Bow wow

The Scottish centre for Japanese studies at Stirling University is launching an intensive course in language and cultural training for individuals and companies to coincide with the Department of Trade and Industry's new "languages for export" campaign.

Award-winning computer software developed at Stirling is used to accelerate learning of the two phonetic scripts of Japanese. Julie Johnson, the centre's business services manager said: "Even if your bow is not perfect, and you know only a few basic phrases, it pays to make the effort."