Let's Learn Katakana: Second Book of Basic Japanese Writing (Paperback)

~ Yasuko Kosaka Mitamura (Author) "As you know, there are two types of writing in Japanese: Kanji and Kana..." (more)
Key Phrases: contracted syllables, 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 Katakana, and its companion volume Let's Learn Hiragana, 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 katakana by the time the book has been finished. Let's Learn Katakana 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

Mitamura is a Kodansha International author.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 88 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (January 15, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087011719X
• ISBN-13: 978-0870117190
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,452 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is just awesome!, June 19, 2003

By	Daniel Magalhaes (Brazil) - See all my reviews

This book along with its companion Let's learn Hiragana(which must be previously studied before moving into this one) is surely a great step to mastering Japanese writing and reading. Within a month I could read and write perfectly. At first I thought I would not make it, but Yasuko paved me the way. Now I'm buying Let's learn Kanji and Let's learn more Kanji both from the same series. The book is not a 5-star because it is sold as being a book for self students but it doesn't have all the answers on the answer key. For [$$$] you get both Japanese writings quick and painlessly.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best source for learning Katakana, April 28, 1999

By A Customer

This book is really extensive and takes you through all of Katakana and how it is used within Japanese society.

The book first introduces in Chapter One all the characters and characters and related practice exercises in three sections for a total of 46 characters. In Chapter Two, more advanced lessons are covered on the rules for forming Japanese words with Katakana. Example would be that the second 'o' is changed into a 'u' for Japanese words, and is changed to a dash '-' for foreign words. In Chapter Three, there are lessons on how Katakana is used for Japanese words under certain circumstances. In Chapter Four, rules are thoroughly discussed for writing foreign words in Japanese. Finally in Chapter Five, review exercises are offered including a word puzzle. Appendixes are offered showing the answers to the exercises and the origins of Katakana borrowed from Chinese Kanji.

Overall, I find this to be the best source to either thoroughly learn Katakana, or to learn the basics of Katakana. I highly recommend this book and I am using this book to help tutor me through Katakana for my Japanese 1 course that I'm attending.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Extremely easy to use, June 6, 2001

By	"lordpixel" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I spent a couple of days working through the basic (46) characters in this book before a recent holiday in Tokyo. By the time I arrived I could read the beer ads on the train. Using the later chapters to understand how to write words, combined with the constant exposure of reading as much as I could every day on the train, I left being able to read and write pretty much any Katakana that I'd need to; including the tricker Y[oo]on used to write foreign sounds.

My only gripe would be the authour does assume you've read the companion book Let's Learn Hiragana in a few places. Its not really a bar to understanding, but it means a few terms here and there aren't defined.