Pros
- Beginners who want a paper kanji book beside Genki or another elementary course
- People who remember characters better with pictures than with isolated flashcards
- Learners who will do the workbook, not only flip the textbook
Cons
- You need a managed 2,000-kanji unlock path
- You will not sit with a print or e-book
- You already follow WaniKani or Remembering the Kanji
Kanji Look and Learn is a Japan Times kanji textbook. The official store page describes 512 basic kanji, mapped to JLPT N5 through N3, and about 3,500 words that use them. Each character gets readings, meaning, example words, an illustration, and a mnemonic hint. The matching workbook adds reading and writing practice plus longer texts such as emails, diary entries, and notices.
The book is a bounded elementary set. It is not WaniKani and not Remembering the Kanji.
Who it fits
It fits people already in a beginner course who want kanji on paper with pictures. Many classes that use Genki treat this as the companion kanji book. Confirm the current edition and price on the Japan Times store.
Limits
512 characters is not a complete kanji education. Do not run Look and Learn beside WaniKani. If handwriting is the job, Kanji Study or Skritter still owns drills. If reading is the job, keep NHK News Web Easy beside the book.
Sources checked
- Kanji Look and Learn on Japan Times Publishing official publisher · Official series page for 512 basic kanji corresponding to JLPT N5 through N3, about 3,500 words, mnemonic illustrations, and a workbook with reading, writing, and longer texts.