# Kanji Look and Learn > Japan Times Kanji Look and Learn teaches 512 basic kanji with illustrations and mnemonic hints, plus a workbook for reading and writing practice. Canonical: https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/kanji-look-and-learn Last updated: 2026-09-01 A beginner kanji book with pictures and hints for 512 characters. Pair it with a course. It is not a 2,000-kanji sequence. Published: 2026-09-01 5 min read beginner · intermediate · paid · moderate · Kanji · Textbook · Print, Digital [Visit Kanji Look and Learn](https://studyjapanese101.com/go/kll) ## Key facts | Fact | Details | | --- | --- | | Best for | Beginners who want a paper kanji book beside Genki or another elementary course | | Avoid if | You need a managed 2,000-kanji unlock path | | Pricing | Paid textbook and workbook; digital store listed 2,000 yen and 1,200 yen on 1 Sep 2026 | | Platform | Print, Digital | | Ease of use | moderate | ## 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](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/wanikani) and not [Remembering the Kanji](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/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](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/genki) treat this as the companion kanji book. Confirm the current edition and price on the [Japan Times store](https://store.jtpublishing.co.jp/en/pages/kanjilookandlearn). ## Limits 512 characters is not a complete kanji education. Do not run Look and Learn beside WaniKani. If handwriting is the job, [Kanji Study](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/kanji-study) or [Skritter](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/skritter) still owns drills. If reading is the job, keep [NHK News Web Easy](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/nhk-news-web-easy) beside the book. ## Sources checked Product details can change. Evidence pages and their individual check dates appear below. Profile reviewed 2026-09-01. - [Kanji Look and Learn on Japan Times Publishing](https://store.jtpublishing.co.jp/en/pages/kanjilookandlearn) - official publisher · checked 2026-09-01 · 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. ## Alternative tools - [Kakitori](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/kakitori) - Show-based vocabulary, self-written kanji mnemonics with AI feedback, text mining, and SRS review. - [Kanji Damage](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/kanji-damage) - A free mnemonic kanji guide with a readable order and blunt stories. - [Kanji Koohii](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/kanji-koohii) - Community kanji stories and reviews for Remembering the Kanji users. ## Related - [Japanese kanji resources](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/kanji) - Kanji study is a sequence problem before it is a memory problem. - [Best Kanji Learning Apps and Methods for Japanese, Compared](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/japanese-kanji-learning-apps) - Use one path. Choose WaniKani for managed order, Kanji Study or Skritter for writing, KLC or RTK for a book method, or Yomitan plus easy reading for a reading-first route. - [Kanji Study](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/kanji-study) - An Android kanji workbook with writing practice, quizzes, and JLPT lists. - [Remembering the Kanji](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/remembering-the-kanji) - A book method that teaches kanji meanings and writing before Japanese readings. - [Skritter](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/skritter) - Spaced-repetition handwriting practice for Japanese kanji and words. - [WaniKani](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/wanikani) - A prepared kanji and vocabulary sequence with memory stories and scheduled reviews.