7 Matching Annotations
  1. Sep 2025
    1. Today, kanji remain an essential part of the Japanese writing system. They are an integral part of education and are taught from an early age. Despite the advent of technology and globalization, kanji continue to be valued for their depth of meaning and their ability to express complex concepts concisely.

      Subtopic 2 & 3

    1. The evolution of Kanji in Japan is a story of adaptation and innovation. As the Japanese people began to use these imported characters, they not only borrowed the original Chinese readings (known as 'On'yomi') but also integrated them with their native language by assigning them Japanese pronunciations (‘Kun'yomi’). This blending of foreign and indigenous elements led to a unique system where one character could have multiple readings and meanings. Over time, as Japanese society and language evolved, so did Kanji. It underwent various reforms and simplifications,

      Subtopic 1

    1. As kanji’s role evolves, preserving this practice as part of Japan’s cultural heritage remains important. Kanji proficiency offers cognitive benefits, and some believe learning kanji for Japan improves memory retention and understanding. Others argue that adjusting the way kanji is taught may help bridge the gap between tradition and modern convenience.

      Subtopic 3

    1. Kanji of this type are called "pictographs" because they are simplified drawings of what is being "written".  Just by looking at most of them, you will find that you can imagine how it was that the character was created and evolved.

      Subtopic 2

    1. However, it was necessary to adapt these Chinese characters to the existing Japanese language. At first, kanji were read in Chinese but then they “fix” the Japanese on it.

      Subtopic 1