About this ebook
Learn how "pictures of the floating world" were made, meet the masters who defined the form, and discover how their prints—arriving in Europe as packing material—set off a craze that reshaped Western painting.
Ukiyo-e Part I: How woodblock prints were made, and how one small mark (the kentō) brought them color
Ukiyo-e Part II: The masters—Moronobu, Utamaro, Sharaku, Hiroshige, and Hokusai
Ukiyo-e Part III: How ukiyo-e reached Europe and transformed Western art
Yes, you can read real Japanese—even if you are fairly new to the language. Every essay is built so you're never stuck.
FEATURES:
Before You Read primers give you the historical background and grammar patterns to watch for
Every sentence is presented one per page with furigana on all kanji, a complete vocabulary list, and grammar explanations
Grammar spotlights, cultural notes, and maps of Japan appear right where you need them
The full essay in Japanese only (no gloss) lets you practice reading without interruption
Review & Practice: true-or-false, comprehension, particle, and translation exercises for every essay, with a complete answer key
Kanji in Focus gives every key kanji its own page: stroke-order diagram, readings, component parts, and a memory hook
An English summary of each essay to check your understanding (Don't cheat! Work through the Japanese first!)
FREE MP3 audio recorded by a professional native speaker at two speeds: natural pace and slow & clear—no sign-up required
FREE Anki flashcard decks to master the vocabulary
Every sentence also lives in the Makoto+ Sentence Explorer—tap to hear audio, see word-by-word breakdowns, and quiz yourself on the web or in the free Makoto app for iOS and Android
PDF and EPUB editions included at no extra cost
Hiragana knowledge is required, and we recommend a solid understanding of basic Japanese grammar and sentence structure first. If a passage feels tough, the vocabulary notes, app, and Anki decks will get you through.
To your Japanese!
