“a” The character “a” resembles the shape of an “a”pple. あ い ai = love あ

“I” The character “I” resembles the shape of an “I”ce pick. い Iwashi = sardine い also means stomach いわし

“u” The character “u” resembles a person holding an “u”mbrella in the rain.” う う そ Uso = lie

“e” The character “e” resembles a flared letter “z”. It’s “easy” to remember. え え also means “picture”. こ え Koe = voice

“o” The character for “o” resembles an “o”ctopus reaching. お お か oka = hill Click & Learn How to Make たこやき (Japanese Octopus Dumpling Balls)

“ka” The character for “ka” resembles a “ka”boose being pulled along. か か ら て karate

“ki” The character for “ki” resembles a “key”. き き き also means tree. つ tsuki = moon The character can also look like this.

“ku” The character “ku” resembles a person laughing “kukuku”. く く く く く く き く Kiku = chrysanthemum

“ke” The character for “ke” resembles two “ke”ndo swords. け い け Ike = pond

“ko” The character “ko” resembles a circle: the Circles and “Ko”. こ 2 1 Circles and Co. こ と り Kotori = small bird or chick We Sell Circles.

Sa　さ 1. 2. 3. Like a face With eye Nose And mouth Vocabulary: あさ　ｍｏｒｎｉｎｇ

S hｉ 　し １． Ｌｉｋｅ　ａ　ｎｏｓｅ Vocabulary: しお　ｓａｌｔ

Ｓｕ　す １． ２． Ｌｉｋｅ　ｂｌｏｗｉｎｇ　ｗｉｎｄ　 Vocabulary: いす　ｃｈａｉｒ

Ｓｅ　せ １． ２． ３． Put “t” and “l” together Vocabulary: せかい　ｗｏｒｌｄ

So　そ １． z Nose under the word “z” Vocabulary: おそい　ｓｌｏｗ

Ta　た 1. 2. 3. 4. “t” and 2 horizontal lines Vocabulary: おさた　ｔｏｍｏｒｒｏｗ

Chi　ち 1. 2. Like “5” Vocabulary: くち　ｍｏｕｔｈ

Tsu　つ 1. Like a stone Vocabulary: つくえ　ｄｅｓｋ

Te　て 1. 一 nose under a horizontal line Vocabulary: ちかてつ　ｓｕｂｗａｙ Click for a video of Japan’s “Bullet Train”

To と 1. 2. “Y” with a tail Vocabulary: ことし　ｔｈｉｓ　ｙｅａｒ

It looks like a caged narwhale. な おんな woman

It looks like a NEEdle and thread. に にく meat

It looks like a fancy NEW way of writing a 2. 2 ぬ いぬ dog

It looks like a bird’s NEst. ね ねずみ Mouse, rat

の きもの kimono

It looks like someone laughing. “Hahahaha” は はさみ scissors

HE might say it’s a hear-shoe, but remember it’s a horseshoe. ひ ひこうき airplane

FU-what happened? Upside down question mark? ふ ふん minute

HEY! That checkmark is upside down. へ へび snake

A person going out the door says, “I ‘HO’pe you like my hat.” ほ ほし hoshi ほ “I hope you like my hat!”

Ma Sounds like: A four armed monster is loose Used in: Mara: Ball ま

Mi Sounds like: Who else hates the number 21? Me! Used in: Michi: road み

Mu Sounds like: Cows moo Used in: Mutsu: this means “gnome fish” which apparently exist in Japan む

Me Sounds like: It is how nu was meant to look Used in: Meshi: cooked rice め

Mo Sounds like: The bridge is crossing the moat Used in: Moto: yeast mash... Which is this… mmmmm

Ya Sounds like: This yacht is crossing the moat from last slide Used in: Yago: a Nymph!

Yu Sounds like: Can you spot the line in the sideways two? Used in: Yumi: A digit, like a finger or toe ゆ

Yo Sounds like: Yo! I only have one arm! Used in: Yome: a bride よ

ら- looks like a lower case ‘b’ as in: Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra-Ra want your “b”ad Romance ら そら (sky) Click here for Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’

り- looks like a creek;　とり (bird) り

る- three with a loop at the end; よる (night) る

れ- the curve out looks like rainbow; きれい (adj. pretty) れ

ろ- a rope twirling; しろ・くろ (black and white) ろ

わ- the opening looks like a baby saying WAH!;　わし わ

を- looks like a guy jumping over a katana swipe—WOAH!; を を Click for Namie Amuro’s “Wowa” Video Click for samurai cinema classic Zatoichi best fight scenes video. WOAH indeed.

ん- looks like a cursive n; さん (caption) ん