Manga University Series

Paperback. 144 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------     This award-winning series from Manga University uses original comic artwork to teach readers how to identify and write the most common Japanese kanji ideographs. Volume 1 introduces 80 basic kanji that all Japanese schoolchildren are required to learn before entering the third grade. "A brilliant idea!" says Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. "Japanese kanji — the written symbols adapted from Chinese — were originally drawings of images from real life. Japanese comic books and cartoons now provide fresh images to help us learn. Kanji de Manga uses today's manga images to make the kanji learning process fun and easy for otaku of all ages. This is a brilliant approach to learning the language." Each page features its own comic strip, kanji pronunciation guide, stroke order, and English explanations. Created by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori, niece of legendary manga artist Eichi Fukui. Features a foreword by Tomonori Morikawa, Professor of International Studies at Waseda University, Tokyo.

Paperback. 144 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------     This is the second volume in the award-winning series from Manga University that uses original comic artwork to teach readers how to identify and write the most common Japanese kanji ideographs. Volume 2 introduces 80 basic kanji that all Japanese schoolchildren are required to learn before entering the third grade. "A brilliant idea!" says Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. "Japanese kanji — the written symbols adapted from Chinese — were originally drawings of images from real life. Japanese comic books and cartoons now provide fresh images to help us learn. Kanji de Manga uses today's manga images to make the kanji learning process fun and easy for otaku of all ages. This is a brilliant approach to learning the language." Each page features its own comic strip, kanji pronunciation guide, stroke order, and English explanations. Created by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori, niece of legendary manga artist Eichi Fukui.

Paperback. 144 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------   Our award-winning series moves forward with an all-new selection of 80 kanji geared toward intermediate learners of the language. Upon completion of this and the previous three volumes, students will have learned a total of 320 kanji, enough to prepare them for the advanced levels of the official Japanese Language Proficiency Test. "A brilliant idea!" says Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. "Japanese kanji — the written symbols adapted from Chinese — were originally drawings of images from real life. Japanese comic books and cartoons now provide fresh images to help us learn. Kanji de Manga uses today's manga images to make the kanji learning process fun and easy for otaku of all ages. This is a brilliant approach to learning the language." Each page features its own comic strip, kanji pronunciation guide, stroke order, and English explanations. Created by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori, niece of legendary manga artist Eichi Fukui.

Paperback. 144 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------   Another 80 kanji are featured in the sixth volume of Manga University's award-winning series. Upon completion of this and the previous five volumes, students will have learned a total of 480 kanji, enough to prepare them for the advanced levels of the official Japanese Language Proficiency Test. "A brilliant idea!" says Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. "Japanese kanji — the written symbols adapted from Chinese — were originally drawings of images from real life. Japanese comic books and cartoons now provide fresh images to help us learn. Kanji de Manga uses today's manga images to make the kanji learning process fun and easy for otaku of all ages. This is a brilliant approach to learning the language." Each page features its own comic strip, kanji pronunciation guide, stroke order, and English explanations. Created by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori, niece of legendary manga artist Eichi Fukui.

Paperback. 112 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------     How much Japanese do you know? Probably a whole lot more than you think, even if you've barely studied the language ... or haven't tried to at all! Japanese is rich in vocabulary borrowed from other languages, especially English. These loanwords offer you a little shortcut on the long road toward mastery of the language. And many of the words have been turned into simple abbreviations, contractions, and acronyms, which makes them even easier to memorize. For instance, we watch anime (animation), shop at the depato (department store), send text messages on our sumaho (smartphone), and listen to BGM (background music) while studying. This Kana de Manga special edition features nearly 200 abbreviations, contractions, and acronyms. Studying these shortcuts is a fun and easy way to jump-start your Japanese!

Paperback. 112 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------     Have you ever wondered what a cat's meow sounds like in Japanese? How about the grumble of an empty stomach, the vroom of an automobile or the crash of an ocean wave? Japanese Manga artists rely heavily upon onomatopoeia — sound-effects words — and this special entry in the best-selling Kana de manga and kanji de manga language-learning series from Manga University is jam-packed with nearly 200 illustrated examples of Japanese sound effects (and their English translations) in action! Written by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori. Features a foreword by Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Paperback. 144 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------   Another 80 kanji are featured in the fifth volume of Manga University's award-winning series. Upon completion of this and the previous four volumes, students will have learned a total of 400 kanji, enough to prepare them for the advanced levels of the official Japanese Language Proficiency Test. "A brilliant idea!" says Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. "Japanese kanji — the written symbols adapted from Chinese — were originally drawings of images from real life. Japanese comic books and cartoons now provide fresh images to help us learn. Kanji de Manga uses today's manga images to make the kanji learning process fun and easy for otaku of all ages. This is a brilliant approach to learning the language." Each page features its own comic strip, kanji pronunciation guide, stroke order, and English explanations. Created by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori, niece of legendary manga artist Eichi Fukui.

Paperback. 112 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------     "Yojijukugo" are timeless Japanese idioms consisting of four kanji — written characters adapted from Chinese. The kanji themselves were originally drawings of images from real life. Japanese comic books and cartoons now provide fresh images to help us learn. "Kanji de Manga," recipient of the Saitama (Japan) Prefectural Government Business Innovation Special Award, uses today's manga images to make the kanji learning process fun and easy for "otaku" of all ages.   Written by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori. Features a foreword by Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Paperback. 144 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -------------------   Great for beginners! American pop culture is turning Japanese. Every day, millions of kids spend hours watching translated anime on Cartoon Network and reading telephone book-sized comics called manga. From Spirited Away to Shonen Jump, if the label says "Made in Japan," it's cool. But what if you want to enjoy anime and manga in its original language? Written Japanese consists of three scripts: the phonetic hiragana and katakana syllabaries, each comprised of 46 characters (collectively known as kana); and kanji, a complex set of characters based on Chinese ideographs. Hiragana and katakana are the true "ABCs of Japanese," as they can be used to write complete sentences. Children in Japan learn to read and write hiragana and katakana long before they are introduced to kanji. Most manga targeted toward the youngest readers in Japan are also written completely in kana. Kana de Manga makes learning hiragana and katakana easy and fun for students who already enjoy Japanese comics. Each page has a humorous manga illustration representing a word that begins with the hiragana or katakana character featured prominently at the top. A brief explanation accompanies each drawing; the English equivalent of the word is given, and there is a work area where students can practice writing the characters. Written by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori. Features a foreword by Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Hardcover: 96 pages Do you have mood swings? Well, you're not alone! The kawaii (that's Japanese for "cute") characters in Saori Takarai's Manga Moods: 40 Faces + 80 Phrases know exactly how you feel. Whether they're giddy or grumpy, confident or confused — or something in between — these cuties always manage to put on their best faces. And while they're at it, they'll teach you how to speak a little Japanese, too. So find yourself a quiet, comfy place, kick back, and let Manga Moods lift your spirits! Manga Moods is the first in a series of hardcover gift books released by Manga University. Its delightful, full-color illustrations and compact design make it an ideal gift for anyone who is a fan of cute Japanese manga and anime characters! About the AuthorSaori Takarai is a rising star among the new generation of color manga artists in Japan. Her distinctive illustrations have been featured in several MU publications, including Manga Moods Too, Manga Sisters, and Manga Tarot.

Acclaimed storyteller and manga artist Ryuto Kanzaki makes her English-language debut with  Samurai Confidential, a sweeping pictorial that showcases the private, often complex lives of Japan's most famous samurai warriors. More than just a lavish picture book, though,  Samurai Confidential  is rich with nuggets of information not normally found in mainstream history books. From the Tokugawa shogunate to the final days of Edo, from Kenshin to Ieyasu to Musashi, Samurai Confidential has all the bushi bases covered. A stunning 64-page hardcover with 16 color pages, this hand-drawn masterpiece is as beautiful as it is educational. A perfect gift for anyone that is interested in Japan, its art, or its history. About the AuthorRyuto Kanzaki has been writing short stories and drawing manga for more than 30 years. Among her best-known books are Yashaou; Bay City Blues; and Maka ga Mieru (which she wrote under the pen name Aoi Nana). Her family is descended from the legendary Taira no Masakado, one of Japan's first bushi.

Charles Danziger and Mimei Sakamoto team up for Harvey & Etsuko's Manga Guide to Japan, a zany "east meets west" look at what happens when an irascible mouse from Manhattan (Harvey) asks a cartoon cat from Tokyo (Etsuko) to help him find the keys to manga fame and fortune in Japan. Etsuko offers to introduce Harvey to the country's most famous manga artist, but only if he can first pass a test about all things Japanese. Meanwhile, Harvey is on another, equally important mission -- to track down a kidnapped cartoonist known as "The Big Cheez." Thus begins Harvey's adventure into the wonderful world of capsule hotels, public baths, pachinko parlors, karaoke clubs... and more!