Tonight I broke the 1000 kanji mark in my Remember the Kanji Challenge using RTK. 1000 kanji isn’t technically the halfway point or any particular chapter break or anything. In fact the halfway point is 1,021 kanji.

So why the 1k w00t post? Ah! well as I’ve said in the past– Japanese, for me, has been a subject I’ve always wanted to learn, but never had the clear and concise gusto to go through with something so massive as remembering 1000+ kanji.

To many who try Japanese, which ever flavor (business, travel, anime, etc.), Kanji is an appendage– a ‘part-of-a-whole’ if you will– that makes up the body of Japanese. This is different from say Chinese where it, at least to me, seems like Kanji (or Hanzi) is the pillar of that language. That’s why emphasis is likely placed somewhat loosely on Kanji’s importance. Evidence is clear in the mere mention of Kanji study to those who begin to attempt it in a Japanese Class. I remember taking Japanese 101 and hearing that I’d probably wouldn’t encounter a kanji till Japanese 103- if that. Being in the quarter system that meant I started in Fall and my first kanji would be in Spring! Why wait? Easy…. “Kanji is Hard to those who make it out to be Hard” when in fact the truth is– Kanji isn’t complex at all.

The sure reality of it all is that Japanese is darn near impossible to read without it! Take The Tale of Genji, the first ever novel published on Earth, written by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th century. The whole novel was written in old Japanese hiragana. No kanji! Trying to figure out what one word means over the other takes a Doctorate in ‘old Japanese’–

Take it from me, I’m really no Japanese Guru– I try and try hard, but I have no secret or magic power. Kanji is an obstacle just like it is to anyone. That is why reaching the 1k mark should be inspiration for anybody to pick up the book and do it yourself.

I think you’ll be shocked, shocked that once you reach 1000 kanji on that special night you’ll realize that whatever you were doing then (or now) wasn’t nearly as important as this has/will become.

~J out.

Kanji Master Apprentice.

ps: http://r3dragon.net/japanese has been updated with new Anki stats.

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