Paperback. 112 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------     How much Japanese do you know? Probably a whole lot more than you think, even if you've barely studied the language ... or haven't tried to at all! Japanese is rich in vocabulary borrowed from other languages, especially English. These loanwords offer you a little shortcut on the long road toward mastery of the language. And many of the words have been turned into simple abbreviations, contractions, and acronyms, which makes them even easier to memorize. For instance, we watch anime (animation), shop at the depato (department store), send text messages on our sumaho (smartphone), and listen to BGM (background music) while studying. This Kana de Manga special edition features nearly 200 abbreviations, contractions, and acronyms. Studying these shortcuts is a fun and easy way to jump-start your Japanese!

Paperback. 112 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------     Have you ever wondered what a cat's meow sounds like in Japanese? How about the grumble of an empty stomach, the vroom of an automobile or the crash of an ocean wave? Japanese Manga artists rely heavily upon onomatopoeia — sound-effects words — and this special entry in the best-selling Kana de manga and kanji de manga language-learning series from Manga University is jam-packed with nearly 200 illustrated examples of Japanese sound effects (and their English translations) in action! Written by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori. Features a foreword by Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Paperback. 112 pages. 7 x 5 inches. -----------------     "Yojijukugo" are timeless Japanese idioms consisting of four kanji — written characters adapted from Chinese. The kanji themselves were originally drawings of images from real life. Japanese comic books and cartoons now provide fresh images to help us learn. "Kanji de Manga," recipient of the Saitama (Japan) Prefectural Government Business Innovation Special Award, uses today's manga images to make the kanji learning process fun and easy for "otaku" of all ages.   Written by Glenn Kardy, editor of several volumes in the popular How to Draw Manga series, including Getting Started, the first book of its kind to be used at major universities in the United States (UCLA) and Japan (Waseda). Artwork by Chihiro Hattori. Features a foreword by Ronald A. Morse, retired professor of Japan Studies at UCLA and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Charles Danziger and Mimei Sakamoto team up for Harvey & Etsuko's Manga Guide to Japan, a zany "east meets west" look at what happens when an irascible mouse from Manhattan (Harvey) asks a cartoon cat from Tokyo (Etsuko) to help him find the keys to manga fame and fortune in Japan. Etsuko offers to introduce Harvey to the country's most famous manga artist, but only if he can first pass a test about all things Japanese. Meanwhile, Harvey is on another, equally important mission -- to track down a kidnapped cartoonist known as "The Big Cheez." Thus begins Harvey's adventure into the wonderful world of capsule hotels, public baths, pachinko parlors, karaoke clubs... and more!