Each new form of human speech introduces one into a new world of thought and life. The choice of foreign languages offered at schools by C.B.S.E. gives opportunities to glimpse into different cultures and societies of nine countries. However, the Japanese have been missing from this choice. India and Japan are both Asian countries, close to each other culturally and linguistically. Japanese phonetic scripts Hiragana and Katakana are said to have a great influence on Sanskrit sounds.

Inclusion of the Japanese language now opens up a new horizon encouraging our young generation to "look east", understand its culture and people. UME (Plum flower is the first in a planned series of three books. The other two, also named after flowers, appearing in the order in which these flowers bloom in Japan, are MOMO (peach blossom) and SAKURA (cherry blossom). I am sure that students, their parents, and teachers will enjoy the book.