Review: モノの呼び名事典 (Encyclopedia of Things)

An illustrated guide to the vocabulary of everyday objects and Japanese cultural artifacts.

 

 

In Brief

• Target Audience: Japanese adults
• Editor: GROUP21
• Pages: 223
• Year of Publication: 2009
• Publisher: 日東書院本社にっとうしょいんほんしゃ (Nittousyoin Honsya Publishing Co., Ltd.)
• Language: Japanese (with English labels)

Description

Ever wondered what to call the inside base of a Japanese tea bowl^[1]? Can you identify the different parts of a fishing rod? Want a visual guide to eight varieties of samurai helmets? The モノの呼よび名事典なじてん (Encyclopedia of Things) provides all of these answers and more.

The encyclopedia is divided into six sections: Home, Living, Traditional Culture, Vehicles, Sports, and Hobbies. Each page within a section is devoted to a different topic. Examples:

• Home: Family Buddhist Altar, Staircase, Toilet, Veranda
• Living: Tea Bowl, Hat, Beef, Scissors
• Traditional Culture: Grave, Wedding Clothes, Tea Ceremony, Kabuki
• Vehicles: Train, Ship, Elevator, Fire Engine
• Sports: Baseball, Skydiving, Kendo, Yacht
• Hobbies: Piano, Mahjong, Pachinko, Bonsai

Each topic page features several illustrations, with labels in both Japanese and English, and a few explanatory paragraphs that provide context and insight.

Content

This encyclopedia is an excellent source of advanced vocabulary, particularly words related to Japanese cultural activities and other hobbies. Native Japanese adults don’t even know many of the specialized terms that this book introduces, so even the most dedicated students of the Japanese language will be sure to learn something new. This book also serves as a great reference for those who are familiar with Japanese society and would like to learn more about cultural items that they encounter in their interactions with Japan.

Rating: 5/5 (Wonderfully curated, impeccably detailed)

Accessibility

The furigana readings over the kanji in the Japanese labels make it effortless to learn even the most obscure of new words. The accompanying English translations, while occasionally strained, provide helpful context. However, despite its visual organization and thematic simplicity, heavy cultural references may render the encyclopedia a bit inaccessible to those who are studying the language from afar.

Rating: 4/5 (Easy to browse, but heavily laden with cultural references)

Visual Appeal

The encyclopedia is well-organized and uncluttered. The basic and functional illustrations, while nothing special, are easy to understand. The entire book is set in black and shades of blue, which leaves a bit to be desired.

Rating: 3.5/5 (A step above the typical text-only encyclopedia)

The Unique Factor

This gem is reminiscent of those great pictorial encyclopedias for kids. With great focus and helpfully curated entries, it’s a refreshing change from the usual vocabulary round-ups that are targeted at language learners or high school students cramming for entrance exams.

Rating: 5/5 (Fun format with tons of specialized terminology)

Bottom Line

Handily beats the usual books of vocabulary lists, which lack visual appeal and thematic coherence. Great source of niche cultural information. Look elsewhere for hard-hitting texts that will measurably improve your Japanese skills, but still makes a great and quirky addition to any Japanese reference library.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Disclosure: The links in this post are affiliate links. However, I was not compensated for this review in any way, and I did not obtain a free or discounted copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own. Happy studying!