This is the 2nd edition of Moekana which means that its not an entirely new product but a revamp of the previous one - just like there are 2nd editions of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings etc where they fix spelling mistakes and wot not ^^;
The second edition of Moekana however goes a step beyond just small tweaks and includes extra cards that help explain 7 different modifiers in hiragana and katakana such as the dakuten and Choonpu for a deeper and more comprehensive learning.
Apart from Mirai Suenaga, Haruka Suenaga and Kanata Hoshikawa, the second edition also includes revamped illustrations that now feature the rest of the Culture Japan team who are Kizuna Yumeno, Chitose Shirasawa, Eiji Seiun, and Retrokyu.
A brand new Moekana Game Guide has also been included in this edition, which explains the rules of how to play two different types of Moekana Games, a fun and effective way for intermediate level Japanese learners to test their vocabulary and learn new words from their opponents.
Folks ordering from AmiAmi will get a microfiber towel at no extra charge which is about this size that features the Mirai Horoscope - I will update this photo as soon as I get the sample next week.
Which horoscope are you?
If you read the article on how I learned Japanese, you will know that I used many techniques to pound my brain with the lingo. One of the things I felt was that Japanese learning was too textual, monotone and boring - it did not have to be that way.
Two years ago I developed a product called Moekana to help folks start to learn Hiragana - we sold tens of thousands of packs worldwide. A year later we released Moekanji which helps folks learn Kanji. Both of these products are designed to compliment each other and many folks buy both at the same time.
If you have just started to learn Japanese however, I would advise to go just for Moekana first as you need to be able to read hiragana to be able to use Moekanji. Having said that, I'm not sure how long stocks of Moekanji will last for ><
Lets take a closer look at the cards inside Moekana Second Edition. Before we do take a lookie however, do note that these photos of the 2nd edition cards are printed on our office printer with crooked scissor corners ^^;
I will update this post with new photos when the cards are ready mid May.
Here we have the "A" card - 1st edition on the left and 2nd edition on the right.
The design has been completely revamped with a modern look and feel - I think it looks kinda cool ^^;
As you can see, the theme for this card has completely changed from "Akumakko" to "Asa." The addition of katakana makes the second edition a major upgrade from the original so you can now learn both types of writing at the same time.
The back of the cards now feature Mirai-chan in her kimono, in line with her new job as an official mascot character for Japan Tourism.
Formerly known as the "White-haired-loli.jpg" Chitose Shirasawa and Kizuna Yumeno now join the Moekana series - these illustrations are just awesome - even more awesome closeup!
Eiji Seiun teaches us the importance of keeping good health.
Another prominent new feature in the second edition is the inclusion of the 7 modifier cards which are small ya, small yu, small yo, small tsu, handakuten, dakuten and choonpu. Previously, these modifiers were released in a booster pack.
The Moekana game I introduced on the site together with the launch of the first edition became popular and we held tournaments at Culture Japan Night events around the world. I decided to include the game instructions in the deck itself so everyone who owns a pack of Moekana will know how to play it.
The original game was a game of speed and was good for quick tournaments but after gathering some feedback, I found that many of you liked strategy style card games which involved a little more time for thinking and strategizing. A new turn-based play format for players who prefer strategy style card games that I call the "Moekana Knowledge Game" has been included in the instructions too.
We also made Moekana and Moekanji deck cases last year - not a whole load of stock left so check with your retailer to see if they have them.
And nearly forgot to show you what the cards for Moekanji look like. No plans for a second edition of these anytime soon.
Kizuna and Chitose with a bunch of Ita Ema.
This is an illustration of Mirai taking a dip at home that got rejected from LINE ^^;
Looks like Mirai was playing about with her Nendoroid before dozing off.
Eiji-kun - 100% otaku.
And if you cant afford Moekanji then you can still learn Japanese for free at moesensei.com through our 4-koma comics.
Also for the empty pocketed is a long article I wrote about learning Japanese called "How Discovering Japan Changed My Life."
Now that Moekana Second Edition is ready, next up is Mirai Suenaga Smart Doll - ships next month!