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Japan Know How

Japan Know How Articles

Evidence-led guides to Japanese language, names, culture, travel, food, anime, the Chinese zodiac and Japanese eras.

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Writing & Language

Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji: How Japanese Writing Works

Three scripts in one sentence, each doing a job the others cannot. What each one is for, why Japanese never dropped kanji, and how to read the layout before you read the words.

Megan Rothwell