Learning Language through Manga

When I was in high school, I started studying Japanese because I liked manga and anime. Now, I like reading manga in Japanese to practice reading.

Right now, I am reading 舞子さんちのまかないさん (Kiyo in Kyoto). I discovered this manga after watching its anime on NHK World Japan.

I think this manga is great for Japanese language learners because it includes everyday Japanese, and it is easy to read because it includes フリガナ (the pronunciation of kanji characters written in hiragana). Also, through this manga I have learned a lot about the culture of Kyoto and what it means to be a maiko (geisha/geiko in training) in the modern day.

One thing that is particularly interesting to learn is Kyoto's dialect of Japanese. Many characters use Japanese that is different from what I have learned through language textbooks. It is interesting to see a different dialect of Japanese, and slowly understand the different sounds of various dialects.

I want to keep reading this manga and many others to continue my Japanese studies. Whatever language you are studying, I highly recommend trying to read books or comics in that language. It can be a great way to practice reading, and learn more about the culture this language comes from.