Loading...

Feb 23, 2017

Best Manga for Low Intermediate Japanese

Hey everyone! I'm looking to improve my reading skills and was looking for recommendations for low intermediate (around JLPT 4) readers. I'm open to any genre, but especially love mysteries.

Aluma

Aluma

I am a kindergarten teacher, wife, and mother. I love living in Japan!

8 Answers



Best Answer

  • Ashes

    on Feb 24

    How about making a trip to your local Book Off and see what secondhand manga series they have. You can flip through them and see which ones you can somewhat understand. At N4 level, you don't want anything that is so overwhelming that you give up. Look for a manga with all of the furigana above the kanji too. Personally I've loved reading Japanese books to my baby. It is helping me to learn how to talk to her in practical Japanese and the story is repetitive and simple. This post lists a few simple manga and you can view some pics of the inner pages too. http://japanesetease.net/easy-to-read-manga-for-japanese-beginners-vol-01/

    2
  • edthethe

    on Feb 23

    Yotsubato is my absolute favorite manga, and because it's for little girls basically, it is easy to read.

    0
  • I would read Death Note. Even if it is difficult. The suspense if you don't know the story makes it worth every kanji you have to look up

    0
  • BigfamJapan

    on Feb 23

    Following! I have only ever read one series of manga, about Miyamoto Musashi. It was an adult manga and I was studying for the JLPT2 at the time. That was a long time ago... wonder what I ever did with the books!!! It was good at that time to reinforce my kanji, because it had the furigana beside it. My kids have some manga, never thought to take a look for my own study. Thanks for posting the question

    1
  • JapanRamen

    on Feb 24

    Not mystery at all, but Doreamon is my personal favorite. The language is easy, most words are written in hiragana with some words in Kanji (because the manga was aimed at elementary school level), things are context based so it's easy to understand, and there are a few language based jokes that even low level learners can comprehend and laugh along. Since the manga is old (and classic!), you can pick up the "best selection compilations" for real cheap at used bookstores.

    2
  • DaveJpn

    on Feb 24

    I've tried going down the manga route for Japanese study, but have never had the discipline to stick with it. As @Jackson mentioned, I tried it with some Doraemon, and I still pick up some of the manga in waiting rooms at hairdressers, dental clinics etc but end up to reading it on the surface, rather than anything being 'absorbed'.

    0
  • Daiuchi

    on Feb 24

    I agree with Doraemon being a great choice! It's pretty straight forward and easy to read. I also recommend older comics like Sailor Moon or Card Captor Sakura OR anything you might have grew up watching :) If you already know the story it helps a lot with reading and understanding. As another method, if you have Netflix they have a lot of different options that have Japanese subtitles as well. This can help both your reading and listening skills!

    0
  • JapanRamen

    on Feb 25

    Yay for the Doraemon support! If you start to get into Doreamon, you can also watch it every Friday at 7 on TV, and watching it with subtitles on (it's built in with every channel) really helps you improve your listening and reading speed too.

    0

Awaiting More Answers

3 Answers

February joys

February is just around the corner. January brought New Year festivities, wintersweet, tulips, snow, dondoyaki and so much more. What are you looking forward to in February? Be it weather related, traditions, festivals, flowers, seasonal food etc.- what you are looking forward to this February.

BigfamJapan

on Jan 27

3 Answers

What's on your "generic" local manhole?

My local area has some specialty manholes (including some from the Gundam manhole project not too far away!) but the most common "generic" one features mountains and watermelon. Fairly representative of the region, I think! What's on yours?

genkidesu

on Jan 17

5 Answers

Do you have a favorite mascot?

The other day, on "Strawberry Day" I wrote about "Yoshimin", the strawberry mascot of Yoshimi. I thought it might be fun to introduce a few others, so I've just written about "Tokimo" the mascot of Kawagoe. And I plan to introduce a couple of my favorites. It begs the question, do you have a favorite mascot? And how about writing a post on City-cost about your favorite or a local mascot? Pictured "Umerin" who I plan to write about next!

BigfamJapan

on Jan 17

6 Answers

Who is your hero!?

Today, January 16th, is Hero Day. Who is your favorite hero, fictional or otherwise? The first one who comes to my mind for me is a real life person; Mary Robinson, a former president of Ireland (moreover, the first female president), and a former United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, among other impressive roles. I had the great pleasure of meeting her in December, a dream come true. I was trying to think about who my favorite fictional hero is. I have not come to conclusion yet! There is such a choice. Do you have one?

BigfamJapan

on Jan 16

4 Answers

Recommendations for next Christmas?

While its somewhat fresh in your mind, what gifts came into your house this Christmas and / or New Year, that you thought were really nice things to receive and / or really good buys, that you think might make a good present for someone else in the future? As you might see in the product reviews, I am going through some of the things I bought for the kids this year and thinking of what I was really happy with. And already thinking of next year!

BigfamJapan

on Jan 11

4 Answers

Growing Mushrooms

Here's for a weird hobby. I just saw a video by an American Youtuber that I plan to watch about growing shiitake mushrooms. From what I've seen, it probably needs a bit of space. There was a local market in Fukuoka Prefecture that had a "mushroom room" where they grew and sold mushrooms like maitake and eringi. I also saw a video of a couple in Paris that built a mushroom growing shower room! The local hardware store sells "seeded" logs and shiitake mushroom growing kits. I have seen the logs around people's homes on occasion. It seems like a very odd, but sustainable hobby. Has anyone tried it, or is anyone interested to try this? I wonder how involved or beginner friendly it is.

helloalissa

on Dec 29

2 Answers

Japanese Christmas songs

Do you like any Japanese Christmas songs? If so, what is your favorite Japanese Christmas song? Or maybe you like the Japanese version of a traditional Christmas carol?

BigfamJapan

on Dec 19

2 Answers

Where do you visit Santa Claus?

Firstly, do you visit Santa Claus each year in Japan? And if so, where? I've been posting places you can meet Santa Claus in various parts of Japan on the blog section. If you are looking for somewhere to meet him this year, you'll find at least 25 places on City-cost.

BigfamJapan

on Dec 11

2 Answers

Did you feel the December 8th earthquake?

There was a large earthquake off the coast of Aomori Prefecture at 11.15 pm on December 8th 2025. We are approximately 700 kilometers from the epicenter, yet we felt it very strongly. Did you feel it and how far away (roughly) are you from the epicenter?

BigfamJapan

on Dec 9

7 Answers

Which airline do you prefer?

If money wasn't an issue, which airline and / or air route do you prefer when traveling to Japan?

BigfamJapan

on Dec 6

6 Answers

What do you most associate with Wakayama?

Today, November 22nd, is Wakayama Prefecture Hometown Birthday. What do you most associate with Wakayama Prefecture? To be honest, I realized in writing about this 'birthday', that I know next to nothing about Wakayama Prefecture. I'm really interested to hear what your image of the prefecture is. Wakayama Prefecture Hometown Birthday post; https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/z8X5a-living_wakayama

BigfamJapan

on Nov 22

10 Answers

What do you most associate with Saitama?

November 14th is Saitama Prefecture Day. I am curious, especially as I live there, what is the FIRST thing that comes to mind when I say "Saitama Prefecture"? About Saitama Prefecture Day; https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/BigfamJapan/wmeY2-living_saitama

BigfamJapan

on Nov 16