A Guide to Reading and Writing Japanese - Revised Edition

Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle, 1977. Card covers are unmarked with a touch of wear to lower front. Internally there is a little light foxing to fore edge else a clean, tight and unmarked copy. 312 pages. 32nd printing revised (first was 1959). The book is designed first of all to make the study of written Japanese a much less formidable task for the foreign student than it has traditionally been. Its second major purpose is to enable the student to achieve fluency in reading and writing the language in its everyday style. Essentially, the book reflects the language simplification movement now under way in Japan. It presents first the 881 essential characters prescribed by the Ministry of Education as the minimum requirement for the six years of Japanese elementary school. Each character is accompanied by a chart demonstrating the proper way to write it. The second major section presents the 1,850 characters (including the 881 essential characters) adopted by law for general use in publications. These characters are given with their readings and definitions. A chart for the writing of the two Kana syllabaries is also included. A full index of characters reading both on and kun, appears at the endof the book. Formerly the ability to read Japanese newspapers and magazines required the knowledge of no fewer than 4,000 characters. 51. Soft Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.