Let's Learn Hiragana: First Book of Basic Japanese Writing (Kodansha's Children's Classics) (Paperback)

~ Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura (Author)
Key Phrases: basic vowels, syllabic consonant, Romanized Japanese

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

There are three types of Japanese script--katakana, hiragana, and kanji. It is possible to read Japanese knowing only a limited number of kanji, but it is not possible with only a limited number of katakana or hiragana--one must know all of them. Let's Learn Hiragana, and its companion volume Let's Learn Katakana, is a textbook that introduces the learner to the basics of one of these fundamental Japanese scripts. Being a workbook, it contains all the exercises that allow the student to master hiragana by the time the book has been finished. Let's Learn Hiragana is a classic in the field, and the huge number of students that have used it successfully is a sign of its preeminence as a self-study guide.

About the Author

Y K Mitamura is a Kodansha International author.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (June 15, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870117092
• ISBN-13: 978-0870117091
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,903 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fantastic learning tool., October 3, 1998

By A Customer

Let's Learn Hiragana is the first book all students wanting to learn to read and write Japanese should buy. I learned all the 107 hiragana in two weeks practicing only a couple hours each day. There are only really 46 hiragana to learn. The remainder are made with the addition of what look like " ,or with the addition of a small circle, or by writing one hiragana on top of another to make a new syllable. This book shows you the basic stokes which are numbered and easy to follow, and it gives a tracing exercise for each syllable. After you have mastered all 107 syllables/(46 symbols) it walks you through how to write words. Then it walks you through how to write sentences. It gives lots of practice translating romanji to hiragana and vice versa but manages to ween the learner from romanji which builds confidence. It points out ample, pertinent examples of spelling and writing "exceptions" in the exercises. Six stars. Next get Let's Learn Katakana. Mitamura-san is a wonderful sensei. The only critisism I can offer is that the hiragana are written in brush and it can be confusing for the beginner to know the importance of those little check marks at the end of the lines. I advise begginners to look in other Japanese books to get a sense for the amount of flexibility permitted in Japanese writing and to expose themselves to print styles other than ink brush, but this is a very minor critisism. With this book alone, you will easily be able to write beautiful Japanese even if you are in a Siberian jail in solitary confinement..which thankfully, I am not.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, Well-Organized, and Very Helpful, November 10, 2006

By	L33tminion (Somerville, MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This book is an excellent resource for self-study. I found it very helpful.

Note that the book is intended for older children or adults, despite the bright cover and the "Kodansha's Children's Classics" at the top of the Amazon page.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an AMAZING book!!!, March 19, 2002

By	Matthew Wheeler (Wilmington NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is incredible!! In less than a week I have learned each and every character in the hiragana character set!! The end of lesson quizzes truly enforce the skills and characters learned in the preceding lesson, I especially like the fact that you are taught to use your newly learned hiragana through "fill in the blank", romanji->hiragana and hiragana->romaji spelling practice. This book doesnt just teach the characters, you learn grammar, word structure, sentence structure, and special use situations as well. I cant say enough great things about this book!! If you can find it, be sure to buy the sequal, "Lets Learn Katakana", too!!:)