Here at Textfugu, we are all about the dinosaurs, right? Well one dinosaur in particular that I have grown rather fond of, is… are you ready for this?

The Kanjigoldasaurus!

In all seriousness, I am here to tell you about a neat little program that I just so happened to run across in the early stages of my Japanese language learning experience. This program is called ‘Kanji Gold’ and is probably one of the least known, or talked about smart-card programs out there. The reason? It is OLD! Now, I’m not talking dead and buried old, but as far as computer programs come… old.

Now, just because something is old, doesn’t exactly mean that said thing is bad, just ussually outdated. However this little slice of kanji heaven, is in my opinion, a great find. As well as a great addition to any Japanese language students arsenal.

Written/Revised in 2004 by Denton Hewgill, this ‘being the latest version’ features all of the first six grades of Japanese school grade kanji. That alone is around one thousand and six kanji! (GASP) And, as if that weren’t enough. There is an added Grades ‘eight, nine’ and
the ever mysterious ‘grade zero’. Added together, you get roughly six thousand and a handful, being like sixty eightish. ERGO, ~6068ish kanji!

Just think of the power that comes with all that knowledge! You could start climbing the Kanken ladder, and trolling all over the other kanji masters. Keep in mind however, that you may only attain this level of kanji power, if you are dilligent, keep up with your kanji, as well as
vocabulary, and use this for at least a half hour every day. Soon, you’ll be flying through those grades of kanji, just like superman.

This kanji dinosaur has a few special traits about it. First, the ‘Pop kanji’ feature. This brings two little pop up screens, the first showing a character, and the second the readings and definition. This, can remain on your screen while you do other things. Like read about this, because Japanese language students are multi-tasking ninjas
Second, the feature entitled ‘Reverse’. (Which instead of listing a bunch of readings while showing the character and having you choose the correct one.) shows you a reading, and then you must choose the correct kanji from a list of other characters. Sounds kind of lame
and complicated, I know, but trust me… its well worth the time to even check out.

Lastly, is the feature called ‘Vocab’. This feature shows you a kanji at work in the Japanese written language. You must be able to read it, then click the translation. IE “あの人”, which is obviously, “He, she, that person, or, that person over there.” Also, keep in mind that you
have the option to ‘randomize’ your Kanji at any time. So instead of doing them in their systematic method, you can switch things up a bit, and read them naturally, fluidly, and not feel forced into some sort of wonk-grip. (Which, is like a Vulcan nerve pinch. However, that is a story for another time.)

Another neat feature about this little program. Is that, seeing as it is “sooooo old” the file that you download off of the webpage, is teeny tiny. Like, in the KB’s. Not to mention, (to all of you who, like myself, couldn’t afford the greatest kanji programs.) this program, is FREE. Thats right, a free download, of a simple, yet awesome system for learning Kanji.

So just head on over to google, type in ‘Kanji Gold’, and you’ll be at it in seconds. Seriously.

Just don’t forget to feed your new Kanji Gold program a lesser dinosaur on a dailybasis, or it may turn on you and give you the wrong readings.

Keep up the froodulence.
SinisterT.