Learn kanji with my Kanji Kanban(漢字看板) Japanese street and shop sign series, an ever expanding database of kanji, hiragana and katakana characters in natural contexts. The word ‘kanban’ refers to shop signs in Japanese. This series focuses on the joyo kanji (常用漢字), the most frequently used characters. It includes various reference tools that make this … Read more
Rikaichan is a pop-up Japanese dictionary add-on that can really turbo charge your online Japanese reading practice. If I had to give up all but one of my printed and online Japanese language learning resources, rikaichan would be the keeper. And it happens to be free! You can download it and get more info here. … Read more
おまつり How do you say ‘festival’ in Japanese? If you’re learning hiragana, try reading this poster advertising an upcoming event. I noticed it on a community message board in my neighborhood in Kyoto. The お at the beginning is an honorific and is often omitted. Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool … Read more
クリスマス 最終セール CUTケーキ 全品 ３００円 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading the words on this sign that I ran across in Tokyo on December 25th last year. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their order … Read more
JR全線きっぷうりば Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading the words on this Tokyo Station sign. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their order of appearance in both Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji and … Read more
自転車 バイク 修理 販売 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading the words on this sign. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their order of appearance in both Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji and Kanji in … Read more
ネット＋電話で スマホがおトク！ Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading the words on this banner. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their order of appearance in both Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji and Kanji … Read more
おいしいごはんおかわり自由。 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading the words on this sign. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their order of appearance in both Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji and Kanji in … Read more
中国家庭料理 Use the rikaichan popup dictionary or your favorite reference tool with my transcription below the photo if you need help reading the words on this Kyoto restaurant’s doorway. The numbers below refer to the kanji I’ve transcribed below the photo, and correspond to their order of appearance in both Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji and … Read more