The Chronic Consumer

I’ve been wanting to learn how to read Japanese kanji characters for years now, but haven’t had any luck finding a system that works for me — until a few months ago when I heard about the kanji flashcards produced by White Rabbit press. These cards are specifically designed to help students prepare for the JLPT 4/3 exam, and as such, take a systematic approach that is highly effective.

This Volume 1 set, which was written by Max Hodges and Tomoko Okazaki, contains 284 credit card-sized flashcards featuring kanji that are likely to appear on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. There are 103 cards pertaining to Level 4 (the easiest level), and 181 cards pertaining to Level 3. The cards are color-coded (green for Level 4, blue for Level 3) to make it easy for students to distinguish between the two.

What I like best about these White Rabbit Kanji Flashcards is how much information is packed onto each individual card. On the front side, you get the main kanji character, six compound words or phrases showing how that character is typically used, two examples of characters that look similar to the main one (so you can avoid confusion), the radical that the kanji is derived from, and the correct stroke order when writing the character.

On the back, you get the Chinese (on) and Japanese (kun) pronunciations of the main kanji and all the derivatives, as well as mnemonic devices where applicable. Take a look at a sample (click to enlarge):

These cards are so fun and simple to use that I find myself studying more often than I ever did with a textbook or software program. I just grab two cards each day (M-F) and carry them around with me while doing all my errands, cooking, housework, etc. I glance at them whenever I can, and by the end of the day, I usually know the compounds cold. I use Saturday and Sunday for reviewing the 10 new kanji I learned during the week, and for writing practice (though the writing portion isn’t that critical to me).

Using this approach, I’ve been able to increase my Japanese vocabulary by leaps and bounds, and am finally learning to read common kanji compounds that I see a lot, but had never bothered learning before. Even though I don’t plan to sit for the JLPT anytime soon, I am still benefiting immensely from these flashcards.

If you’re serious about wanting to learn how to read Japanese kanji characters, then I highly recommend starting with Kanji Flashcards 1 by White Rabbit Press. This is the absolute best study aid I’ve come across in the past eight years, and will help you improve your Japanese whether you’re going to take the JLPT or not. And at just $18.94 per set on Amazon, this product is a steal! Check it out today!