Why bother with a 130-year-old textbook? Isn't it obsolete? Linguistically, yes. You will learn "old man's Japanese." However, the methodology of the is a forgotten treasure.
: Preferred for its simpler, less overwhelming pace, often used in intensive short-term courses or language programs in India Minna No Nihongo nihongo shoho book
Look at a page from a Nihongo Shoho book. The kanji are large, calligraphic, and often include the hentaigana (variant kana) that are no longer used. The book treats kanji as a visual system to be drawn, not typed. For learners struggling with handwriting today, returning to the Shoho method is therapeutic. Why bother with a 130-year-old textbook
A modern student who completes Chamberlain’s Nihongo Shoho book will not be able to order coffee in Shibuya, but they will be able to read a shrine inscription, understand a 1920s legal document, or decode a pre-war letter. You will learn "old man's Japanese
You might be asking: "Should I buy this book?" The answer depends entirely on your goal. Do not buy a Nihongo Shoho book if:
However, the "holy grail" for collectors and serious linguists is usually the work of or the official Japanese Government textbooks issued for foreign officials in the 1870s.
To get the most out of the "Nihongo Shoho" book, follow these steps: