Kanji Pict-o-graphix: Over 1,000 Japanese Kanji and Kana Mnemonics

Micheal Rowley
Stone Bridge Press (2007)
ISBN 9780962813702  
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (3/07)


Kanji, the written form of Japanese characters, is very difficult to try to figure out. The author of this book, Michael Rowley, used “mnemonic devices” as memory aids to simplify the process. Mnemonics are used to create associations. I used this method to visually learn to read Braille and I found it worked. Mr. Rowley does an even better job with the mnemonics that he has created to help with this process. I found the characters much easier to memorize than when I learned Braille.

He provides you with pictures (pictographs) that are drawn in a manner closely resembling the kanji character. Your mind makes an association between the two and the next time you see the kanji, you remember the picture and what it represents. In this book, he provides the means for you to learn over 1,000 kanji characters. This is about 50% of the kanji characters that are commonly used in print today.

The chapters are well-organized and have an extensive index the end of the book, which also includes the kanji characters for a quick reference. I also found his choice of kanji characters to be very meaningful and most likely to be encountered. Mr. Rowley has the distinction of earning both the International Typographic Design Award and the HOW International Design Award. I can see why he would earn these awards.

In addition to recognizing the meaning behind many of the kanji tattoos that you commonly see today, I also think that martial artists would enjoy this book. In the Japanese styles we see a great deal of kanji characters and it would be nice to be able to recognize their meanings. I also hope that when I return to Japan, I will have a much easier time understanding what the signs mean over there. I was clueless on my first trip over there and I look forward to this challenge. Of course, “Kanji Pict-o-graphix” will be going with me!

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