Blue Sea Press
Japanese Learning Systems
Kanji Learning Today
Kanji Learning Today is a system that helps a learner remember many kanji within a relatively short period of time.
The system includes three online volumes and three corresponding workbooks.
A feature of the system is that it presents 20 kanji on each page. The user can complete several pages in a single study session. After a few sessions, the user remembers the kanji and builds a reading level.
Kanji Learning Today — Online
Study kanji on a phone, tablet, or computer.
Each page is interactive — tap to study.
Kanji Learning Today: Online 1 is offered free-of-charge and will be present on the Member page after login.
A new user can start an account at the Signup page.
Coverage of the Kanji Learning Today Volumes
Online 1 covers the 1026 “Education Kanji” (教育漢字). The Ministry of Education specifies that these characters be taught at the Japanese elementary school level. Kanji Learning Today presents the kanji at the same grade levels as the schools, thereby helping the second language learner develop reading ability.
Online 2 presents the 1110 “Graduation Kanji”, a term selected by the editor. The Ministry of Education says these characters will be taught in middle school and high school but does not mandate which characters be taught at a particular grade. The volume, along with the Education Kanji, completes the Joyo Kanji List, which forms a baseline for literacy and circumscribes the characters allowed in official government documents.
Online 3 offers the 863 “Name Kanji” (人名用漢字). These are characters not on the Joyo Kanji List but were deemed important to be allowed to be used in the official registration of people’s names, and are for that reason approved for name use by the Ministry of Justice. For clarity’s sake, it should also be noted that the Joyo Kanji can also be used in people’s names.
Online 1 is offered free-of-charge and will be present on the Member page after login.
Online 2 and Online 3 are available in the Shopping Cart and will appear on the Member page after purchase.
Kanji Learning Today — Workbook
The Kanji Learning Today system includes three workbooks.
Writing the kanji boosts recognition.
Each Workbook presents the kanji with the same sequence as the corresponding Online volume. The reinforcing effect helps the user learn faster.
Within the workbook, each Practice Page is accompanied by a Stroke Order Page so that the user can quickly glance at a diagram to note the correct stroke order for writing a particular kanji.
Availability of the Workbooks
Each Kanji Learning Today workbook is available in two versions, a print-on-demand paperback version at Amazon.com and U-print version at blueseapress.com.
The paperback version is printed on thicker-than-standard paper with the Stroke Order Page given directly opposite each Practice Page for easy reference during practice.
The U-print version is a PDF digital file. The user prints pages as needed. The Stroke Order Pages are presented in a separate section of the book so that printing can be avoided except for initial print or as needed.
Kanji Learning Today: Workbook 1
Kanji Learning Today: Workbook 2
Kanji Learning Today: Workbook 3
Japanese Accent: Penult Standard
Japanese Accent: Penult Standard is a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand explanation of how Japanese words are accented. This helps proper pronunciation and boosts learning.
Each lesson is presented with an online video and webpage text.
Japanese Accent: Penult Standard STARTER
Japanese Accent: Penult Standard STARTER presents Lessons 1~3 at no charge.
It is available in the Shopping Cart at a price of $0.00. Select Japanese Accent: Penult Standard STARTER and proceed to Checkout. At execution of Checkout, the process will bypass the payment interface and immediately succeed. The link to Japanese Accent: Penult Standard STARTER will then appear on the user’s Member page.
A new user can start an account at the Signup page.
Lessons 1~3 of Japanese Accent: Penult Standard STARTER will introduce the user to a few of the main concepts of the accent system.
Japanese Accent: Penult Standard FULL
Japanese Accent: Penult Standard FULL presents Lessons 1~12. A subscription is necessary, which can be purchased in the Shopping Cart.
A link to Japanese Accent: Penult Standard FULL will appear on the Member page after purchase.
Lessons 1~12 of Japanese Accent: Penult Standard FULL explain all of the concepts of the accent system, helping the user understand how to pronounce Japanese correctly. The system eliminates misunderstandings about accent in Japanese and provides a solid foundation for the user.
Accent Examples
The lessons explain accent by word categories, such as verbs and nouns. The lessons include 317 word examples and 155 sentence examples. The examples are given in specially constructed blocks that show the accent in hiragana, then again as furigana when using kanji to represent the word.
Example Word
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Example Sentence
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Non-Intuitive Details Explained
While the central premise is clearly explained starting in Lesson 1, there are many non-intuitive details that are carefully described throughout the series. These details concern topics such as the following.
Other Information
The Other Information provides details about Blue Sea Press.