Abstract
This study explores relationships between Kusho and Kanji learning by adult beginning learners of Japanese from non-Chinese character areas (JSLNC). The participants were 9 native speakers of Japanese (NJ) and 9 JSLNC. The participants were asked to decide whether a stimulus on the monitor was true or not true. Stimulus groups were Real Kanji, Vague Kanji whith minor wrong graphic features, Pseudo Kanji with a wrong combination of a radical and parts, Wrong Kanji with a wrong radical position, and Korean characters. Two NJ and six JSLNC did Kusho when they were difficult to decide. All participants could distinguish Korean characters well. Three JSLNC without Kusho could not distinguish Kanji like characters from Real Kanji. They may not pay attention to fine graphic differences of Kanji. JSLNC without Kusho might just copy Kanji forms when they practiced Kanji. Kusho might reflect deeper internalization of Kanji graphic representation.
