Easy Hiragana: First Steps to Basic Japanese Writing (Passport Books) [Paperback]

Fujihiko Kaneda (Author), Rika Samidori (Calligrapher)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 1989 | ISBN-10: 0844285188 | ISBN-13: 978-0844285184 | Edition: 1

Beginning This step-by-step guide to hiragana includes writing models by award-winning Japanese calligraphers, concise explanations, and numerous exercises to improve students' writing style, build vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and increase knowledge of Japanese language structures, counters, and punctuation.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (January 11, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844285188
• ISBN-13: 978-0844285184
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,011,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, February 18, 2004

By 

Stephen M. Silva "nineislands" (New Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Easy Hiragana: First Steps to Basic Japanese Writing (Passport Books) (Paperback)

This book is great- it shows stroke order and encourages practice. However, I greatly disagree with the ease of writing order. For example, I can make a "ma" and a "ya" MUCH easier than I can make a ku, i, or he. Also, the book needs to dedicate about 10 pages of text to a passage of any kind (short story or series of poems) that is written strictly in hiragana for reading practice. It's one thing to recognize symbols and be able to write down a sound in a different writing style, it's an entirely different thing to read at even a first or second grade level.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have!, May 1, 2010

By 

Joe Stock "Stephanie" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Easy Hiragana: First Steps to Basic Japanese Writing (Passport Books) (Paperback)

I just started learning Japanese 10 days ago. I've started with this book, and let me just say, it is wonderful! I had read the other reviews on this book before I bought it, and I wasn't sure what to think.. it sounded good. But I am so overly impressed by this book, that I would suggest it to anyone trying to learn Hiragana.

I also bought a book called "Let's Learn Hiragana: First Book of Basic Japanese Writing." I have only looked through it, but I am happy that I started with Easy Hiragana. The lessons are extremely well organized, and very easy to learn. The other book has longer lessons and crams a bit too much into them, it looks much harder to learn. It does include extra explanations about grammar, but that's all it's really good for with both books.

With Easy Hiragana I've been studying 10 days, I've learned 32 of the 48 character and have also learned 80 words! I do each lesson 7 times to commit it to memory, and a review after a few days. I do about 5 repetitions of a lesson a day, but you could spread it out more. I LOVE this book! It is the best that I have come by!

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for Japanese learners, May 10, 2000

By 

Dmytro Gorozhankin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Easy Hiragana: First Steps to Basic Japanese Writing (Passport Books) (Paperback)

If you're about learning Japanese writing, then this book is a must for you. It will smoothly teach you how to cope with Hiragana and explain the concepts.

Very good book for beginners.