Do you have any experience studying Japanese with manga? Is manga an excellent way to study Japanese? It may have occurred to some people. Reading manga written in Japanese is a great way to learn Japanese, as there are several ways to learn Japanese through manga.
We will discuss recommended manga, free manga reading sites, and suggested ways to learn Japanese through manga in this article. Manga is a great way to learn Japanese if you have never done so before!
Why Manga Is Perfect for Japanese Language Learners
Using manga to learn Japanese can be a very effective way to learn the language.
- If you want to learn Japanese, you can have a great time doing it.
Learning Japanese is all about perseverance. You won’t last long studying something that doesn’t interest you. Do you remember the last time you bought a reference book and became shaven for three days? Manga, however, lets you choose a book based on your interests. You can keep learning Japanese if you read a fun story while studying.
- Expressions in Japanese
Manga is a great teaching tool for Japanese expressions we use every day. The manga features various characters, so you can learn phrases that fit your personality and character. Consider incorporating manga into your Japanese learning if you’d like to learn idiomatic expressions, slang, onomatopoeia, etc., that aren’t in the textbook.
- With the help of illustrations, you will be able to understand
Because manga has illustrations, it has the advantage of being easy to understand, even if there are words or phrases in the manga that you do not understand. There is no need to check out a dictionary every time, and there is no need to be stressed. As long as you can read smoothly, you will have a much easier time learning Japanese and understanding what kind of language it uses. You can also learn how to use them.
- If you commute to school, you can study in your spare time.
Learning Japanese manga is good because you won’t feel like you’re studying. The good thing about learning Japanese manga is that it doesn’t feel like looking.
Like reading manga daily, you can read it anytime, such as while commuting to work/school, during breaks at work/school, or in bed before going to sleep.
There is an increasing number of manga apps and e-books that handle English versions of manga, and since it is easy to read on smartphones and tablets, you can enjoy manga from anywhere and learn English.
Manga contains illustrations as opposed to print textbooks. In contrast to novels, which only contain sentences, these books have images and penalties, so it is attractive that the content is easily understood.
Reading anime or works you have seen or read once can help you understand their contents more deeply, especially if you have already read or seen them.
6 Simple Steps for Learning Japanese With Manga
1. Choose a topic that interests you
You can work slowly and steadily on a manga above your level. However, that can be a bit boring, frustrating, and demotivating.
A slow reading pace makes it difficult to enjoy the story and get absorbed into it. Take it easy at first, even though it may be tempting to dive into your favorite series immediately.
Choose a Japanese manga series with a straightforward narrative about a topic you already know a little about. Consider these categories as a starting point:
- Adventure
- Fighting
- Game
- Sport
In Japanese, we often learn vocabulary and grammar from everyday life routines. It will be helpful if you pick a manga that aligns with that.
2. Read a manga book from cover to cover
You might be surprised at how difficult it is to read a manga book without help. Depending on your level, you may want to skip this step if you have a shallow level of Japanese.
You will, however, develop several critical skills if you are willing to take on the challenge. By learning the layout of manga, you can keep your mind engaged in the story using the pictures and the Japanese words you already know. Choose a manga that uses a lot of furigana if you struggle with kanji.
3. Become familiar with Japanese vocabulary
Let’s fill in the gaps after reading through the manga. If you don’t know any words or grammatical structures, start from the beginning and look them up. You’ll reap the most significant rewards by spending the most time on this.
Due to the prevalence of furigana in the manga, it is straightforward to look up kanji with an online dictionary due to the internet. I tend to cross out furigana for kanji in my manga and add little notes in pencil throughout.
You can also use an online dictionary such as Jisho.
4. Make a note of the phrase you care about
By reading manga, you can study Japanese, but make a note of the words and phrases you encounter! Writing down every word or phrase is unnecessary, and you can use this! Let’s talk about what you think. You will be able to create an original deck of cards this way. Long-term memory is easier for words learned in context than vocabulary words.
5. Read it more than once
Reading Japanese manga once and finishing it is a waste of time. No matter how often you read your favorite manga, it will always be fun. Become familiar with the lines by reading them repeatedly. The more you read phrases that are difficult to remember, the more you will naturally acquire them. You will discover new things you didn’t notice the first time as you read multiple times.
6. You can try it in a Japanese online lesson
For phrases input in Japanese manga, online Japanese should be output, and when the input content is output, it is considered fixed. Furthermore, it is possible to improve reading manga by participating in online English conversations daily.
How Manga Can Help You Watch Anime (And Vice Versa)
This is easy to repeat, which is the first thing you notice. As long as you like manga, you can read it again and again. It is unlikely that a manga will be read only once.
The method is also time-saving. Manga is my main reason for reading because humans can understand the script instantly based on the picture. Additionally, it doesn’t take long to look up words, and dramas and movies can be particularly frustrating.
Simple Japanese characters are a noteworthy feature of this text. Manga is mainly for children, so the speech bubble lines need to be shortened.
To learn content, you must “immerse yourself in Japanese constantly.” Your brain gets tired if you input Japanese endlessly, and it will probably be good for the first few minutes. The content is straightforward and textual to give you as much time as possible to get rid of it.
Manga is therefore highly recommended for this reason. Consider manga if you’re unsure whether to learn content. The prerequisite for this course is manga.
How do you read Japanese manga?
According to tradition, manga stories are read from right to left and from top to bottom.
Known as Koma, the narrative is contained within frames. A manga page is read from top to bottom, starting with the Koma in the top right corner and ending with the Koma in the bottom left corner.
Top Recommended Manga Series
One Piece
In addition to Japan, it is also popular overseas. The Japanese version of One Piece is prevalent, so I’m sure many people have read it. Luffy’s Japanese quotes are fun to see! For people who wish to learn idiomatic expressions, this manga is recommended.
Naruto
Overseas, Naruto is one of the most popular manga series. More than 60 countries enjoy anime, which is read in 23 countries. Naruto fans live worldwide, so you may be able to speak with them after reading it. There is not too much complex vocabulary or grammar in this work, so it will be easy to understand.
Dragon Ball
There have been many fans of Dragon Ball for a long time. In 1984, the serialization began. Not only in manga but also anime, it has fascinated many people since then. Manga and anime have already introduced many people to the story. As a Super Saiyan, Goku used the quote, “Krillin?!”
Slam dunk
I recommend Slam Dunk to people who like sports. Slam Dunk is a cartoon about basketball. Many foreigners have read Slam Dunk because basketball is a popular sport overseas. It’s an excellent way to learn Japanese used by young people since the main character is a high school student.
Doraemon
Doraemon is probably unknown to most Japanese people. Words and phrases from daily life often appear in One Piece, Naruto, Dragon Ball, etc. Doraemon’s secret tools, such as doors and bamboo copters.
Where can I read manga online legally free?
Here are five free Japanese manga sites to check out!
- Comic Walker
KADOKAWA manga can be read for free on Comic Walker. The number of works posted exceeds 300. More than 50 Japanese manga are available for free online. By selecting “Free Comics,” you can narrow down only free comics. It is beautiful that Kadokawa’s manga can be read for free.
- MANGA BOX
DeNA operates MANGA BOX, a manga reading app. Other countries, such as North America and Taiwan, also use the service. Free titles such as “Parasitic Beast” and “Attack on Titan” are also available. By changing the language setting to Japanese, You will be able to read manga in Japanese from the settings screen. Let’s compare the English version and the Japanese version of the manga.
- Kodansha Comics
A manga site operated by Kodansha is Kodansha Comics. The first episode will be free, but the rest will be charged. The chances of you failing are low since you can try it out. The continuation of the first episode is worth paying for if you are concerned about it. You can also find other famous works.
- Comixology
Among the American comics, you can read on Comixology are Marvel, DC, and Darkhorse. This manga is recommended for intermediate and above since it is an American manga. Reading American comics makes it possible to learn the unique American humor and culture. You can log in with an Amazon account in Japan.
- PEANUTS
The official website of Snoopy offers free access to Japanese manga. The manga is updated daily. As you can read it every day, you will quickly become accustomed to it. One episode can be scanned even by busy people because it is short. In addition to being deep and thought-provoking, Snoopy’s quotes can be life-changing experiences.
Conclusion
Many people devote themselves to learning Japanese using only textbooks and reference books, only to become disgusted with the process over time. Studying hard won’t help you if you dislike Japanese in the first place. Manga in Japanese is a great read!
In addition to being one of the world’s most beloved cultures, Japanese manga has been translated into numerous languages. It is an excellent way for foreigners to learn Japanese, as well as for Japanese to better understand a foreign language.
Japanese manga fans overseas can also benefit from it.