Customer Reviews

Remembering the Kanji III: Writing and Reading Japanese Characters for Upper-Level Proficiency (v. 3)

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First, I'd like to note a couple of things:
(1) This book is no longer available in printed form on Amazon.com at this time. There are no doubt other places where you can buy this book in printed form, and there is always the option of a pdf/e-book version of this book available from the Nanzen institute website. This is merely a review of the product itself, not of Amazon's price or availability (or lack thereof).

(2) This book is intended for those that have finished both Remembering the Kanji volumes I and II. Chances are that most people reading this review have not done this; they are merely curious about what the advanced stages of this learning method are. If you've studied the first two books to their completion, this final book will be purchased regardless of what I say about it. The devotion one has at this point is stronger than anything I could possibly say to convince one otherwise.

What is this book? It is the third volume that expands on James Heisig's kanji-learning system (Which I would call "revolutionary," but I don't want this to sound too gimmicky). The first book tacked an English keyword onto all of the 2,000 kanji. The second book showed ways to remember readings of the kanji. By the time you finished both of these books (properly), you should know more than 2,000 characters, the basic number needed for a literate person in Japan. (I am at the level that I can read most what I would see in a newspaper, although I can recognize most all of the characters.) Once you are at this level, you now have free roam of many Japanese reading materials; the only obsticle you will encounter are kanji that aren't part of the joyou kanji and aren't part of the 2,000+ kanji you learned in the previous books in this series; and this is where book three comes in, as it expands your kanji knowledge by 1,000 new characters. And since only 1,000 new characters are treated in this third book (Compared to the 2,000 treated in the previous books), this allows enough space to cover all of the new kanji in the same manner as books one and two, except it is done in one volume. The first half of the book treats each kanji with a keyword; the second half covers the readings of the kanji.

The benefits are pretty straightforward, but if you've finished books one and two the benefits and feelings of self-accomplishment are deeper than simply a number. It's hard to describe, so let me use an example: Take the kanji for ant (It is pronounced "ari"); this is a kanji covered in this book. The only time you will see the kanji for "ant" is when you are referring to an ant and ONLY an ant (nothing more), but to actually know the kanji that corresponds to "ant" will give you an odd sense of accomplishment, one that you are no doubt be familiar with if you've attainted the degree of literacy given to you if you finish the first two books.

My point? You should be familiar with the sense of accomplishment you get when you study this writing system, and these benefits will continue through the pages of this book, as "gems" of kanji knowledge are given to you one after another. And when you complete this book (Which I have yet to do), your kanji knowledge does not stop. There are many more kanji that exist and are waiting to be learned by you, and this book sets you up to continue studying and to keep learning new kanji. Studying kanji is no longer a dread for me, I enjoy it; I enjoy learning new characters and expanding my knowledge; it has become a hobby that I don't want to stop.
So rather than thinking about this book as the "last book you'll ever need to read" about kanji, it can be one that starts you on an endless path of learning new characters to your hearts content.

For those that have traveled this particular path to study kanji, and have reached the level requiring another book to guide you deeper into the fabulous, frustrating, strange and beautiful world of kanji, be ready for rewards; not unusual rewards in your case (You're already familiar with what they are), but rewards that allow you to continue your endless and wonderful journey through this sea of these unique characters. If you choose to continue, hopefully you and I will meet someday in "kanji heaven," if such a place exists.
Until then.

If you're reading this, you already have finished or planning to finish other books in the Remembering The Kanji series. You already learned the first 2000 kanji in Books I and II. This, the Volume III, is meant to take you to the 3,000 kanji level that any japanese college student is expected to know. It is divided in two parts, the first for meaning/writing and the second for readings.

If you really want to get this book, the only possible way I found was to get it directly from the Nanzan Institute in Japan (do a Google search) as an e-book in a CD. If you can't figure out how to make the bank transfer to Japan or to Spain (they have an account in Barcelona) you can always ask someone in Japan to get it and forward it to you, or... ask a company to do this, such as White Rabbit Xpress.

I hope it becomes available as a printed book again in the future.

The system that James Heisig presents in the "Remembering the Kanji" series is the fastest and most effective way to learn Japanese characters that I have seen. There are a great number of systems that promote learning Kanji by associating them with a visual image, which can be effective, but also has draw backs. A phenomenon common to any serious Japanese learner is the ability to recognize Kanji when seen, but when it comes to writing them... you draw a blank - or make subtle, but important mistakes.

Heisig, on the other hand, uses "imaginative memory" not visual, and this makes all the difference. Often, I found that the opposite of the above scenario was true in the beginning stages - I'd remember how to write a character before I recognized it printed somewhere. And the best thing about this system is that it reduces the amount of time required to become proficient from a matter of years to a matter of months. I whole heartedly recommend this book to any and all Japanese students frustrated with learning Kanji!

I know the Heisig method of associating the kanji with mental pictures works for some people. But it never worked for me. In my case, the way to go was just to write them out over and over and over, and learn it by rote. Your results may vary.

This does not go through much like the remembering the kana books. Which i recomend. This is a little too expensive, but it is ok too. As a beginner who teaches myslef. I found it dry and boring.

but hey it's kanji.

I just wanted to have all of the heisig collection for references. No I am not rich, just trying to learn as much as possible. I ate ramen instant noodles for 2 1/2 months to save up for this book. Is it worht that sacrafice? No. No. No .No . No!

You could do just as well with a basic kanji dictionary for a lot less.

That being said if you are upperclass, or your parents are buying it, then shoot....why not pick it up?

It can teach you something and is more comfortable to hold than the big bulky dictionaries.

People will tell you...oh it's parrt three...I know ant. But if you are going to live in tokyo ...news flash there are no ants. And time is so precious nobody is going to stay around to talk to you about ants.

You also do not have to buy part 1 or 2 of this series to have this book be of use.

Not sure where i am going with this. If oyu can afford it or are really determined to learn all things Japanese written, than buy iy. If you are strapped in a budget and hate to read books. pick up rosetta stone japanese or a basic introduction to japanese book.

BUying the books alone don't help you learn. It is the repitition and commitment. that is the key. Some aids can help you ge thtere quicker, bt not by much. They just want your cash so they can continue to live.


Basicallly it's up to you.

Good luck on your studies and enjoy.