@travisv10 haha your just jealous that you are still having difficulty writing 曜 when me and others who did RTK learned 2,000 plus kanji in around 2 months. I went to classes before that and learned about 150 kanji in 2 semesters. Also one and a half year later from doing both AJATT and RTK, I am reading Japanese newspapers. So have fun with your kanji flashcards and learning 1 kanji every week and taking classes were you learn the most unreal japanese ever.
Late reply, sorry. I find RTK as a book is good but one can quickly reach a tedium point. Throw in the RevTK website, SRS flashcard programs, shared stories, forum advice, more efficient or new methods in the same vein, then you have a winning method. So yeah, many at RevTK forums drink the Heisig Cool-aid, but we do get to choose the flavor. Keep up the good work GMAFM. By the way, RTK book 2 sucks. One's better off with a memory palace method.
I think heisig is more for just to take kanji and make them recognizable artefacts so when you learn a new word, every piece of it (kanji, kana, usage, etc...) is easy to digest.
Didn't notice this series before but sounds good.
How can people not learn kana? there are so few kana characters! Does that really happen with people who actually want to learn the language?
what is the best order to learn japanese (spoken, kanji, katakana, etc.) to get the best results because you confused me with what you were saying.
You've been making me feel like i should put off learning it, so i want to get started now, but i just was curious on your opinion of a good approach.
I really like how you emphasized the （本）Kanji, and stressed how easy it can actually be. We also made some videos a little while back trying to make the simplest of Kanji accessible to everyone. I posted the one for that Kanji up as a vid response.
Feel free to post your vids on ours as a vid responses anytime appropriate too!
Looking forward to working more with you. I think our styles will compliment each other well. Keep making awesome vids!
I totally agree with the fact that Heisig is not going to work if you want to "read soon". I went through it a while ago, and am very happy that I did. It's also true that some Heisig users act cultish, but I've seen people hate on it almost on principle as well. :p Guess it only works for some.
What do you think about the Tuttle books? Im currently in Japanese 2 with the Genki system but our teacher is more about getting us speaking and understanding and kanji less. I started getting manga from my dad over there and forcing myself to translate them. I get the furigana manga so i start recognizing the kanji in context as well. It seems to be helping a bit.
damn I'm right in the middle of the age thing (i'm 19), so far I know hiragana and katakana and i have been using the Heisig method cuz Khatzumoto from alljapaneseallthetime . com had suggested it as the method he used to learn japanese along with his method of immersion, but still I've been going at if for months and it just gets so tedious to do the kanji, a lot of so called "burnouts" happen with the heisig method, so yeah basically I'm looking into other methods of learning.
i learned the katakana and hiragana in 2 weeks, just take 20 mins and pick 5 to learn, then test urself, then go over thoses 5 briefely before learning the next 5 etc, well it worked for me, but everyone is different! you'll get there
ah sorry i was drinking last night and didnt read it properly! oh for Kanji, well i have a fe books including the Heisig one but i found it easier to learn through other books that include meanings and pronouciations. I find using ANKI or Flashcards pretty usefull to test myself. electronic dictionaries can help as most these days can actually show you the stroke order on the screen aswel but theyr pretty expensive, a book works just as well
Cool man thanks for the feedback, I actually use Anki, and it helps a lot, I guess I'm missing that electronic dictionary, a lot of people recommend having one so i'll make a purchase towards one.
but I am a card carrying member of the cult lol. Three months of pure kanji writing study leads to being able to write more than you will ever need in daily life. Just three months!!(if your hardcore)
but as you said everyone should do what works for them
I have a pretty decent book for Kanji learning called A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters by Henshall. It's pretty comprehensive, and the mnemonics are interesting! All the 1945 general use kanji are in it. The only slight inconvenience that I have with the book is that it doesn't show the stroke order for each kanji but rather stroke order rules of how to write the kanji, though in itself is a good idea, that way I'll learn the stroke order rules better.
THANK YOU. I really cant put into words how thankful I am to people you, who actually give anyone a better chance to learn the language, focusing on the "hard" parts.
I'm a spanish native speaker, and I'm studying to become a certified english translator, but my main life plan right now is to travel to japan and make a living there. I really appreciate your effort.
Now, a question:
What about the age cap? Since Im 19.
Do younger people have a better chance memorizing kanji?
^.^ ! yay!! i'm so happy!! i know about...maybe 70ish kanji i can read...but can only write maybe half of them....yeah. writing is harder then reading...at least i think so
I'm under 19 and Im serious about studying as you can tell from my channel :) Is the under 19 thing because young people can suck kanji all up? I started with Heisig method but I've given it a rest because it just gets a bit boring. Liked the kanji vid but it was too slow for my liking. I want it all action packed and fast like ur other videos xD
Nice Victor! ... Looking forward to some Street Kanji ! ... anyway, think you could make JFM or something or maybe here where explain the difference between 青(green) and 青(blue) is there some magic to deciphering when I say my shirt (or whatever) is green or when its blue, I suppose you could use 緑 instead of green or how does it work :) ?
You should make an episode "The best things you didn't know about Japanese!", where there's great info (and perhaps helpful) facts and bits on Japanese that aren't widely known, or perhaps you've noticed yourself over time, and would like to share.
Ahh Yes I remember that kanji! Nihon is another combination too right? (Nichi + Hon = Nihon...Japan!...right?) (hehee! Humour me I'm only 14 =P) I know my hiragana and katakana now! Thanks Victor-Sensei! You have helped me a lot, and I cant wait to watch you new series! How I learn Kanji (or try to anyway) Is I go and find a new kanji, write it on the back of my hand and write under it the meaning and how to say it, that way I remember it throughout the day whilst I'm in school! ^.^; Take care!
Excellent video! Keep them coming! I am interested in the Kanji of the ticket machines in Ramen shops. If you could do one on those, that would be good.
I know all the Katakana from a sheet I copied of my friend's Shounen Jump magazine. But I can't read Hiragana, most likely because I've never looked for a Hiragana sheet yet.
Really cozy tune. (It's actually one of the VERY few songs i've bought in my life. Generation-x & the internet ^^)
Other than that, thanks for sharing your experiences on the subject. I've recently started studying the kanji. And im looking for good additions to my Genki-book. Might end up buying the one you listed in the end :)
One thing about flash cards with the Heisig method is that people nowadays use a spaced repetition program (SRS) like Anki, not usually paper flash cards. This way you only study cards that you are having trouble with, not ones you know.
And Heisig is a cult. Now I'm in two of them! Heisig and Macintosh computers! Bring out the grape Kool-aid!
awaesome video and its realy funny to see how unefficient kanji is in a country that has a culture so efficient running XD its so damm hard that i think even japanese people must feel frustrated sometimes when they read or write
rly? i thougth with so many symbols people will be so confuse im learning japanese the hiragana and katagana and they seem so easier then kanji but i will tryit for sure japanese without kanji is not japanese XD ^^
I bought that second book, or an incarnation of it it appears to be back in the 80's too when I was taking Japanese in high school, but it's tiny, like half the size of that book, it has 3 kanji on every page, like that, with the stroke order and everything, pretty handy little book. Sounds like a great new series, look forward to it.
Maybe it was the same book, I'm not sure how big it is from this video, maybe it did have more than 3 on a page, hmm, I'll have to try to find it again, I think it might have been lost or boxed up still from all the moves I've had to make...
Hesig is great, but you gotta study it correctly. What am I saying, you're more fluent than me, but then again you've been here longer than me. But I bet I was able to read a newspaper faster than you were able to^^
Hanging upside while it's tied to a ceiling beam does not count. And you don't get an inch extra when your girly screams break glass. You made up that rule!
And dude, are you seriously challenging my kanji? Man, that is so level 3. No worries, you'll grow out of it.
Ahh. I should really dig out my Heisig books. I've heard mixed reviews of these. I also have the white rabbit kanji flash cards and I find those pretty helpful (same idea I suppose).. *end random comment*
Kodansha do a learners Kanji Dictionary which is good.
I found myself doing that in Japan that is reading, or trying to read the kanji I saw in the street and on shop signs etc. It does help and it is good fun.
I actually had a geocities website once in which I tried to teach basic Japanese. I did it more to help myself, kind of a self teaching method. But it did recieve a few hundred hits and some nice e-mails came from it.
Has for Kanji Study cards I brought a complete set from a second hand Japanese book shop for £5. Not sure what that is in US Dollars, maybe about $7.
yeah nah, i'll just stick to my method. I got a really crazy imagination so that plays to my advantage in terms of memorizing Kanji. and lol? who studies Kanji first?!
... I AM STUDYING THE HIRAGANA AND KATAKANA :(
... Stop yelling at meeeeh :'(
Knaragus 1 month ago
RTK sucks. thank you for not being ignorant omg. AJATT lovers are such a cult
travisv10 4 months ago
@travisv10 haha your just jealous that you are still having difficulty writing 曜 when me and others who did RTK learned 2,000 plus kanji in around 2 months. I went to classes before that and learned about 150 kanji in 2 semesters. Also one and a half year later from doing both AJATT and RTK, I am reading Japanese newspapers. So have fun with your kanji flashcards and learning 1 kanji every week and taking classes were you learn the most unreal japanese ever.
aozora136 2 months ago
nice video, your are very funny XD I love this channel keep it up
chibloodgore 8 months ago
ひらがな カタカナ are so easy.
DAIGORO14 1 year ago
Late reply, sorry. I find RTK as a book is good but one can quickly reach a tedium point. Throw in the RevTK website, SRS flashcard programs, shared stories, forum advice, more efficient or new methods in the same vein, then you have a winning method. So yeah, many at RevTK forums drink the Heisig Cool-aid, but we do get to choose the flavor. Keep up the good work GMAFM. By the way, RTK book 2 sucks. One's better off with a memory palace method.
NukeMarine 1 year ago
ha,ha, so funny. "in love with my voice"
you rocks, thanks for the info, victor.
caletcalet 2 years ago
I think heisig is more for just to take kanji and make them recognizable artefacts so when you learn a new word, every piece of it (kanji, kana, usage, etc...) is easy to digest.
Didn't notice this series before but sounds good.
How can people not learn kana? there are so few kana characters! Does that really happen with people who actually want to learn the language?
nobuyuki 2 years ago
GTomoko te voto de su casa verdad?
javiercross1 2 years ago
@Gimmeaflakeman
what is the best order to learn japanese (spoken, kanji, katakana, etc.) to get the best results because you confused me with what you were saying.
You've been making me feel like i should put off learning it, so i want to get started now, but i just was curious on your opinion of a good approach.
junkyardmonkie 2 years ago
Thanks for the shoutout Victor!
I really like how you emphasized the （本）Kanji, and stressed how easy it can actually be. We also made some videos a little while back trying to make the simplest of Kanji accessible to everyone. I posted the one for that Kanji up as a vid response.
Feel free to post your vids on ours as a vid responses anytime appropriate too!
Looking forward to working more with you. I think our styles will compliment each other well. Keep making awesome vids!
japanesepod101 2 years ago
should I give up if I havnt learned hiragana in.. um.. i think about 5 classes?=P
iFukuyama 2 years ago
What's the title/method your old book follows? The one from New York?
Neodudeman 2 years ago
I totally agree with the fact that Heisig is not going to work if you want to "read soon". I went through it a while ago, and am very happy that I did. It's also true that some Heisig users act cultish, but I've seen people hate on it almost on principle as well. :p Guess it only works for some.
ultranordic 2 years ago
ヘイシグの教科書を買いて勉強してみています。
書きかたはどんどんよくに成っています。でも、発音は大変と思います。
＾＿＾
gyuujuice 2 years ago
What do you think about the Tuttle books? Im currently in Japanese 2 with the Genki system but our teacher is more about getting us speaking and understanding and kanji less. I started getting manga from my dad over there and forcing myself to translate them. I get the furigana manga so i start recognizing the kanji in context as well. It seems to be helping a bit.
aoiyume13 2 years ago
さんしゅす ごんざるす は げつようび に ショレラ の スウス レイ ノ カクス ノ ピッザ ハット へ いきます。
javiercross1 2 years ago
wow i knew more kanji than i thought.... knew about half the kanji in your background
draggt03 2 years ago
damn I'm right in the middle of the age thing (i'm 19), so far I know hiragana and katakana and i have been using the Heisig method cuz Khatzumoto from alljapaneseallthetime . com had suggested it as the method he used to learn japanese along with his method of immersion, but still I've been going at if for months and it just gets so tedious to do the kanji, a lot of so called "burnouts" happen with the heisig method, so yeah basically I'm looking into other methods of learning.
XxDarkDiazxX 2 years ago
i learned the katakana and hiragana in 2 weeks, just take 20 mins and pick 5 to learn, then test urself, then go over thoses 5 briefely before learning the next 5 etc, well it worked for me, but everyone is different! you'll get there
Auron710 2 years ago
oh yeah man i got the katakana and the hiragana down already, how about the kanji? Have you used the same method or what?
XxDarkDiazxX 2 years ago
ah sorry i was drinking last night and didnt read it properly! oh for Kanji, well i have a fe books including the Heisig one but i found it easier to learn through other books that include meanings and pronouciations. I find using ANKI or Flashcards pretty usefull to test myself. electronic dictionaries can help as most these days can actually show you the stroke order on the screen aswel but theyr pretty expensive, a book works just as well
Auron710 2 years ago
Cool man thanks for the feedback, I actually use Anki, and it helps a lot, I guess I'm missing that electronic dictionary, a lot of people recommend having one so i'll make a purchase towards one.
XxDarkDiazxX 2 years ago
So you'll show us some examples of how kanji is used in everyday real life situations here in Japan! You are so nice, Victor sensei :) :) :)
ilovebraziljapan 2 years ago
Yep!
Gimmeabreakman 2 years ago
So cute one year ago!
furetosan 2 years ago
Heisig does break down how to write them..
but I am a card carrying member of the cult lol. Three months of pure kanji writing study leads to being able to write more than you will ever need in daily life. Just three months!!(if your hardcore)
but as you said everyone should do what works for them
ThePacificCrossing 2 years ago
I have a pretty decent book for Kanji learning called A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters by Henshall. It's pretty comprehensive, and the mnemonics are interesting! All the 1945 general use kanji are in it. The only slight inconvenience that I have with the book is that it doesn't show the stroke order for each kanji but rather stroke order rules of how to write the kanji, though in itself is a good idea, that way I'll learn the stroke order rules better.
Eager to see your new series!
Ido013 2 years ago
Learning all the Jouyou Kanji is like eating one of those giant steaks where if you eat it then everyone eats free.
AlmightyAtheismo 2 years ago
THANK YOU. I really cant put into words how thankful I am to people you, who actually give anyone a better chance to learn the language, focusing on the "hard" parts.
I'm a spanish native speaker, and I'm studying to become a certified english translator, but my main life plan right now is to travel to japan and make a living there. I really appreciate your effort.
Now, a question:
What about the age cap? Since Im 19.
Do younger people have a better chance memorizing kanji?
heisokay 2 years ago
People LIKE you. typo.
heisokay 2 years ago
^.^ ! yay!! i'm so happy!! i know about...maybe 70ish kanji i can read...but can only write maybe half of them....yeah. writing is harder then reading...at least i think so
iamtakingover 2 years ago
He still teaches at Nanzan University in Nagoya? I'll send you a bottle of single malt scotch if you can get him in a video! I promise : )
litdemon 2 years ago
I can't frickin wait for this series! It's gonna be so useful for people visiting Japan.
Also, tmrdrgz, keep up with ur videos man, your channel is awesome. Someone's gotta fly the flag for us Brits!
arinco3817 2 years ago
I'm under 19 and Im serious about studying as you can tell from my channel :) Is the under 19 thing because young people can suck kanji all up? I started with Heisig method but I've given it a rest because it just gets a bit boring. Liked the kanji vid but it was too slow for my liking. I want it all action packed and fast like ur other videos xD
tmrdrgz 2 years ago
I love the idea :D Thanks and.. Uh.. Slacker! ;P Better late than never ;) Great video :D
joshuarawr 2 years ago
gizensha!
so you're using those "funny" emoticons yerself. I see. :) No, I think that's quite kacchoii.
Looking forward to this new series but I guess I should learn Katakana and Hiragana, first.
Cheers, Kosuta
bassbacke 2 years ago
Japanesepod101 is really good. Its called "Everyday Kanji" they also have a "word origins" lesson too.
ltlocus 2 years ago
I put that in the sidebar! Pay attention, son!
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
I'm a failure, teacher. lol
ltlocus 2 years ago
Thanks for the shoutout - both of you!
Now stop fighting. :P
japanesepod101 2 years ago
Nice !!! very nice. Good video and looking forward to the series.
nyctec2 2 years ago
Realy looking forward to the street kanji Victor. :)
Rekkie88 2 years ago
Nice Victor! ... Looking forward to some Street Kanji ! ... anyway, think you could make JFM or something or maybe here where explain the difference between 青(green) and 青(blue) is there some magic to deciphering when I say my shirt (or whatever) is green or when its blue, I suppose you could use 緑 instead of green or how does it work :) ?
Newkya 2 years ago
I think 青 is only used for street lights. But I could be wrong. Hmmm....
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
Heh.
ElevenColors 2 years ago
Hey James desu. Ya got a problem, bro?
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
None at all. Just chuckled when I heard my name mentioned.
ElevenColors 2 years ago
You should make an episode "The best things you didn't know about Japanese!", where there's great info (and perhaps helpful) facts and bits on Japanese that aren't widely known, or perhaps you've noticed yourself over time, and would like to share.
TAz69x 2 years ago
Hey, man. Been a while. Good idea.
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
Ahh Yes I remember that kanji! Nihon is another combination too right? (Nichi + Hon = Nihon...Japan!...right?) (hehee! Humour me I'm only 14 =P) I know my hiragana and katakana now! Thanks Victor-Sensei! You have helped me a lot, and I cant wait to watch you new series! How I learn Kanji (or try to anyway) Is I go and find a new kanji, write it on the back of my hand and write under it the meaning and how to say it, that way I remember it throughout the day whilst I'm in school! ^.^; Take care!
soapybubbles3 2 years ago
Excellent video! Keep them coming! I am interested in the Kanji of the ticket machines in Ramen shops. If you could do one on those, that would be good.
tagatautube 2 years ago 2
Very nice. I'll be looking forward to this series. By the way, the song during the lesson is amazing! I'll be checking them out.
Heavi001 2 years ago
Get FuriganaInjector (Firefox Plugin) and read blogs of cute japanese babes...
There's no better way to motivate yourself!
Tass1701 2 years ago
This is a very good idea. So are you going to show the stroke order in every video? :)
Insaneagram 2 years ago
NO! Others do that. No point. The point is just exposure to kanji you WILL see everyday walking around.
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
Ah ok -_-; sorry :)
Insaneagram 2 years ago
omoshiroi
e30bimmwha 2 years ago
I know all the Katakana from a sheet I copied of my friend's Shounen Jump magazine. But I can't read Hiragana, most likely because I've never looked for a Hiragana sheet yet.
Scourgeandmephiles93 2 years ago
Downloadable. And I have made a video or 2 on it.
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
I should've started with Kanji already...
TheDutchGaijin 2 years ago
Ended up buying that song in the movie :D
Really cozy tune. (It's actually one of the VERY few songs i've bought in my life. Generation-x & the internet ^^)
Other than that, thanks for sharing your experiences on the subject. I've recently started studying the kanji. And im looking for good additions to my Genki-book. Might end up buying the one you listed in the end :)
NegatioNZor 2 years ago
I think you are a very dedicated and great educator.
BraLadyJapan 2 years ago 4
Thanks for responding to a video of mine!
One thing about flash cards with the Heisig method is that people nowadays use a spaced repetition program (SRS) like Anki, not usually paper flash cards. This way you only study cards that you are having trouble with, not ones you know.
And Heisig is a cult. Now I'm in two of them! Heisig and Macintosh computers! Bring out the grape Kool-aid!
RisuMiso 2 years ago 2
this is a great idea man. and so true about taking long ass time to learn kanji.
Daichen 2 years ago
No method for Kanji except brutal memorisation, endless practise and constant torment...horrible...
Stardusk 2 years ago
awaesome video and its realy funny to see how unefficient kanji is in a country that has a culture so efficient running XD its so damm hard that i think even japanese people must feel frustrated sometimes when they read or write
ACKizay 2 years ago
It's actually more efficient once you learn it. I support the use of kanji. It's not hard. Just takes more time than the alphabet.
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
rly? i thougth with so many symbols people will be so confuse im learning japanese the hiragana and katagana and they seem so easier then kanji but i will tryit for sure japanese without kanji is not japanese XD ^^
ACKizay 2 years ago
ya'll are noobs. heisig is great.
DopeSpace9 2 years ago
He's not a noob, he's making the gimmeabreakman method, so he's gotta dis Hesig. lol
chimera15 2 years ago
Damn! Was I so transparent!?
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
i hate those books. not for me.
giugnhgbvinierngvb89 2 years ago
I bought that second book, or an incarnation of it it appears to be back in the 80's too when I was taking Japanese in high school, but it's tiny, like half the size of that book, it has 3 kanji on every page, like that, with the stroke order and everything, pretty handy little book. Sounds like a great new series, look forward to it.
chimera15 2 years ago
Maybe it was the same book, I'm not sure how big it is from this video, maybe it did have more than 3 on a page, hmm, I'll have to try to find it again, I think it might have been lost or boxed up still from all the moves I've had to make...
chimera15 2 years ago
give me the 2 minute condensed video! jk jk
Chatetris 2 years ago
I'll tune it for street Kanji. Good idea for series!
ericsurf6 2 years ago
Hesig is great, but you gotta study it correctly. What am I saying, you're more fluent than me, but then again you've been here longer than me. But I bet I was able to read a newspaper faster than you were able to^^
...plus my cock is bigger I win!
TkyoSam 2 years ago 4
lol big penis cultist
chimera15 2 years ago
Hanging upside while it's tied to a ceiling beam does not count. And you don't get an inch extra when your girly screams break glass. You made up that rule!
And dude, are you seriously challenging my kanji? Man, that is so level 3. No worries, you'll grow out of it.
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
Ahahahaha! Vic you know I'm not gay but I'd work that shaft ;)
What are you doing for Silver week? Any traveling?
TkyoSam 2 years ago
Ahh. I should really dig out my Heisig books. I've heard mixed reviews of these. I also have the white rabbit kanji flash cards and I find those pretty helpful (same idea I suppose).. *end random comment*
kakera 2 years ago
What's the name of your old kanji book?
wessp 2 years ago
Awesome! I most def gonna watch all these. :)
samfisherkiller 2 years ago
Thought prices had gone up for Heisig...surprisingly they haven't =) - apart from the study cards 95€ :(
So I'm glad, you say that those ones are not essential 8D
Thanks for showing us some street kanji <3
Adoriakashite 2 years ago
nice:) This has motivated me to get into kanji.
If I get my work visa approved, I'll learn kanji. BAM
shenzishenzi 2 years ago
I am not a fan of the H method either. Takes too dam long!!
TeachinginJapanGuide 2 years ago
I will forward to it!
Maeikatk 2 years ago
ぎぜんしゃ！
wobina 2 years ago
Your back ground looks like my kanji poster.
Kodansha do a learners Kanji Dictionary which is good.
I found myself doing that in Japan that is reading, or trying to read the kanji I saw in the street and on shop signs etc. It does help and it is good fun.
steba2006 2 years ago
Made it myself. Kind of means something!
Gimmeaflakeman 2 years ago
Well, it looks great.
I actually had a geocities website once in which I tried to teach basic Japanese. I did it more to help myself, kind of a self teaching method. But it did recieve a few hundred hits and some nice e-mails came from it.
Has for Kanji Study cards I brought a complete set from a second hand Japanese book shop for £5. Not sure what that is in US Dollars, maybe about $7.
steba2006 2 years ago
yeah nah, i'll just stick to my method. I got a really crazy imagination so that plays to my advantage in terms of memorizing Kanji. and lol? who studies Kanji first?!
amaterasuka 2 years ago