Kanji Wall Poster by White Rabbit Press
This weekend I received a nice surprise in my mailbox. A slip of paper from the postman saying I have an item for delivery. Well, I assume that's what it said, I couldn't read all of the Japanese. Luckily I have a wonderful fiancee who can and the item was delivered later in the day.
The surprise was something that will help me eventually understand those little slips of paper from the postman; a Kanji Wall Poster the kind people at White Rabbit Press sent me for review.
The poster includes:
- All the joyo kanji
- Every kanji you need to know for all four levels of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)
- All the characters' on and kun readings
The poster displays the 1926 kanji included on the JLPT's list, plus the remaining 19 joyo kanji not included on the JLPT, for a grand total of all 1945 kanji designated as official general use characters (joyo kanji) by the Japanese government. The characters are color coordinated by JLPT level and are numbered to coordinate with the White Rabbit Press Kanji flashcards.
It arrived rolled up in a sturdy tube and the poster itself is good quality. The print is clear and the color coding is a nice touch.
Seeing the kanji up on the wall puts it into perspective. I can see that I will eventually learn all of these kanji.
I'm using it right now for a little extra review before bed or whenever I glance over at it. Eventually I will use it when revising for the JLPT exam and alongside Heisig's book. It's not in Heisig's order, and for some that might be an issue, but I enjoy playing find-the-kanji-I-know and the JLPT order will be useful for the exams.
The Kanji Wall Poster can be ordered from White Rabbit Press or J-List for $28. I think it's definitely worth it if you're serious about learning Japanese. It's useful for the JLPT exam but also a good way to prompt yourself daily by putting it on a wall you pass each day or even stick it to the ceiling above your bed!
It's a big poster!
GoddessCarlie said on Tue 2009/03/10 01:29 JST:
You should stick it in the toilet so you can kill two birds with one stone! ;)
Chris Gaunt said on Tue 2009/03/10 01:33 JST:
I plan to once I get my own heated toilet. It's too cold in this guesthouse to spend any longer than is needed in the bathrooms!
I want to get kanji toilet paper too ^^
Deas said on Tue 2009/03/10 01:56 JST:
Does it include the ones that are being officially added this year? (This month, I think.) And do they make a desktop version?
Chris Gaunt said on Tue 2009/03/10 02:01 JST:
I'm not sure but I'll ask.
There are some downloads at http://www.whiterabbitpress.com/support/index.p... but I don't see any desktop wallpapers. Nice idea tho, I'll suggest it to them.
Alex said on Tue 2009/03/10 03:57 JST:
Now if I could only get one in hanzi instead...
M-kat said on Tue 2009/03/10 05:21 JST:
Oh wow that's a pretty bad ass poster. I've heard of people buying the wall posters, and I'm sure it is something worth buying if you are serious about learning Kanji. (I'm serious.... ok .. maybe not but I want to be) and well $28 Isn't bad at all!!!!
Also I don't think this would be a great addition to the bathroom wall, at least in my house :-p I know in my household there would be a great many angry faces outside that door complaining about bathroom time >_<
Ramses said on Tue 2009/03/10 08:01 JST:
For people that do Heisig, Kanji Poster may be nice: http://www.kanjiposter.com
Don't know if it comes with readings though...
yonasu said on Tue 2009/03/10 08:04 JST:
That's really cool! I'd like to have it on the wall behind my desk, but I'd have to get rid of my TV for that to work... =/
Chris Gaunt said on Tue 2009/03/10 16:07 JST:
WRP let me know that they will be adding the new kanji on their next printing, depending on when the new kanji are added to the JLPT. Regarding the desktop wallpaper they think it's a good idea and it's being discussed.
Deas said on Tue 2009/03/10 16:11 JST:
Oooh...it's based on the current JLPT list, not on the current 常用漢字表？ I
guess that makes sense for studious folks like us. Ha ha. But I bet a bunch
of the new kanji come up anyway, considering the ones that are used in place
names and whatnot.
Jamaipanese said on Tue 2009/03/10 17:58 JST:
wicked cool. I want one of these in the future. (not for my bathroom though :P)
jonallen said on Sat 2009/03/14 18:06 JST:
oh dear, that would depress the heck out of me. There's no way I could even begin to memorise all that..
By the way, I discovered from a google search that led me to this blog :
http://hiroshimagab.blogspot.com/2007/09/japane...
that you can go online and easily arrange for the postman to redeliver the item without having to fill in the paper form and post it back to them.
I did this on Thursday and lo and behold this morning the post man arrived with the item!
Cyril said on Sun 2009/03/15 10:01 JST:
i got it two weeks ago ! It's pretty big !
I got it laminated (more expensive than the poster itself) so I can move it easily where I want in my home.
It helps for review, or checking your progress.
C.
Chris Gaunt said on Wed 2009/03/18 11:58 JST:
Thanks for the tip Jon!
Alpharalpha said on Mon 2009/06/15 12:06 JST:
I got one of these when jlist offered it a while back, just now got around to hanging it up though. It is a really nice printing.
maxhodges said on Thu 2009/07/09 16:58 JST:
Deas,
The new JLPT starts July 2010. We’ve been involved with the test creators, and as I understand things, there isn’t really going to be a new list of kanji. They are planning to add a new level between levels 1 and 2, so some of the kanji will be juggled around between the levels, But we haven’t heard anything about the JOYO list actually changing. Did you hear something different?
So I think you are safe to buy the poster now–assuming it’s something you’re interested in. The new JLPT is a year away, and the actual list of kanji list is the same.
Cheers,
Max Hodges
Publisher
White Rabbit Press
Student
"Ame"- Rain.
^_^
Student
Forms part of the verb: "Kiku".
Student
That's a huge poster. It's pretty handy too.
Sore ga hoshii!