Elevate your holiday in Japan by deciphering the magic of kanji!

Most people believe kanji is something you must memorize; thousands of tiny, complicated symbols that take years of study to learn. Kanji Magic begins with a different idea. Kanji are not random symbols, they are spells - small pieces of visual magic that turn the world into meaning: a mountain becomes three peaks; a tree becomes a branching shape; and water becomes flowing lines. Over centuries, these pictures were refined, combined, and repurposed until they formed the writing system used across East Asia. And if you learn how the spells work, the characters stop feeling mysterious. You do not need to memorize every kanji you see; you only need to recognize how the spell was cast.

In Kanji Magic, authors Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh dispel the myth that the Japanese language is hard to learn. Alongside beautiful, expressive illustrations that explain the history, meaning, and breakdown of basic kanji characters, this book teaches readers how to navigate their way around Japan - learn how to read signs at train stations, book tickets to museums and galleries with confidence, and understand the hand-written menu at your favorite ramen joint.