Learn From Zero Kanji 1: Proven Techniques to Master Kanji Used by Students All Over the World.

This is such a great book for learning how to read and write kanji that I carry it with me every day to work so I can study in my lunch break! (as I did with all the other Japanese from Zero books). I usually go through one chapter within two to three days (it's quality over quantity after all) and review the previous kanji everday before moving on.The book has 39 chapters in total with an answer key at the end of each chapter. Chapters always start with the introduction of 6-7 new kanji with a big picture showing the stroke order as well as the English meaning, the onyomi and kunyomi readings (written in katakana and hiragana respectively), 7 panels to practice kanji writing, and several sample words featuring the new kanji (with furigana on top as well as English translation).This is followed by cultural snippets and explanations such as why there are two different type of kanji meaning 'round' or the 'proper' (textbook) way of the kanji for age versus the real-life (colloquial) version other textbook won't teach you. It will also help you find the right train station exit by mastering the cardinal directions.Afterwards, you will get two pages of writing exercises for the new kanji you just learnt which also introduce new vocabulary. This also includes a 'fill in the blanks' text where the newly learnt kanji and/or kanji from previous chapters have to be added (the blanks have furigana on top and the sentences always come with their English meaning written underneath so that you're not only improving your kanji, but also your reading comprehension). These are then followed by further exercises (another 'fill in the blanks' text, featuring English words only, with the kanji on top for reference, a 'kanji matching' where the kanji has to be matched to one of its possible on- or kunyomi readings, and last, but not least, large kanji pictures with different stroke orders in which the student needs to mark the correct one). This is then followed by the aforementioned answer key.After several chapters, there is a 'super review' which will test the student on some of the kanji of the previous chapters - it's a great feedback to uncover weak spots in your kanji studies that need might need to be reviewed.All in all, the book teaches 240 kanji and the only 'downside' I can find is that this is currently the only book of the kanji series (which will change at some point in the future).

I've formerly been a subscriber and great fan of George Tromleys Yes Japan channel which is a wonderful resource for Japanese students. Whilst George focusses on teaching Japanese through entertainment, this is actually how I love learning too. This book is reflective as its in easy to follow progessive chapters with big lighthearted drawings, cartoons, fun vocabulary, stroke orders etc. Its a great way to learn kanji... I'd recommend to purchase the Amazon Kindle version as its a heavy paperback book but great value for money and a wealth of resourced study material. And check out Georges other Learn Japanese books on Amazons. They are all in the same style and highly recommended by nearly all users. This is one of the best kanji books for beginners of its kind. Thank you George for this great publication. Five stars all round.

I flicked through a lot of learn Japanese, and particularly learn kanji books, and picked this partly because of the authors excellent online presence but mainly because of it's methodology, it has been an enormous help. It makes me write kanji, and believe me I hate writing kanji, but it helps me to remember, it uses the kanji in words, without question the best way to really learn. I've used apps and was pretty pleased with myself for remembering over a thousand kanji by primary meaning but in the end that doesn't really help with using it. I would absolutey recommend this book to anyone serious about learning kanji or Japanese in general, use it, follow it, put the effort in and it will reward you. Why only four stars? I'm really nitpicking here but I can't help feeling the example sentences, in test form, were a little more every day useful, but maybe that is covered in greater detail in the Japanese From Zero books. All in all great book, great value, just get it!

Studied Japanese for 3-4 months using the Genki textook (Sorry George). I picked this up recently and im 4-5 sections in.The intro does a great job of explaining the different readings and strokes of kanji in general and sets a really great style up for systematically drilling Kanji. The lessons teach you around 6 new characters with there readings and then show you a few words containing them, at the end there are a few pages of simple exercises that let you use the Kanji you learned.The Vocab is very well selected; you quickly start seeing patterns in the readings and usage.It's a perfect book really; what are you waiting for?

I'm currently on Book 3 on Japanese from Zero and recently purchased Kanji from Zero. I really like the layout and the extra content not included in JFZ 3. Kanji I feel needs this extra focus because it is so vital to becoming truly fluent and good in the language.The thing I like most is that this book is making kanji just that little bit less daunting. Some books and materials will just bombard the student with all the possible readings for a kanji and it just becomes this tedious memory test. It becomes a big chore. But Kanji From Zero gives you actual words that have the different readings and I can remember them much easier this way.