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

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 China and Japan. 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 handwritten menu at your favorite ramen joint.

About The Author

Steve Wide and Michelle Mackintosh have been obsessed with Japan since their first visit in the late 1990s. They now call Japan their “home away from home,” spending at least three months of the year there. Steve is a writer and DJ who hosts a long-standing indie radio show in Naarm/Melbourne. Michelle is a James Beard-nominated book designer, illustrator, and author. Together Steve and Michelle have written, designed, photographed, and illustrated thirteen books on Japan, and many more on other subjects. They live in Melbourne (Naarm), Australia, with their British shorthair cat Enid.