of the Level 2 Bookkeeping Test)
CONTENTS	The topics are laid out in a unique but practical manner, as follows:(1) a “five-story building” analogy gives an overview of the bookkeeping process; (2) the right and left sides of each floor are regarded as “Creditor” and “Debtor” respectively; (3) each room is regarded as “Assets/Debts/Capitals” ; (4) the comings and goings of each floor and room represent the “flow of money” ; and finally, (5) visual aids show how assets and debts are transferred inside the building, helping you memorize the 30 Basic Kinds of Journal Entries, which routinely appear on the Level 3 Bookkeeping Test. The aim of the program is synergistic reinforcement of the courses and study guides offered by LEC, and would especially ideal for the following candidates: those studying for the Level 3 Bookkeeping Test; previous test-passer who want a‘refresher’course; those who want to start from the basic foundations. Mr. Masayuki SHIBAYAMA (certified public accountant and certified public tax accountant) -- highly regarded for his prolific scholarly output, oversaw the development of this material.

*“Oto-boki ™” is a trademark co-owned by the Itochu Corporation and the Tokyo Legal Mind K.K.

*iTunes® and iPod® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. registered in the United States and other countries.

General Inquiries
Call Center, Tokyo Legal Mind K.K.
TEL: +81 (0)3 5913 6001 / FAX: +81 (0)120 35 5005

Press Contact
Public Relation Department, Tokyo Legal Mind K.K.
TEL: +81 (0)3 6214 5022