Learning Companions

1. Remembering the Kanji — James Heisig

This classic text inspired the idea that kanji can be remembered through meaning and imagery. KML builds upon that insight — adding emoji emotion cues, stroke animations, and AI-guided storytelling to deepen long-term recall.

2. Component names

KML adopts many of the component names introduced by James Heisig in Remembering the Kanji. His carefully chosen primitives have helped generations of learners recognize recurring kanji building blocks.

However, KML has a different educational goal.

Heisig’s primitive names were designed to support his mnemonic stories. KML does not teach those stories. Instead, KML emphasizes direct visual recognition, allowing learners to recognize components naturally through repeated exposure.

For that reason, we usually keep Heisig’s names whenever they clearly match the shape and aid recognition. Occasionally, we simplify or rename a component when the original name depends on a mnemonic story or is not visually intuitive.

For example:

• human legs → legs

Our guiding question is always:

Can a beginner look at this shape and immediately understand why it has this name?

If the answer is yes, we usually keep the Heisig name.
If not, we choose a name that better supports visual recognition.

KML also groups closely related component forms into “families.” Rather than treating every printed variation as a separate component, we encourage learners to recognize them as members of the same visual family. This approach prepares students to read different fonts, handwriting, and calligraphy with greater confidence.

The goal is not historical or linguistic precision, but confident recognition. If a learner can quickly recognize a familiar shape — even when it appears in a different font, handwriting, or printed style — then the naming has achieved its purpose.

3. Koohii.com

A long-standing community of Heisig learners. You can browse shared mnemonics and compare memory stories — a good place to see how others visualize meaning before crafting your own.

4. WaniKani

A structured, gamified system for learning kanji and vocabulary using spaced repetition. WaniKani focuses on reading and recall speed, helping you build strong recognition habits over time.

KML differs in approach — emphasizing visual memory, emotional resonance, and story — but the two can complement each other well.

5. Calligraphy & stroke practice tools

• Use a physical brush pen such as Tombow Fudenosuke for expressive motion and line control.
• Or try Zen Brush 3 for a meditative digital brush experience.
• On this site: Stroke Flow Practice.

6. Japanese audio & immersion

• JapanesePod101 — audio lessons from beginner to advanced
• NHK Easy News — read and listen to real news in simplified Japanese
• Tandem / HelloTalk — chat with native speakers; use kanji you’ve learned in context

7. Your personal “ah-ha!” notebook

Keep a small notebook or digital memo where you record:

• new emoji-kanji connections,
• stroke-order surprises,
• story ideas that suddenly make a kanji “click.”

These flashes of recognition are what transform study into memory.