Harry Nap

Kanji Alchemy - Back to the Roots: Learning Japanese Characters with a Radical Focus Harry Nap

Kanji Alchemy - Back to the Roots features a novel and original approach to learning Japanese characters with an emphasis on radicals. Organised more as a workbook than a textbook, the objective is to select a radical that is the appropriate element for a character that only lists the English translation(s) and the Japanese readings. Although the number of radicals has been limited to 96, approximately 80% of Jouyou kanji has been covered whilst through clustering of orthographically similar kanji only 1/3 of Jouyou kanji (or about 700) new forms need to be learned.

There are 12 chapters of which the first 10 consist of 7 units or weeks. This design makes it easy to start with small, self-contained units as each week has 7 days that can be studied individually. Each week contains 3 sections: in the first section the task is to select the appropriate radical for the kanji. This is followed by the Answer Key that features the kanji and their respective radicals and completed by the Practice section in which the character is shown in a kanji compound.

In order to learn kanji more efficiently a good way to start is to develop "orthographic awareness" by highlighting the role that radicals play. In concentrating on the forms - frequently unsupported by any meaning the radicals might convey - it will become possible to work with elements that are consistent and not subject to numerous exceptions. Reducing the number of radicals to only 96 (considerably less compared to the conventional 214 radicals) and the total kanji to around 700 will simplify and facilitate the learning process.

In addition, finding the appropriate radical through a process of reasoning, somewhat like engaging in a "heuristic approach", means that learning kanji becomes a much more active mental activity. Looking for the "missing link" will therefore greatly stimulate understanding and remembering Japanese characters. Kanji Alchemy - Back to the Roots provides an effective, engaging and streamlined method for coming to terms with a complex writing system.