READ YOUR FIRST MANGA
Stop slugging through boring materials
Learn Japanese by enjoying manga masterpieces
Reading manga is a lot of fun, especially in its original Japanese forms. Also, using these materials is the path to fluency. However, struggling through sentences and looking up words in the dictionary can make reading feel like a chore. If you have ever felt like this, I might be able to help.
How to learn Japanese with real Manga
1. Get the Dragonball manga in its original Japanese form and our Reader Guide in PDF or the physical edition
2. Get help understanding each word as it is used in the manga
Let's say you encounter manga text like the following while reading
世界からラーメンが消えてから１０年の時がたった。世の中には悲しみが行き渡って、人々は混乱と絶望に飲み込まれていった。そんなときに一人の少年が現れた。名はアキラという。アキラはラーメンという名の希望を取り戻すために日本各地を旅しラーメンが消えた真相を探し当てる旅を始めたがその途中で思いもよらない真相を知ることになる。果たしてアキラは世界に希望を取り戻すことが出来るのか！？
Read along with the help of our Reader Guide!
| Word | Definition in Japanese | Word Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 世 界 | 自 分 が 存 在 す る 場 所 | World |
| 消 え て | 存 存 し て い た も の が な く な る こ と | Disappear |
| 〜から | Since | |
| 時 間 が た っ た | 時 間 が す ぎ る こ と | Passed |
| 世 の 中 | 人 が 存 存 し 、 生 活 す る 場 所 | Society |
| 悲 し み | 気 持 ち が 落 ち 込 む こ と | Sadness |
| 行 き 渡 り | 特 定 の 何 か が 広 が る こ と | Spread around |
| 人 々 | 沢 山 の 人 | People/Used when describing big crowd of people |
| 混 乱 | わ け が わ か ら な く な る こ と | Confusion |
| 絶 望 | 悲 し す ぎ て 希 望 が な く な る こ と | Depression |
| 飲 み 込 ま れ て い っ た | コ ン ト ロ ー ル が で き な く な る こ と | Take over |
| そんなとき(Set Phrase) | When it is happening | |
| 現 れ た | Showed up | |
| という | Say that | |
| 希 望 | 絶 望 し て い る 時 に そ の 状 態 か ら 助 け だ し て く れ る 唯 一 の も の 。 | Hope |
| 取 り 戻 す | な く な っ た も の を 再 び 集 め る こ と | Get back |
| ために | ||
| 各 地 | 色 々 な 土 地 | Various regions |
| 旅 | 生 ま れ た 土 地 か ら 違 う 場 所 に い く こ と | Travel |
| 〜し | To do | |
| 真 相 | 本 当 の こ と | Truth |
| 〜が | ||
| 〜を | ||
| 探 し 当 て る | To find out | |
| 途 中 | な に か を し て い る 間 に | During |
| 思 い も よ ら な い | unexpected | |
| 真 相 | 本 当 の こ と | Truth |
| なる | Become | |
| 果 た し て | Sure enough | |
| 世 界 | 自 分 が 存 在 す る 場 所 | World |
| 取 り 戻 す | な く な っ た も の を 再 び 集 め る こ と | Get back |
Here we are only showing word definitions. Our Readers include example sentences, grammar explanations, flash cards, bonus content and more!
3. Review and verify your understanding with reading comprehension questions
Questions in Japanese
- ラ ー メ ン の な い 世 界 は ど う な っ た ？
- ア キ ラ は 何 で 旅 を し て い る ？
- 旅 の 途 中 で 何 が 起 こ っ た ？
Questions Translation
- What happened to the world without Ramen?
- What Akira traveling for?
- What happened during his trip?
4. Make friends and discuss with fellow students who share the same learning path as you
Ask questions and discuss games and manga!
- Practice your Japanese
- Share resources
- Hold each other accountable
5. Optionally get coached by a teacher who answers your questions
Get individual attention and support from a Japanese teacher
- Get answers to your questions
- Accountability from Sensei
- Extra motivation!
About the authors
Gabriel is Computer Science graduate who has been learning Japanese for over five years and writes and designs from a learner's perspective. Riho is a native Japanese speaker who has taught Japanese online and has been involved on several projects creating Japanese educational materials.
Our Reader Guides
Stepping stones to mastery for those who have obtained some degree of fluency with the content of Genki I and II or similar.
ドラゴンボール
Dragon BallThis Reader guides you through enjoying the timeless classic manga that changed anime forever, in its original Japanese form. The Reader will provide you with a custom built dictionary, grammar explanations, reading comprehension questions and more!
Coming later
Reader guides for video games!
クロノトリガー
Chrono TriggerThis Reader guides you through playing this classic JRPG in its original Japanese form. The Reader will provide you with a custom built dictionary, grammar explanations, reading comprehension questions and more!
Take advantage of prelaunch pricing!
When the Dragonball Reader is launched the prices will go up. I don't plan on giving any discounts like this in the future, so join other savvy Japanese learners like you and register for a reduced price today.
Digital Dragonball Reader
- PDF Download of the Dragonball Reader
- Companion Anki Deck
- Lifetime updates
$12.00
get early accessPhysical Dragonball Reader
- PDF and physical version with shipping
- Companion Anki Deck
- Lifetime updates
$28.00
get early accessSensei and Reader
- Get your personal reading tutor
- Includes PDF and physical Readers
- Weekly assignments and grading
- Teacher keeps you accountable
- One month duration