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Fluent Japanese from Anime and Manga: How to Learn Japanese Vocabulary, Grammar, and Kanji the Easy and Fun Way
This is a book dedicated to answering the question of how to learn Japanese to fluency by extensively reading and listening to native Japanese language materials like anime and manga. If you are looking for a basic Japanese for beginners textbook that teaches Japanese kanji, vocabulary, and grammar, you will not find it here. But if you are struggling with the question of how to learn Japanese more effectively or if you have trouble speaking Japanese, why not try something new and different?Half of the people who see the title to this book might be thinking, "Learn Japanese by watching anime? What a load of crap!" Such a thing certainly sounds like a crazy pipe dream that a great number of anime fans share. And if you watch anime with English subtitles like most people, Japanese fluency will remain merely a dream. You will not learn Japanese outside a small handful of basic words.If you turned off the English subtitles, however, you would be taking your first steps towards a successful Japanese language learning program. Of course, this is not the only step either. The following steps contained within this book describe a fascinating process of how anyone can learn to speak Japanese fluently through mostly reading and listening to native Japanese language materials.Inside of this book is a system that allows you to learn and never forget thousands of new Japanese kanji, vocabulary words, phrases, and grammar structures that you encounter from any Japanese language source of your choice. This includes anime, manga, dramas, movies, videos, music, video games, visual novels, and anything else that uses the Japanese language.Whether you are at the basic Japanese for beginners level or intermediate levels, use this book to help you learn Japanese to fluency faster and easier starting today!
102 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2018
918 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 21, 2019
Very nice book. It's important to stress this is not a textbook, it will not teach you Japanese. It will teach you how to learn Japanese, which is much better and can work for other languages as well. It's a continuation of linguist Stephen Krashen's comprehensible input and i+1 formula for gaining comprehension as well as being an extension of similar methods which utilise immersion and immersion based learning. It makes these more easily understandable in a clearly written way without using a lot of technical jargon that makes it hard to understand.
I've been using a similar method, now more defined thanks to the book, for Japanese and can highly recommend it. This presents new words in an easily retainable way that doesn't cause burnout. I would encourage further reading such as the ideas from polyglots like Stephen Krashen and Steve Kaufmann or Tomasz Szynalski and Michal Wojcik's 'Antimoon'.
The book presents programs which may be new to some people, which I would suggest learning how to use like Anki, a very good SRS for learning vocabulary. The book goes into some detail about setting up Anki but I would recommend looking through it further or reading through the Anki Manual to get a better idea if it's overwhelming. It's a very easy software to use.
Learning kanji in the way the author presents it is fantastic. It allows you to take full advantage of kanji in a very easy way. With the method laid out, I was able to learn how to read over 1000 kanji in a little over one month (doing 20-25 a day) which was then further added upon through Anki so that I could understand more precise usages of them. It's better and more effective than just recognising them or writing them out ten times.
However, there are some drawbacks. It's written clearly but could possibly go more in depth as to why some things work. If someone is brand new to this type of learning, which is different than traditional grammar drills, then being told why something works, not just how to do it and that it works, would be better. But the book is very to the point which is good.
Overall, the method is easy to implement and brings results if you're looking to understand Japanese and know more than just a few phrases.
I've been using a similar method, now more defined thanks to the book, for Japanese and can highly recommend it. This presents new words in an easily retainable way that doesn't cause burnout. I would encourage further reading such as the ideas from polyglots like Stephen Krashen and Steve Kaufmann or Tomasz Szynalski and Michal Wojcik's 'Antimoon'.
The book presents programs which may be new to some people, which I would suggest learning how to use like Anki, a very good SRS for learning vocabulary. The book goes into some detail about setting up Anki but I would recommend looking through it further or reading through the Anki Manual to get a better idea if it's overwhelming. It's a very easy software to use.
Learning kanji in the way the author presents it is fantastic. It allows you to take full advantage of kanji in a very easy way. With the method laid out, I was able to learn how to read over 1000 kanji in a little over one month (doing 20-25 a day) which was then further added upon through Anki so that I could understand more precise usages of them. It's better and more effective than just recognising them or writing them out ten times.
However, there are some drawbacks. It's written clearly but could possibly go more in depth as to why some things work. If someone is brand new to this type of learning, which is different than traditional grammar drills, then being told why something works, not just how to do it and that it works, would be better. But the book is very to the point which is good.
Overall, the method is easy to implement and brings results if you're looking to understand Japanese and know more than just a few phrases.
December 29, 2019
Anime and Manga Help Language Learning
The reviews for Japanese is Not That Hard and Fluent Japanese from Anime and Manga, both by Eric Bodnar, are going to be the same as these two books are so similar that I find myself questioning why the author felt the need to make them into two separate books. They are both very similar in structure and meaning to that same author's book simply called The Immersion Method. While The Immersion Method is about how to learn any language using the author’s unique language-learning method, these books—obviously—are specifically about learning Japanese. What that means is that these two books have examples in Japanese, reference other resources specific to learning Japanese, and discuss issues that are particular to learning Japanese, like tips for working with kanji.
The Fluent Japanese book is a bit longer than the Japanese is Not That Hard book, so if I were to choose one, I would pick the Fluent Japanese book. The Fluent book is similar in content to the author’s Fluent Korean book except, of course, for the specific language. So, for instance, both of the Fluent books have a tiny section on words that could be perceived as offensive, while the Japanese is Not That Hard book does not. The Fluent book also seems to have more links to a variety of Japanese language-learning resources that the other Japanese book does. There also seems to be more stress on learning the kanji as well as incorporating fun elements like anime and manga into your learning practice in the Fluent book. A whole chapter is dedicated to manga, as the author does see it as a good way in to learning how to read Japanese, which he admits can be frustrating for a Westerner.
If you have an interest in studying the Japanese language, either of these books would give you a solid method with some different practices that, combined, will help your fluency and ease with Japanese. Again, of the two, I recommend the Fluent Japanese from Anime and Manga book.
I received a free copy of both these books, but that did not affect my reviews.
The reviews for Japanese is Not That Hard and Fluent Japanese from Anime and Manga, both by Eric Bodnar, are going to be the same as these two books are so similar that I find myself questioning why the author felt the need to make them into two separate books. They are both very similar in structure and meaning to that same author's book simply called The Immersion Method. While The Immersion Method is about how to learn any language using the author’s unique language-learning method, these books—obviously—are specifically about learning Japanese. What that means is that these two books have examples in Japanese, reference other resources specific to learning Japanese, and discuss issues that are particular to learning Japanese, like tips for working with kanji.
The Fluent Japanese book is a bit longer than the Japanese is Not That Hard book, so if I were to choose one, I would pick the Fluent Japanese book. The Fluent book is similar in content to the author’s Fluent Korean book except, of course, for the specific language. So, for instance, both of the Fluent books have a tiny section on words that could be perceived as offensive, while the Japanese is Not That Hard book does not. The Fluent book also seems to have more links to a variety of Japanese language-learning resources that the other Japanese book does. There also seems to be more stress on learning the kanji as well as incorporating fun elements like anime and manga into your learning practice in the Fluent book. A whole chapter is dedicated to manga, as the author does see it as a good way in to learning how to read Japanese, which he admits can be frustrating for a Westerner.
If you have an interest in studying the Japanese language, either of these books would give you a solid method with some different practices that, combined, will help your fluency and ease with Japanese. Again, of the two, I recommend the Fluent Japanese from Anime and Manga book.
I received a free copy of both these books, but that did not affect my reviews.
September 13, 2022
É um livro curto mas que fornece formas de estudar japonês. Achei as dicas muito úteis e vou aplicar elas.
December 23, 2025
Este libro describe la forma en la que aprendí inglés: aprende lo básico y después dedicate a consumir materiales nativos y a llenar los huecos al vuelo, en contexto y con la forma de hablar, escribir y pensar nativa. No necesitas cinco cursos antes de pensar que estás listo para empezar a consumir materiales que te sean atractivos.
Me gusta su enfoque orientado a la acción, con consejos basados en la experiencia y sobre todo con tips y guías por si quieres empezar YA.
Me gusta su enfoque orientado a la acción, con consejos basados en la experiencia y sobre todo con tips y guías por si quieres empezar YA.
October 8, 2021
Learned Good Strategies. Not For Every Learner
Fluent Japanese from Anime and Manga came at the perfect time for me. I've experienced Japanese for media 10+ years and all I know is Kana characters, 100~ random Kanji & a humble amount of Vocabulary. I never dedicated time to learn because it wasn't enjoyable to me.
This book explains what I was doing wrong. It gives you a learning system based mainly on Anime & Manga, but those can be replaced with any native material of any Language, as the strategies are universal.
The strategies included fit my learning style. They're not for everyone though.
The book is not beginner friendly despite being marketed as such. While you don't need to understand any Japanese to implement the strategies, the book is written in a way that assumes you're familiar with Katakana & Hiragana. I believe some parts of this book can be rewritten to be more beginner friendly.
The book also doesn't directly teach you Japanese. It contains a lot of information to learn Japanese for free or at a low cost, and that's fair in my opinion. But don't go into it expecting a Japanese textbook, or a quick strategy for achieving fluency. All methods here are ways to maintain your interest of learning in the long-term. It needs effort, but that effort is worth it!
(I read this book via Kindle Unlimited subscription so I didn't pay the full price.)
Fluent Japanese from Anime and Manga came at the perfect time for me. I've experienced Japanese for media 10+ years and all I know is Kana characters, 100~ random Kanji & a humble amount of Vocabulary. I never dedicated time to learn because it wasn't enjoyable to me.
This book explains what I was doing wrong. It gives you a learning system based mainly on Anime & Manga, but those can be replaced with any native material of any Language, as the strategies are universal.
The strategies included fit my learning style. They're not for everyone though.
The book is not beginner friendly despite being marketed as such. While you don't need to understand any Japanese to implement the strategies, the book is written in a way that assumes you're familiar with Katakana & Hiragana. I believe some parts of this book can be rewritten to be more beginner friendly.
The book also doesn't directly teach you Japanese. It contains a lot of information to learn Japanese for free or at a low cost, and that's fair in my opinion. But don't go into it expecting a Japanese textbook, or a quick strategy for achieving fluency. All methods here are ways to maintain your interest of learning in the long-term. It needs effort, but that effort is worth it!
(I read this book via Kindle Unlimited subscription so I didn't pay the full price.)
May 27, 2021
Ich habe dieses Büchlein geschenkt bekommen, da ich im Moment Japanisch lerne. Das vorgestellte Lernsystem klingt ungewöhnlich, aber ich denke, wenn man sich reinhängt, wird man sehr viel daraus mitnehmen können. Man wird sich auch mehr reinknien müssen, als in einem gewöhnlichen Sprachkurs (womöglich aber auch mit mehr Erfolg). Hier ist sehr viel Selbstdisziplin gefragt, denke ich. Ich werde Bodnars System nicht vollkommen übernehmen, aber ich will einige Vorschläge ausprobieren. Learning by Doing ist ja an sich genau mein Ding. Der Autor schwört sehr auf das Programm Anki und das merkt man. Bisweilen fand ich das etwas nervig. Anki ist sicher total vielseitig und nützlich, aber es spricht mich nicht so an. Beim eigentlichen Lernen bleibe ich dann doch eher analog ;)
February 8, 2021
After my first review, the author emailed me and said he has updated the book and sent me a free update. It made the book a lot better. All one needs now is the time to put into learning the language.
January 28, 2021
Holy Grail (100% effective)
The secrets are all in this book. Inside are links strategies, cheats, shortcuts, games, ideas, and everything in between to have you speaking, listening, reading and writing fluently in Japanese!!!
The secrets are all in this book. Inside are links strategies, cheats, shortcuts, games, ideas, and everything in between to have you speaking, listening, reading and writing fluently in Japanese!!!
October 27, 2016
Good methodology to learn Japanese. I will try it soon.
February 5, 2020
This book offers advice on how to use something fun, like manga or anime, as a tool for learning Japanese. If you are looking for a textbook with lessons and practice tests, this is not the book for you. But if you are still trying to figure out how to learn Japanese, either as a beginner or as an active student looking for a new approach, then this book might have something to offer you.
The book is fairly well written and provides lots of references to other learning tools and sites, so it makes a decent reference book for your language library. Overall, its value depends on what you are looking to get out of it.
Recommended for those students looking for a new approach.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
The book is fairly well written and provides lots of references to other learning tools and sites, so it makes a decent reference book for your language library. Overall, its value depends on what you are looking to get out of it.
Recommended for those students looking for a new approach.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
February 18, 2021
I started reading this book because I'm trying to learn a new language. I like to get some tips about how and where to start with anything new I do. Without a doubt, Eric Bodnar puts some helpful suggestions forward. His advice is well-rounded and unlike the title implies doesn't just rely on entertainment only. I can't comment on the usefulness because I'm still in the process of implementing it. However, the book itself feels like a long soliloquy. The material is delivered in a long way that probably could have been simplified.
I choose to focus on the tips and not the fact that reading it felt like a long journey.
I choose to focus on the tips and not the fact that reading it felt like a long journey.
February 2, 2024
Eric Bodnar is not the most imaginative writer. His sentences are repetitive, he uses the word "fun" as an adjective ad nauseam (Sorry Not Sorry for being old school about this), and there are a lot of grammatical mistakes in his book.
That said, he does give interesting tips about learning the Japanese language. The links to resources that he shares are invaluable, and I started exploring them while I was reading his book. I advise all readers of "Fluent Japanese from Anime and Manga" to do the same, especially for the section about creating your Anki account.
It'll be interesting to test his theories to see if my ability to speak and read Japanese improves.
That said, he does give interesting tips about learning the Japanese language. The links to resources that he shares are invaluable, and I started exploring them while I was reading his book. I advise all readers of "Fluent Japanese from Anime and Manga" to do the same, especially for the section about creating your Anki account.
It'll be interesting to test his theories to see if my ability to speak and read Japanese improves.
December 31, 2019
I love learning languages and have taken in my semi-retirement several language classes to get a start. Japanese is a country that I will visit again (having been to both mainland Japan and to Okinawa in the military) and so this book is very much appreciated. This author has some unique methods suggested that has helped me a lot.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 13, 2020
Perfect for intermediate level
This book is perfect for intermediate Japanese learners, offering some really great tips and resources. You could get all of this from guides online, but it’s nice having it in a pocket-book type resource. However, true beginners won’t get much out of this book.
This book is perfect for intermediate Japanese learners, offering some really great tips and resources. You could get all of this from guides online, but it’s nice having it in a pocket-book type resource. However, true beginners won’t get much out of this book.
August 28, 2022
Excellent tip on language learning, creation of flashcards, tips of going about learning from source of something that motivates you whether it is manga, news, blogs, and different sources from different levels.
Love the simple approach referenced and recognized from other authors that allow you to search for this other resources.
Love the simple approach referenced and recognized from other authors that allow you to search for this other resources.
March 13, 2024
Good tips and strategy advice. I need to actually do it now!
I started with Duolingo and other resources a while back. It's given me a half decent foundation at least. They don't help that much with kanji though! The font is always WAY TO SMALL.
Finding manga and other ways to absorb the language seems like a good way to go.
I started with Duolingo and other resources a while back. It's given me a half decent foundation at least. They don't help that much with kanji though! The font is always WAY TO SMALL.
Finding manga and other ways to absorb the language seems like a good way to go.
November 27, 2020
Bodnar’s great book
Would like to see this approach to all language teaching, it is very helpful to me with my smattering of indian languages, cantonese, Japanese, and German french Spanish, Italian and latin
Would like to see this approach to all language teaching, it is very helpful to me with my smattering of indian languages, cantonese, Japanese, and German french Spanish, Italian and latin
January 9, 2022
Good
Very interesting road map for Japanese learning! I will definitely implement this into my learning! I love anime and manga, so this is a great source to use what I love to learn!
Very interesting road map for Japanese learning! I will definitely implement this into my learning! I love anime and manga, so this is a great source to use what I love to learn!
February 26, 2022
It didn't have many tips that I didn't think of myself. Most of the tips were connected to using an app called Anki. I was looking for some tips that wouldn't include spending time in front of a screen
May 23, 2020
Excellent advice here. I really enjoyed the author's insight into something that most of us dream of. Well researched and very well articulated.
December 28, 2020
Buenas ideas
April 23, 2021
A new technique to learn Japanese.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2023
Book cover is the only good thing about this book…
Don’t waste your money. The title of the book literally tells you exactly what the inside says, over and over.
Don’t waste your money. The title of the book literally tells you exactly what the inside says, over and over.
July 5, 2023
Reading read materials instead of textbooks.
This approach is not only suitable for Japanese but for other 2nd language learning.
This approach is not only suitable for Japanese but for other 2nd language learning.
November 16, 2023
Nice little book that definitely motivated me to continue learning Japanese. I liked the voice of the author.
November 22, 2023
Really nice strategy he describes and also fascinating knowledge about Japanese language I didn’t thought about before I have read this. Definitely not just a kindle unlimited scam.
February 5, 2019
Good suggestions, but needs a round of editing
The content is fantastic in that I’m excited to get started with some of the author’s suggestions. I just thought the process of reading the book was a bit frustrating. I think the author should clarify who his target audience is a little more—total beginners or people who’ve learned a bit, but are looking for good study strategies. The sections in hiragana, katakana, and kanji should probably include romaji so a total beginner could comprehend the entire text. For example, the list of potentially offensive Japanese words would probably be very frustrating to see for a total beginner since they haven’t yet learned how to read Japanese writing. Again, I’m looking forward to integrating these techniques into my own language study, so I’m pleased with that!
The content is fantastic in that I’m excited to get started with some of the author’s suggestions. I just thought the process of reading the book was a bit frustrating. I think the author should clarify who his target audience is a little more—total beginners or people who’ve learned a bit, but are looking for good study strategies. The sections in hiragana, katakana, and kanji should probably include romaji so a total beginner could comprehend the entire text. For example, the list of potentially offensive Japanese words would probably be very frustrating to see for a total beginner since they haven’t yet learned how to read Japanese writing. Again, I’m looking forward to integrating these techniques into my own language study, so I’m pleased with that!
December 29, 2019
When I was younger, I was supposed to go on a 6-month assignment to an English speaking country. One month before the departure, there was a change and I was headed to Japan instead. I frantically try to learn Japanese, but though I put in much effort, I didn't get too far.
Then I arrive in Japan, and with how busy I was, I was not able to devote as much of my time learning Japanese. Yet for some weird reason, my Japanese became better (not fluent but I could communicate better). Best reason I could attribute to why was that I was thrown into the deep end and I came up swimming.
After reading this book, I have to say I finally understood why. I was practicing what the author of this book was showing unconsciously. But does it work!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Then I arrive in Japan, and with how busy I was, I was not able to devote as much of my time learning Japanese. Yet for some weird reason, my Japanese became better (not fluent but I could communicate better). Best reason I could attribute to why was that I was thrown into the deep end and I came up swimming.
After reading this book, I have to say I finally understood why. I was practicing what the author of this book was showing unconsciously. But does it work!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 15, 2016
I found parts of the book interesting. My personal problem with these types of books is I need to hear it. Trying to sound out words in another tongue is hard to do when you have no clue how it should sound. I also thought all of the book and web references was distracting. To be honest this was an expensive ebook.
July 9, 2018
Neat method
This book won't give you grammar points or vocabulary, but it does give something just as important, a method for digesting those things that the average person won't find so boring they just wish for study time to end
This book won't give you grammar points or vocabulary, but it does give something just as important, a method for digesting those things that the average person won't find so boring they just wish for study time to end
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews