Japanese Mythology: A fascinating introduction to Japanese mythology, myths, and legends

Sheds light on the weird Japanese animation.

Was after a bit more in depth information about the traditional deities this is more of a skimming over

This book takes the reader on an intriguing journey through the complex and alluring world of Japanese mythology. The tales are exquisitely written, full of vivid details and captivating characters who carry you away to another world.

These pages' collection of myths and legends reveals the breadth and variety of Japanese folklore. Each story is presented carefully, fusing history, culture, and spirituality in a fascinating and illuminating way.

I've bought a couple of 'beginner' Japanese short story collections before which have at times been very badly graded for the level and simply way too difficult. Thankfully this one is by far the best yet, and the stories are readable and not under or over challenging (I'm not exactly a 'beginner', though- I'm around N4 level, having completed Genki books 1 and 2) . Vocabulary lists and translations are there if you need them, too, which is very handy, and the stories themselves are nice and varied. While not suitable for true beginners, this is a great book for elementary/ pre-int learners!

I was a bit sceptical about this as some other beginner texts have been way above my head however these are actually pitched at the right level. I was able to understand the first story I attempted. I knew almost all the kanji and, any that I didn't could be figured out, mostly, via context. I didn't have to refer to the English text when I was reading and only used it to check for accuracy. I felt a real sense of accomplishment and it's given me a bit of a confidence boost. Only complaint is the furigana is tiny.

I didn't know if this would be too hard but it's absolutely perfect for JLPT N5 level. Readable without having to look up every single word but with enough challenge in it to learn new vocabulary and grammar. At first the stories are presented separately from the translation so you can't cheat and look at the English. Then they're presented again with translation under each paragraph. I've never had decent Japanese reading material before and I'm so happy to have discovered this.

Truly a good book, with all the grammatical forms, kanji and vocabularies of the basic Japanese levels. For me it was a step more than a real study, but I learned many new contexts in which I could use words that I already knew. I would not recommend it if you are at a N5 level as it might still be too difficult to read, but he found it perfect for a N4.