Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana) [Paperback]

Peter X. Takahashi (Author), Yumie Toka (Illustrator)

Book Description

*WINNER* Parents' Choice Award

*WINNER* IPPY Award, Education/Teaching/Academic

*WINNER* I.D. Magazine Design Distinction Award

*WINNER* Print Magazine Design Excellence Award

Designed to appeal to a wide age range and a variety of attention spans, "Jimi's Book of Japanese" is for everyone who is learning Japanese and for anyone who has an inquisitive brain.

Put your kutsu on, grab your keitai denwa, and join Jimi, Akiko, and Robotto-san on an exciting insider's journey to learning basic Japanese. Along the way, you'll discover the secrets of using (o)hashi, how to find a unagi shop-even how to practice ojigi through eye-popping illustrations and simple explanations.

Designed to appeal to a wide age range and a variety of attention spans, Jimi's Book of Japanese is for everyone who is learning Japanese and for anyone who has an inquisitive brain.

Read, write, pronounce. Trace, fliplaugh! This friendly book's Triple Bubble Learning System(TM) makes the 46 most important hiragana stick in your brain. Plus, you'll learn over 125 useful vocabulary.

On each page, there's giant kana with stroke order arrows, an illustrated pronunciation key, and vocabulary in Japanese and English. All words are matched with authentic descriptions and colorful characters whose lively expressions make learning Japanese unforgettable.

Additional features include a helpful introduction with tips on Japanese language basics, a large word list with definitions, and a numbers page. There's even a color-coded hiragana table! Prepare your brain!

Highlights

-Master the 46 most important hiragana

-Learn to read, write, pronounce kana from A to WO

-Learn to count from ichi to gojuni

PLUS

-More than 250 full-color illustrations

-Over 125 up-to-date vocabulary, simple definitions

-Quick-reference visual library

-Color-coded hiragana table

-Ready-to-use culture tips, greetings, and MORE!

-BONU

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 3-6. This colorful book will appeal to children who want to learn Japanese, particularly those who are studying how to speak the language but want to know how to write it as well. As the introduction states, "Instead of an alphabet Japanese uses kana." Each page features one large figure of a kana, a symbol representing a syllable, with directional arrows showing how to make each stroke. Also on the page is a pronunciation key, a vocabulary word that includes the kana, a description of the word's meaning within the context of Japanese culture, and a few small illustrations. The closing pages feature a chart of the kana and their sounds, a chart of numbers, and a word list with translations. Recurring, cartoonlike characters, including a simply drawn monkey called Jimi, give the pages child appeal, but even older students beginning to learn Japanese may find this well-designed book useful. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Gr. 3-6. This colorful book will appeal to children who want to learn Japanese, particularly those who are studying how to speak the language but want to know how to write it as well. As the introduction states, "Instead of an alphabet Japanese uses kana." Each page features one large figure of a kana, a symbol representing a syllable, with directional arrows showing how to make each stroke. Also on the page is a pronunciation key, a vocabulary word that includes the kana, a description of the word's meaning within the context of Japanese culture, and a few small illustrations. The closing pages feature a chart of the kana and their sounds, a chart of numbers, and a word list with translations. Recurring, cartoonlike characters, including a simply drawn monkey called Jimi, give the pages child appeal, but even older students beginning to learn Japanese may find this well-designed book useful. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --Booklist

"Jimi's Book of Japanese" is an excellent introduction to Japanese and a well planned and executed hiragana handbook." --Daily Yomiuri

...an interactive Japanese language book, [J.B.O.J] features friendly graphics, inviting colors and easy-to-understand instructions for speaking and writing Japanese. --I.D. Magazine

"Jimi's Book of Japanese" is an excellent introduction to Japanese and a well planned and executed hiragana handbook." --Daily Yomiuri

...an interactive Japanese language book, [J.B.O.J] features friendly graphics, inviting colors and easy-to-understand instructions for speaking and writing Japanese. --I.D. Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Takahashi & Black; 2nd edition (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972324704
• ISBN-13: 978-0972324700
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #351,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Japanese

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational! Motivational! Spectacular! Two Thumbs Up!, July 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana) (Paperback)

Grade 3-6? This book's age range should be from 2 to 100. I am not kidding. This book is made for a kid but intelligent enough for an adult. "Jimi's Book of Japanese" is simply unbelievable.

I wouldn't normally take the time to write a glowing review about a book I purchased on a whim, however, this book is far more than I ever expected.

In fact, this book's unique "Triple Bubble Learning System" is intuitive in its approach and creative in its execution--simply brilliant. This is the only book I've found that includes reading, writing, and pronunciation in a uniform manner--completely intuitive approach that works effectively. This system allowed me as an adult to grasp Japanese kana much more quickly than I normally would.

Just the other day, I showed this book to my Japanese Sensei and even she remarked how "motivating" the books content is. Yes, in this case the marketing spin is really true: "Jimi's Book of Japanese" IS a "Motivating Method to Learn Japanese"

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for the Beginning Japanese Student, June 8, 2006

By 

R. Cain (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana) (Paperback)

This book is for children. If you are just learning Japanese where do you think your skill level is at? Its at the level of a Japanese child learning Hiragana. A lot of Japanese children's books are written in Hiragana so this is where you start.

This book is off the hook as being totally Japanese in illustration. If you know how to pronounce your Japanese vowels then this is book to use to begin learning to read and write. Remember this, with any natural process of language learning you first learn to speak and then to read.

So, if you don't have any experience in speaking Japanese don't start with this book but I do recommend that you go ahead and buy it because you will want it in your "tool kit" eventually.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most inspiring...Two Thumbs Up!, July 17, 2003

By 

"jojoba88" (Vancouver, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jimi's Book of Japanese: A Motivating Method to Learn Japanese (Hiragana) (Paperback)

Grade 3-6? This book's age range should be from 2 to 100. I am not kidding. This book is made for a kid but intelligent enough for an adult. "Jimi's Book of Japanese" is simply unbelievable.

I wouldn't normally take the time to write a glowing review about a book I purchased on a whim, however, this book is far more than I ever expected.

In fact, this book's unique "Triple Bubble Learning System" is intuitive in its approach and creative in its execution--simply brilliant. This is the only book I've found that includes reading, writing, and pronunciation in a uniformed manner. This allowed me as an adult to grasp Japanese kana much more quickly than I normally would.

Just the other day, I showed this book to my Japanese Sensei and even she remarked how "motivating" the books content is. Yes, in this case the marketing spin is really true: "Jimi's Book of Japanese" IS a "Motivating Method to Learn Japanese"