With the growing ubiquity of technology, Japanese and Chinese societies fret over “character amnesia“– the loss of knowledge of kanji in the younger generation, the generation who don’t have nearly the same need to memorize written characters as those for whom typing was not an option. So what’s the solution for computer- and phone-driven youngsters who aren’t enthusiastic about learning their kanji? Poop, of course!

Last month Nippon.com featured an article on the new elementary-school kanji learning craze, a six-volume book set known as Unko kanji doriru (Poop Kanji Drills), full of over 3,000 example sentences for character learning that feature the word “poop.” What could be more enticing? Especially with a poop-themed character, Unko-sensei, the glasses-wearing mustachio’d poop teacher prepared to keep you motivated. What do you think? Should we start using this fella for our Japanese 101 students too? 😉