FEPY

Using the Nintendo DS to Learn Kanji

August 12, 2008

There’s are a lot of kanji instruction software for the Nintendo DS. All of it’s for the Japanese market so mostly only intermediate and advanced learners of Japanese can take advantage of it.

My kanji knowledge has slowly decayed from neglect and I don’t feel like cracking open yet another kanji book. After seeing various kanji software commercials for the DS, I had to give it a try.

After a quick visit to the local import game shop, I picked up a copy of Kakitorikun (かきとりくん). This title focuses on the first six grades of kanji.

Through a series of drills and mini games, you learn the proper way of writing kanji. You also learn the readings and how they relate to other other kanji. This is a product marketed to Japanese kids so there are no English meanings.

Kakitorikun essentially gives you an interactive kanji work book. This interactivity gives the user some decent feedback. I found the interface to have its share of rough edges, but the overall experience was good.

After several days of using Kakitorikun, I can’t go back to paperback kanji books. The valuable instant feedback streamlines the learning process and that can’t be duplicated in traditional media.

I plan on exploring other kanji titles for the DS. Next stop is going to be Kanken 2.

For those interested, I recommend checking out Narhodo! This site has a nice collection DS kanji software reviews tailored for gaijins learning Japanese.

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Photos: Tetrapod beaches of Japan

Tetrapod --
Near Tappi Saki, Aomori (Photo: Mr_M_Montgomery)

Hit the beach anywhere in Japan, and you are likely to see endless piles of tetrapods — enormous four-legged concrete structures intended to prevent coastal erosion. By some estimates, more than 50% of Japan’s 35,000-kilometer (22,000-mi) coastline has been altered with tetrapods and other forms of concrete. Critics, who blame the tetrapod invasion on decades of excessive government spending designed to bolster the construction industry, argue that in addition to posing a danger to swimmers, surfers and boaters, tetrapods actually accelerate beach erosion by disrupting the natural processes that shape the coastal environment. Meanwhile, others have developed an aesthetic appreciation of the tetrapod landscape, as evidenced by a host of stunning Japanese tetrapod photos on Flickr.

Tetrapod --
Location unknown (Photo: saksak)