Read Japanese Today
As I was starting to learn Japanese, I got a small paperback book called "Read Japanese Today" by Len Walsh. While it only covers a small number of the Kanji, it's a great presentation of the pictographic origins of the basic Kanji that are used in Japanese. In particular -- unlike all of the "textbooks" I've used since -- it presents Kanji in a logical order, teaching you the radicals before trying to teach you Kanji based on those radicals.

The one thing Read Japanese Today doesn't have is an index! Because the book is presented in a linear, almost narrative format, it's impossible to look back into it and find the Kanji you're actually after. So, below, I'm happy to present an index to Read Japanese Today. Use your browser's find function to look for the word you're interested in.

A guide to the conventions I used in preparing this is at the bottom. If you find errors or omissions (after checking the conventions), please contact me or respond.

I urge you to find a copy of this useful book and memorize these 300 Kanji -- it will be a great foundation for your Japanese study afterwards! Here's the amazon.com listing.

Reading (standalone) Reading (compound) Meaning(s) Kanji Mnemonic Pg.
hi nichi sun, day 日   27
ki moku tree, wood 木   27
hon hon, moto root, origin, book 本 bottom of tree 28
nippon, nihon   Japan (the country) 日本 sun-origin 28
higashi tou, azuma east 東 sun behind tree 28
  kyou, kei capital, capital district 京 lantern 29
  hane wings 羽   29
  ta, da rice paddy 田   30
chikara ryoku, riki power, strength 力 hand pushing down 30
otoko dan male, man 男 rice paddy + power 30
onna jo female, woman 女   31
(o)kaa(san) bo mother 母   31
hito jin, nin person, species mankind 人   32
mai mai every 毎 every man has a mother 32
ko   child 子   33
su(ku), su(ki)   to love, loved, liked 好 woman + child 33
oki(i) ou, dai big 大 man with arms outstretched 33
chii(sai) ko, shou, o small 小 man with arms down at sides 34
ta(tsu) ritsu, tachi to stand, standing 立   34
ichi   one 一   34
ni   two 二   34
san   three 三   34
go   five 五   35
juu   ten 十   35
  kyou to join together, to unite 協   35
kyouryoku   cooperation 協力   35
  kawa, gawa river 川   35
mizu sui, mizu water 水 squeeze a river 36
  oumizu flood 大水

 

36
i(reru), hai(ru) nyuu to put in, to enter 入   36
kuchi, guchi kou mouth, opening 口   37
naka naka, chuu middle, inside 中   37
  chuuritsu neutral 中立   37
  nitchuu in the daytime 日中   37
  jochuu housemaid 女中   38
  ou exact middle 央   38
  chuuou middle, center 中央   38
utsu(su), utsu(ru) ei to reflect an image on, to be reflected on 映   39
ga   picture, boundary 画   39
  eiga movie 映画   39
  nihonga Japanese-style painting 日本画   39
furui ko old 古 many mouths 40
shina shina, hin goods 品   40
  chuukohin secondhand goods 中古品   40
  ku district, section, ward 区   41
machi machi, chou town, section of a ward 町   41
  chou unit of measure 丁   41
i(u)   to say 言 mouth speaking its lines 42
shin   trust 信 a man and his word 42
haka(ru) kei to count, to measure 計   42
shita   tongue 舌 moist mouth 43
hana(su) wa to talk 話 to talk requires more than to say 43
katsu   life, energy 活 water-tongue 44
  go language 語 said by many 44
ue, a(garu), a(geru) jo up, above, atop, to go up, to give, to put up 上   44
shita ge down, below, beneath, to go down, to put down, to give 下   44
  jooeichuu Now Playing 上映中   45
  gesui sewage 下水 down-water 45
yama san mountain 山   46
tani tani, ya valley 谷 opening in the mountains 47
ishi seki stone 石 hold up against the hill 47
abura yu oil 油   48
  sekiyu petroleum 石油 rock-oil 48
tsuki getsu, gatsu moon, month 月   48
yuu, yuube   evening 夕 moon behind mountain 49
soto, hoka gai outside, outdoors, besides 外 evening-divining rod 49
na mei name 名 call out the name in the evening 49
  meijin famous person 名人 name-person 50
ooi ta many 多 many moons 50
aka(rui) mei bright 明   50
hika(ru), hika(ri) kou rays of light, to shine, to sparkle 光   51
haya(i)   early, fast, quick 早 flower-sun 51
asa   morning 朝 two-flower-sun 52
tsuchi to, do earth, place 土   52
  doboku civil engineering 土木   52
de(ru) de, shutsu to come out 出   53
  deguchi exit 出口   53
  iriguchi entrance 入口   53
u(mu), u(mareru)   to give birth, to be born 生   54
nama   raw, draft (for beer) 生   54
sei   life 生   54
kome bei uncooked rice, America 米 bundled rice stalks 54
shiro(i) haku white 白 single grain of rice 55
hayashi   woods 林   55
mori   forest 森   55
ka   fruit, result (fruit of your effort) 果 tree bearing fruit 55
  ka confectionary-related 菓 with bushes 56
  kashi candy 菓子   56
yasu(mu) kyuu to rest 休 person leaning against tree 56
karada tai body 体 body-root 56
te   hand 手   57
  tomo, yuu friend-related 友 hands clasping 57
  tomodachi friend 友達   57
hidari sa left 左 hand holding ruler 57
  ku, koo -build, -builder 工 ruler 57
daiku   carpenter 大工   57
jinkou   man-made 人口   57
migi u right (the direction) 右 hand and mouth 58
  niku meat 肉   58
a(ru) yuu to have, to exist 有 hand holding meat 58
  yuumei famous 有名 has-name 58
sun   measure of distance, measure of justice 寸   58
mura son village 村 jungle + law = village

59
mamo(ru) shu to guard, to protect 守 law under a roof 59
tera ji temple 寺 law-place 60
shi   poem 詩 temple-speaking 60
toki ji time, hour 時 sundial at temple 61
mo(tsu) ji to have, to hold, to own 持 temple-handed 61
tsu(ku), tsu(keru)   to attach, to be attached 付   61
u(keru) ju to receive 受   62
uketsuke   receptionist 受付   62
uketsukechuu   For Rent 受付中   62
arasou sou struggle, dispute 争   63
  kyou together 共   63
kyouritsuu   cooperative, joint, common 共立   63
mana(bu) gaku to learn 学 place where knowledge is put in children 63
  shi branch (as in office) 支 holding up a branch 64
shiji   support 支持   64
eda   branch of a tree 枝 branch + tree 64
ka(ku) sho to write, written things 書 hand holding brush to paper 64
koto, ji   thing, happening, affair 事 brush up, ready for anything 65
kouji   construction 工事   65
koujichuu   Under Construction 工事中   65
jinji   personnel (department) 人事   65
jiji   current events 時事 time-things  
  han against, anti- 反   66
hango   irony 反語   66
hankyou   anti-communist 反共   66
saka   hill 坂   66
to(maru), to(meru) shi to stop, to be stopped 止   67
chuushi   suspended, cancelled 中止   67
ashi   leg, foot 足   67
tada(shii) sei, shou righteous, correct, upright, legitimate 正 toe the line 68
kokoro shin heart 心   69
shoshin   faint-hearted, timidity, cautiousness 小心 small of heart 70
kokorozuke   tip (advice), tip (gratuity) 心付   70
shinjuu   double suicide 心中   70
oto on, in sound 音 when the sun rises the sound of life begins 70
ashioto   footstep 足音   70
boin   vowel 母音 mother-sound 70
shiin   consonant 子音 child-sound 70
iso(gu) kyuu to hurry, sudden, urgent, emergency 急 two hands held over the heart 71
  i mind, spirit, feelings, thoughts 意 sound of the heart 71
me   eye 目   71
  bou -hat 帽 a man measuring cloth to shield the eyes from the sun 71
boushi   hat 帽子   71
mi(ru)   to see 見 eye on a man 72
mihon   sample 見本 see-original 72
mimi   ear 耳   72
to(ru)   to take 取 hand tearing off ear 72
ha   teeth     73
ke mo -hair 毛   73
hana   nose 鼻   73
  ji -self 自 also picture of nose 73
nara(u) shuu to learn 習 fly-on-your-own-wings 73
minirai   apprentice, on-the-job-trainee 見習 see-learn 74
  kou public 公 split-nose, not private 74
matsu   pine tree 松 public tree 74
watakushi shi I, private, mine 私 my rice 75
shiritsu   privately operated 私立   75
wa   peaceful, placid, tranquil, harmony 和 rice in mouth 75
yamato   Japan 大和 big rice in mouth 76
(o)nii(san)   older brother 兄   76
zei   -tax 税 rice stalk being inspected by big brother with horns 76
setsu   thoery, opinion, story 説 the sayings of big brother with horns 76
shousetsu   novel 小説 small-story 76
setsumei   explanation 説明 theory-clear 76
setsumeisho   instruction sheet 説明書 explanation-writing 76
i(ku) kou to go 行 crossroads 77
kyuukou   express 急行 hurry-go 77
  kai, gai avenue 街 crossroads widened with earth 77
ma(tsu) tai to wait 待 go to the temple and wait 77
mawasu, mawaru kai to turn, to rotate, counter for times 回   78
kuruma sha car, cart 車   78
  ko -shed 庫 cart under roof 79
shako   garage 車庫 car-shed 79
  gun military 軍 cart with iron bumper on front 79
beigun   American Army 米軍   79
gunjin   military person 軍人   79
hako(bu) un to transport, to carry, fate, destiny, luck 運 the (armored) cart goes 79
oku(ru) sou to send 送 to transport around the barrier 80
unsou   moving 運送   80
omo(i) juu heavy 重 man with heavy pack (or, cart with doubled wheels) 81
ugo(ku) dou to move 動 power applied to heaviness 81
jidousha   automobile 自動車 self-move-car 81
undou   exercise, political movement 運動   82
hatara(ku) dou to work 働 add man to move 82
  kai shell (seashell) 貝   82
ka(u) bai to buy 買 gather shells with a net 83
uru bai to sell 売 coming out of buying 83
baibai   trade 売買 buy-sell 83
yo(mu) doku to read 読 to sell speaking 83
  in -employee 員 man-who-speaks-of-money 83
kouin   factory hand 工員   83
yen   yen (formal) 圓 clerk backed up against coin 84
yen   yen (normal) 円 bank teller's cage 84
  mon gate 門   84
suimon   sluice gate 水門   84
nyuumon   elementary, primer 入門 entrance gate 84
ki(ku) bun to ask, to hear 聞 ear at gate 85
aida kan, ma interval, space, space between, time between 間 sun shining through the space between the gates 85
jikan   time 時間   85
chuukan   midway 中間 middle-between 86
nihonma   Japanese-style room 日本間 room = space between walls 86
seki kan barrier 席 barrier at the gate 86
kantou   Eastern Japan 関東 east of the barrier 86
kansai   Western Japan 関西 west of the barrier 86
zeikan   Customs House 税関 tax-barrier 87
a(keru), hira(ku) kai to open 開 two hands removing the bar from the gate 87
to(jiru) hei to close 閉 a gate with the bar firmly in place 87
  to door 戸   88
uma ba horse 馬   88
basha   carriage 馬車   88
mokuba   wooden horse (carousel or Trojan) 木馬   88
ichibariki   One horsepower 一馬力   88
baniku   Horsemeat 馬肉   88
eki   station 駅 man with a shovel next to his horse 89
ben, bin   mail, departure, convienence, feces 便 man standing by a horse ready to mount 89
tori   bird 鳥    
shima to island 島 bird flying over mountain 90
nishi sei, sai west 西 bird returning to nest at dusk 91
nishinihon   far west Japan 西日本   91
  you day-of-week 曜 sun-flying-by-on-bird's-wings 91
itaru   to arrive (archaic) 至 bird diving to ground 92
  shitsu room 室 arriving under a roof 92
washitsu   Japanese-style room 和室   93
  ya tradesman's shop 屋 man with headband plus arrive 93
nikuya   Butcher's shop 肉屋   93
sakanaya   fish monger 魚屋   93
mise ten shop 店 long-nosed clerk under a lean-to 94
shoten   bookstore 書店   94
honten   main store 本店   94
shiten   branch store 支店   94
baiten   stall at station or park 売店   94
  fu anti-, not-, in-, un- 不 bird flying up but blocked 95
fuben   inconvenient 不便   95
fumei   unclear 不明   95
ushi gyuu cow, cattle 牛   95
koushi   calf 子牛   95
gyuuniku   beef 牛肉   95
mono butsu things, articles 物 cow +elephant 96
monogatari   stories, tales 物語 tell-things 96
meibutsu   souvenier 名物 name-article 96
urimono   for sale 売物   96
kaimono   shopping 買物   96
  toku special- 特 bull in the temple (that's special!) 97
tokkyuu   special express 特急   97
nyuu   milk 乳 hand holding a bottle against a breast 97
gyuunyuu   cow's milk 牛乳   97
hitsuji you sheep 羊   97
youmou   wool 羊毛   97
  you ocean 洋 sheep are in the land beyond the ocean 97
seiyou   The West 西洋   98
seiyoujin   Westerner 西洋人   98
touyoujin   Easterner 東洋人   98
taiseiyou   Atlantic Ocean 大西洋   98
youhinten   Western goods store 用品店   98
youma   Western-style room 洋間   98
yougashi   Western-style sweets 洋菓子   99
umi kai sea 海 every water 100
nihonkai   Japan Sea 日本海   100
kaijou   maritime 海上 on-the-sea 100
utsukushi bi beautiful 美 you know, like a big sheep 100
bijin   beautiful woman 美人   100
buta ton pig 豚 meat + pig 100
ie ka house 家 originally pig-house, now all 101
yasui an peace, cheap, inexpensive 安 a woman under a roof 101
yasumono   inferior goods 安物   101
yasuuri   rummage sale 安売   101
sakana   fish 魚   101
ito   thread 糸 silkworm's coccoon 101
keito   woolen thread 毛糸   101
izumi sen natural spring 泉 white (=pure) water 102
sara   plate 皿   102
  on warm 温 sun warming water on a plate 102
onsen   hot springs 温泉   102
taionkei   thermometer 体温計 body-warmth-measure 103
onshitsu   greenhouse, hothouse 温室 warm-room 103
sen   line 線 line the falling water from a spring makes 103
kousen   light beams 光線   103
fuyu   winter 冬 icicles hanging from eaves 104
owaru, owari   to end, ending 終 the "winter" of a thread 104
inu   dog 犬   104
koinu   puppy 子犬   104
inugoya   doghouse 犬小屋 dog-small-house 104
  ki -ware or -vessel 器 four mouths around a dog (from when dogmeat was a delicacy) 104
doki   earthenware 土器   105
  ban -number, to guard 番 wild beast's footprint 105
ichiban   the best, number one 一番   105
bannin   watchman 番人   105
monban   gatekeeper 門番   105
take   bamboo 竹   106
dai   -ordinal 第 bamboo abacus 106
daiichi   first 第一   106
hyaku   hundred 百 one bag of rice weighs a hundred pounds 107
yado shuku hotel 宿 a hundred men under a roof 107
yadoya   hotel 宿屋   107
geshuku   boardinghouse 下宿 lower-hotel 107
sen chi thousand 千 ten + men 107
man   ten thousand 万 from the hindu (backwards) swastika 108
hiku in to pull   bow and arrow 108
inryoku   gravity 引力 pulling-power 108
  ya arrow 矢   109
shi(ru) chi to know 知 arrow-speaking 109
chimei   well-known 知名   109
chijin   acquaintance 知人   109
chiji   governor 知事 know-things 109
  i doctor 医 pull-arrow-out-of-chest 109
sake shu alcohol 酒 jar containing alcohol plus water to show the jar is full 110
nihonshu   Japanese sake 日本酒   110
youshu   Western liquor 洋酒   110
sakaba   bar (traditional) 酒場   110
sakaya   liquor store 酒屋   110
shuka   chinese restaurant that serves liquor 酒家 wine-house 111
katana   knife, sword 刀   111
wa(keru), wa(karu) fun to divide into parts, minute, to understand 分 knife cutting in two 111
juubun   enough (note special pronounciation) 十分   112
  ri profit 利 cutting the rice (or pie) 112
rimawari   yearly interest paid on bonds 利回 profit-go-round 113
furi   unprofitable 不利   113
rikou   clever, smart, shrewd 利口 profit-mouth 113
betsu   to separate, separate 別 knife separating flesh from bones 113
tokoro sho, jo place 所 door + hacksaw 113
  ba, jou place where things happen 場 ground, sun, and flags 114
kouba   factory 工場 build-place 114
koujou   factory 工場   114
undoujou   playground 運動場 exercise-place 114
o(ru) setsu to bend, to turn, to fold, to crease 折 hand + hacksaw 114
sasetsu   left turn 左折   114
usetsu   right turn 右折   114
chikai kin nearby, close 近 hacksaw taking off some of the movement 115
kinjo   neighborhood 近所   115
kinjitsu koukai   Opening Soon 近日公開 near-days-public-opening 115
kintou   Middle East 近東 near east 115
atara(shii) shin new 新 each new stand of timber will be cut 115
shinbun   newspaper 新聞 new hearings 115
shinjuku   new hotel (place name in Tokyo) 新宿   115
  shitsu, shichi nature, quality, character, to pawn 質 two hacksaws above a shell, ready to cut it open 116
shitsumon   question 質問 asking-the-nature 116
hinshitsu   quality of goods 品質   116
shichiya   pawn shop 質屋   116
ka(waru) dai, yo to replace, replacement, substitute, renewal 代 in war, an axe can sometimes replace a man 116
daishoya   scribe 代書屋 replace-write-tradesman 117
taxi-dai   taxi fare タクシー代 the money replaces the service 117
kindai   modern times 近代   117
ka(su), ka(shi)   to lend, to rent 貸 replace goods for money 118
kashishitsu uketsukechuu   office for rent 貸室受付中   118
  shiki style, method, ceremony 式 axe and ruler 119
nihonshiki   japanese style 日本式   119
amerikashiki   american style アメリカ式   119
youshiki   western style 洋式   119
shikijou   ceremony hall 式場   119
hi ka fire-related 火   120
kaji   fire, "Fire!" 火事 fire-affair 120
kazan   volcano 火山   120
honou en flame 炎 two fires 120
ya(ku), ya(keru)   to bake, to burn, to roast 焼 fire added to earth on a table (early ceramics) 120
yuuyake   sunset 夕焼 burnt evening 120
yakuniku   Japanese food 焼肉   120
yakiba   crematorium 焼場 burning-place 120
  en smoke 煙 fire on the ground blown by the prevailing west wind 121
aki   autumn 秋 burning rice 121
akita   Japanese dog breed 秋田 burning field dog 121
nai, nashi mu nothing 無 what's left after you burn a bundle of grass 121
musen   wireless 無線   122
musensha   taxi with a radio   無線車 122
mukuchi   taciturn, silent 無口   122
kuro(i) koku black 黒い window darkened by soot from a fire 122
aka, aka(i) seki red 赤 flame below the earth 123
sekigaisen   infrared ray 赤外線 red-outside-line 123
ao, ao(i)   blue, green 青 moon rising through foliage 123
doku   poison 毒 leaves + mother (?) 123
iro   color, things erotic 色 peeping tom on roof 124
irome   make eyes at 色目   124
abu(nai) ki dangerous 危 man looking over cliff at friend who lies below

124
  ka, ke change from one form to another 化 person standing + person seated 125
keshou   makeup 化粧 change paint 125
  shou to apply paint to, to apply powder to, to embellish 粧 rice (original cosmetic) plus earth stored under a lean-to 125
keshouhin   makeup 化粧品   125
keshoushitsu   powder room 化粧室   125
kagaku   chemistry 化学 change-study 125
hana ka flower 花 plants + changing form 125
hanaya   flower shop 花屋   125
hanabi   fireworks 花火 flower flames 126
ikebana   Japanese flower arranging 生花 living flowers 126
kita hoku north 北 two men back-to-back 126
hokkai   north sea (of Japan) 北海   126
kura(beru) hi to compare 比 two men facing the same way 126
hibiya   park in Tokyo 日比谷 comparative-sun-valley 126
naga(i) chou long, senior (long service) 長 old man w/cane, hair blowing in wind 127
ekichou   station chief 駅長   127
shitenchou   branch manager 支店長   127
koujouchou   factory manager 工場長   127
choujo   eldest daughter 長女   127
chounan   eldest son 長男   127
  a hunchback, less-than-best 亜 two hunchbacks facing each other 127
waru(i) aku bad 悪 hunchback + heart 128
waruguchi   malign, slander 悪口 or badmouth! 128
akka   to worsen 悪化 bad-change 128
  oo king 王 holding together heaven, man, and earth 128
Sannou   Mountain King (hotel name) 山王   128
Keiou   Capital King (department store name) 京王   128
Keiousen   Railroad line that runs west from Shinjuku 京王線   128
tama   jewel, round object 玉 king with a treasure 129
juuendama   10-yen coin 十円玉   129
medama   eyeball 目玉   129
medamayaki   sunny side up eggs 目玉焼き eyeball-style-food 129
tamago   egg 玉子 little-jewel 129
tamago   egg (archaic writing) 卵 two sperm 129
Akadama   Red-ball Wine, oldest domestic wine 赤玉   129
kuni koku country, nation 国 jewel in a boundary 129
oukoku   kingdom 王国   129
kokuou   king 国王   129
kyouwakoku   republic 共和国 joint peace country 129
gaikoku   foreign country 外国   129
gaikokujin   foreigner 外国人   129
gaijin   foreigner 外人   129
beikoku   America 米国   130
beikokujin   American 米国人   130
chuugoku   China 中国   130
chugoku   region of Japan around Hiroshima 中国   130
takara hou treasure 宝 jewel under a roof 130
kokuhou   national treasure 国宝   130
houseki   jewels (more elegant than tama) 宝石   130
touhou   Eastern Treasure moviehouse chain 東宝   130
  zen all 全 heaven+earth+man+ruler 130
zennihon   All-Japan 全日本   131
zenbei   All-America 全米   131
zenkoku   all-nation 全国   131
zentai   entirely 全体 all-body 131
anzen daiichi   Safety First 安全第一 all-tranquil number one 131
  sei saintly, holy 聖 ear next to the mouth of the king 131
seijin   saint 聖人   131
seisho   Bible, holy book 聖書   131
  shu lord, master 主 altar flame burned in reverence 132
(go)shujin   husband 主人   132
shuryoku   main force 主力   132
  chuu to pour, to concentrate 注 put water on the altar flame 132
chuui   pay attention, be careful, beware 注意 concentrate-your-mind-on 132
su(mu) juu to live, to dwell 住 man is the master of his dwelling 133
juusho   address 住所 dwell-place 133
Sumitomo   Living Friend (financial firm) 住友   133
  chu to stop or stay 駐 leave your horse at a dwelling 133
chuusha   park your car 駐車   133
chuushajou   parking lot 駐車場   133
taka(i) kou high, expensive, high-quality 高 two-story palace 133
Takashimaya   Tall-Island-Shop (department store name) 高島屋   134
Takamatsu   High-pine (city on Shikoku) 高松   134
Koochi   Lofty-Wisdom (prefecture on Shikoku) 高知   134
miya gu shrine, place 宮 one-story palace 134
Miyamoto   Shrine-origin (family name) 宮本   135
Miyakawa   Shrine-river (family name) 宮川   135
Miyashita   Below-shrine (family name) 宮下   135
Oomiya   Big-shrine (Tokyo area) 大宮   135
Ninomiya   Second-shrine (town on the Tokkaido) 二宮   135
uchi nai entered, inside, within, during, among 内 house + enter 135
naikai   inland sea 内海   135
kokunai   domestic 国内 inside-country 135
Nihon Kokunai   Japan's (former) domestic airways 日本国内   136
ona(ji) dou same 同 house with everyone speaking from a single mouth 136
Kyoudou   Together-Same (news service name) 共同   136
ta(beru) shoku to eat, food, meal 食 rice being cooked on a flame under a roof 136
yuushoku   supper, dinner 夕食   136
shokuhin   food (at a store) 食品   136
shokki   tableware, cutlery 食器   136
shokujin   cannabilism 食人   137
no(mu) in to drink, beverage 飲 eat + person w/open mouth 137
nomimizu   drinking water (potable water) 飲水   137
nomimono   beverages 飲物   137
tsugi ji next 次 man w/open mouth + 2 137
jichou   assistant chief 次長   137
jikai   next time, Playing Next 次回 next around 137
  kan bureaucrat, government employee 官 man with full belly sleeping under a roof 138
choukan   chief of a government bureau 長官   138
jikan   assistant chief 次官   138
  kan -meeting hall, public building 館 bureaucrat + eat (official residence) 138
betsukan, bekkan   annex 別館 separate-building 138
honkan   main building 本館   138
shinkan   new building 新館   138
kaikan   meeting hall 会館   138
Tokyo Kaikan   Tokyo Hall 東京会館   139
au kai to meet, meeting 会 two noses under one roof 139
kaijou   meeting place 会場   139
kaishoku   banquet, dinner party 会食   140
kaichou   meeting chief 会長   140
kaiin   members of the meeting, member 会員   140
kaiwa   conversation 会話 meet-speak 140
kyoukai   association, society 協会   140
Nichibei Kyoukai   Japan-America Society 日米協会   140
  sha place where people meet to undertake a social project 社 sacrfice on altar with earth 141
kaisha   company, firm 会社   141
shain   employee 社員   141
shakai   society 社会   141
kabushiki kaisha   corporation (abbreviated K.K.) 株式会社 stock-style association-undertaking 142
kabu   tree-stump, stock (as in shares) 株 two trees (see book) 142
kabunushi   stockholder 株主 stock-master 143
  shou business 商 merchant opening box to display wares 143
shouten   shop 商店   143
shoutengai   shopping district 商店街   143
shousha   trading company 商社   143
shounin   merchant 商人   143
shouhin   trade goods 商品   143
kami shin, jin god 神 sacrificial altar plus god in the center of the sun 144
jinja   shinto shrine 神社 god-shrine 144
jinguu   important shinto shrine 神宮   144
  kin prohibition 禁 don't enter the (king's) holy forest 144
chuushakinshi   No Parking 駐車禁止   145
tachiirikinshi   Keep Out 立入禁止   145
kinen   No Smoking 禁煙   145
usetsukinshi   No Right Turn 右折禁止   145
matsuri   festival 祭 hand holding meat over altar 145
tano(shii) gaku, raku enjoyment, music 楽 chinese drum and cymbal set 146
gakki   musical instrument 楽器 music-utensil 146
ongaku   music 音楽 sound-music 146
Yuurakuchou   Have-Pleasure-Town (district near Ginza) 有楽町   146
kusuri   medicine 薬 pleasure + plants 146
kusuriya   pharmacy 薬屋   146
yakuhin   medical products 薬品 ?? 146
  sai boundary, border 際 edge of the festival 147
kokusai   international 国際 country-boundary 147
mina, minna   everyone 皆 me plus two other men 147
  -kai -floor, -rank, -grade 階 everybody in a terrace 147
ame   rain 雨   148
kasa   umbrella 傘 people under umbrella 148
yuki   snow 雪 rain + broom 148
  den lightning, electricity 電 lightning amidst the rain 149
densha   train 電車   149
densen   electric line 電線   149
denryoku   electric power 電力   149
Toukyou Denryoku Kabushiki Kaisha   Tokyo Electric Co. 東京電力株式会社   149
denwa   telephone 電話 electric-speaking 149
ki   spirit, energy 気 vapor +rice for life 150
denki   electricity 電気 electric energy 150
kitai   gas (i.e., not solid or liquid) 気体 vapor-body 150
  ki steam 汽 water + vapor 150
kisha   train (steam train) 汽車   150
kane kin metal, ore, gold, money 金 lots of ore in the ground under a mound 150
kinyoubi   Friday 金曜日   150
kingyo   goldfish 金魚   150
kinko   safe 金庫 money-storehouse 151
  gin silver 銀 two people eyeball to eyeball plus gold 151
ginkou   bank 銀行 silver-go 151
Nihon Ginkou   Bank of Japan 日本銀行   151
Tokyou Ginkou Shinjuku Shiten   Shinjuku branch of the Bank of Tokyo 東京銀行新宿支店   151
suigin   mercury 水銀 liquid-silver 151
  za place where people gather 座 two people seated on the ground under a shed 151
Yuurakuza   Yuraku Theater 有楽座   151
meigaza   art theater 名画座 masterpiece-theater 151
kabukiza   Kabuki theater かぶき座   152
Ginza   Silver-seat (Tokyo shopping area) 銀座   152

Conventions

Note: I haven't yet finished entering all of the family or place names used as examples into this index.

Reading (standalone)
The reading for this Kanji when used as an independent word. If this is a compound word, only this reading is specified. The portion of the reading in parentheses should be written in hiragana. In general I have tried to stick to readings listed in the book even when I know additional readings.
Reading (compound)
The reading for this Kanji when used within a larger compound.
Meaning(s)
English meanings. These are not necessarily correlated with the various readings. Capital letters indicate either proper nouns or stock phrases from English (e.g., "No Smoking"). In general I have tried to stick to the meanings listed in the book rather even when I know additional meanings.
Kanji
The kanji. This page is in the Unicode character set, encoded as UTF-8. If you don't have Japanese language support installed in your browser you may not be able to see the Kanji. Check the update site for your OS if the Kanji don't display; all OSes have easily installable Japanese language browser support now.
Mnemonic
Handy mnemonics
Pg.
The page number in Read Japanese Today, at least the page number in my copy of the 1990 forty-second printing.