7 Best Manga for Japanese Learners
Top 7 Easy Manga to Learn Japanese
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For those who want to learn or are just interested in Japanese, this is one of the most recommended methods to learn Japanese.
What do you think is the best way to study foreign languages? Some people confidently say doing to language schools, reading study books to learn grammar and vocabulary or communicating with friends in the foreign country. The best way depends on the way you want to learn.
Especially, English speakers all over the world regard Japanese as one of the most difficult languages to learn. So, some Japanese learners hesitate to keep studying before mastering it. However, here is the introduction of the unique way to enjoy leaning Japanese: reading manga. Manga, which is Japanese comic books, has got much more popular around the glove recently.
There are a large number of themes and situations in manga, which offers chances to learn a variety of vocabulary and phrases including more practical Japanese.
In addition, you can learn everyday Japanese with the context that Japanese have in common and Japanese culture and customs, which are one of the most important things to learn a foreign language.
Today, I’d like to share 7 best manga for Japanese learners in which easier Japanese words are used, and all of these manga are popular and worth reading.
It is recommended to buy both manga in Japanese and English and compare them to learn more deeply. If you know the story well or are an advanced Japanese learner, you may learn Japanese effectively with only the manga in Japanese.
*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.
Do you want to start learning Japanese in an easy and economical way? Check out Nihongo Master’s online courses!
1. Studio Ghibli Manga
Many people associate Studio Ghibli with Japanese famous anime and anime movies, and less people know they can enjoy the Studio Ghibli stories with manga. Almost all popular Ghibli movies’ manga are available in English. And, which should you read? If there is Ghibli Movie that you like or have watched, that is recommended to read to learn Japanese. What is recommended here is My Neighborhood Totoro (となりのトトロ) and Kiki’s Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便). Their stories are easier for even children to understand That is why the two manga adaptions are perfect for learning Japanese.
Difficulty level: ★☆☆-★★☆
Genre: Fantasy
▶︎Check My Neighborhood Totoro in Japanese on Amazon.com!
▶︎Check My Neighborhood Totoro in English on Amazon.com!
▶︎Check Kiki’s Delivery Service in Japanese on Amazon.com!
▶︎Check Kiki’s Delivery Service in English on Amazon.com!
▶︎Check more Studio Ghibli Manga on Amazon.com!
2. Shirokuma Cafe (Polar Bear Cafe)
Shirokuma Cafe (しろくまカフェ), which is also known as Polar Bear Cafe, is read by many Japanese learners especially beginners. The comedy manga consists of 5 volumes that were published from 2006 to 2013. There are random topics conversations with animals including Polar Bear, Panda and Penguin in the story. The manga represents Japanese everyday lives with humors and simple phrases and how Japanese people talk. Shirokuma Cafe itself is a less known manga to foreign people but highly recommended to learn practical Japanese.
Difficulty level: ★☆☆
Genre: Slice of life, Comedy
▶︎Check this manga in Japanese on Amazon.com!
3. Yotsuba&!
Yotsuba&! (よつばと!), pronounced “Yotsuba to” in Japanese, is a popular ongoing manga. It started in 2003 and 14 volumes have been released as of 2020. The story focuses on an energetic and active 5-year-old girl named Yotsuba and her daily experiences that are never extraordinary. The main character is that child, but every Japanese learner at any age or any level can enjoy reading the manga. The anime adaption of Yotsuba&! has not been produced yet, so manga is the only way to enjoy the story.
Difficulty level: ★☆☆
Genre: Slice of life
▶︎Check this manga in Japanese on Amazon.com!
▶︎Check this manga in English on Amazon.com!
4. Doraemon
Doraemon (ドラえもん), one of the most famous and popular family manga and anime all over the world, has been loved by kids since 1969. Total 45 volumes, which were published between 1969 and 1996, are good educational materials for Japanese learners to start studying. An elementary school boy Nobita, who is not much of study or sports, has troubles with his friends and teachers almost everyday. And, his partner robot Doraemon, who comes from the 22nd century, helps him with various futuristic gadgets. The main characters are elementary school students, so the level of Japanese in this manga is easy.
Difficulty level: ★☆☆
Genre: Kids, Family, Slice of life
▶︎Check this manga in Japanese on Amazon.com!
▶︎Check this manga in English on Amazon.com!
5. Dragon Ball
For Japanese learners to choose the greatest manga of all time, Dragon Ball (ドラゴンボール) should be nominated. The legendary action and adventure manga, written by Akira Toriyama, consists of 42 volumes published between 1984 and 1995. It can be divided into two parts: the first half focusing on the childhood of the protagonist Goku and the second half for the story after he has grown up which are also known as Dragon Ball Z. His adventure and various battle scenes are mainly represented, so it is easy to move through the manga in Japanese. There are some little-used words in Dragon Ball such as the goku’s first person “Ora おら(which means I)”, but it has little impact on your leaning Japanese.
Difficulty level: ★★☆
Genre: Action, Adventure
▶︎Check this manga in Japanese on Amazon.com!
▶︎Check this manga in English on Amazon.com!
6. Teasing Master Takagi-san
To learn Japanese with the latest trends of manga, Teasing Master Takagi-san (からかい上手の高木さん) is recommended to select. The recent ongoing manga with 13 volumes, published until March, 2020, is a perfect tool to learn everyday conversations in Japanese. The random stories represent two main characters Nishikata and Takagi-san in junior high school. The girl Takagi-san enjoys teasing Nishikata with favor and he tries to get his revenge on her every time. Their many conversations consist of simple and clear Japanese words.
Difficulty level: ★★☆
Genre: Slice of life, Romance
▶︎Check this manga in Japanese on Amazon.com!
▶︎Check this manga in English on Amazon.com!
7. Slam Dunk
Sports is one of the most recommended manga genres to learn Japanese since there is the fast plot development with less words. What you should read first is Slam Dunk (スラムダンク), which has the theme of basketball. 31 volumes were published from 1990 to 1996, however, there are still a lot of fans of Slam Dunk now. A high-school guy Hanamichi Sakuragi, who has not experienced any sports, decides to play basketball in the high school club and rapidly develops his skill with his teammates. You can not only enjoy the powerful scenes of basketball games but also learn practical Japanese that young people speak.
Difficulty level: ★★☆
Genre: Sports
▶︎Check this manga in Japanese on Amazon.com!
▶︎Check this manga in English on Amazon.com!
Tips:
If you live in Japan, it is strongly recommended to buy those manga on Amazon Japan since it has an abundant line-up of products especially manga in Japanese which are cheaper than those sold overseas. Search your favorite manga on Amazon Japan here.
Besides those recommended options, you should learn Japanese with your favorite manga. Almost all popular manga have been translated into English and other languages. Comparing the original one with the English translation is a highly effective way to master Japanese.
It is also recommended for Japanese learners to watch anime. Here is the list of the best anime to learn Japanese language!
If you wonder which manga to read, check this best manga list of all time anytime!
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I'm writing by my motto: helping travelers spend their limited time experiencing something priceless in Japan. My articles won't let you down! Living in Tokyo and traveling many popular and hidden sites all over Japan, I deliver well-selected and latest tourist information to you from the perspective of “100% Japanese local”. My specific interests are island hopping, eating countless bowls of ramen, watching anime and reading manga. Enjoy Japan Web Magazine for recommended food spots, hidden gems Japanese Otaku (geek) culture, and everything about Japan :)
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