JAPAN HAS 10 AUTHORIZED SHORTHAND SYSTEMS
In his speech during the Intersteno Congress, that took place in Beijing (China) in 2009 (15 to 19 August), Mr. Tsuguo Kaneko said that Japan has today 10 authorized shorthand systems by the Japanese Shorthand Association. They are:
· Ishimura System
· Iwamura System
· Kumasaki System
· Kotani System
· Nakane System
· Nissokuken System
· Sangiin System
· Shugiin System
· Waseda System
· Yamane System (Universidade de Kansai)
VÍDEO: Waseda System:
As “non-authorized”, the Mori System is being taught.
Five japanese Universities have Stenographers Club:
- University of Kansai
- University of Kwansei Gakuin
- University of Fukuoka
- University of Gakushuin
- University of Waseda
Among the “high schools”, there are 20 that have a Stenographer Club as an extracurricular activity.
(by Waldir
for group greggshorthand)
for group greggshorthand)
Neat! I wonder if it's because of the complexity of Japanese characters?
As a matter of fact, Japanese shorthand follows the same way of the other shorthand systems in the world: stenographic signs to indicate sounds. I mean, the Japanese shorthand systems have nothing to do with Japanese characters.
I forgot to indicate the website of Mr.Tsuguo Kaneko: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cd3a-kjym/newpage2.htm
I meant to say, I wonder if shorthand is popular in Japan because normal Japanese writing and typing is so time-consuming.
Most English speakers can write neatly at 20wpm and quickly at 40wpm. Typing is useful immediately, especially if your handwriting is poor. Most people get enough practice to reach 40 or even 80 wpm, thanks assignments in other subjects that have to be typed. This is without actually taking a typing course.
Shorthand, however, requires a year or two to be faster than typing. For most of that time, the only place you can practice is in shorthand class. Even if it's faster for personal notes, you still have to transcribe it for others to read.
Therefore, English speakers have little incentive to learn shorthand.
Japanese characters look more complex. How quickly can a typical Japanese speaker write neatly enough for others to read? For personal use? Is typing much faster?
If normal Japanese writing and typing is very slow, they have more incentive to learn a faster system.
Hi cricketb! Now I see what you want to say.
You can get a precise information about that with Mr. Tsuguo Kaneko (Nakane System), who wrote, among other books, “Study on Shorthand, Phonetic analysis in Japanese Shorthand,1989”
Mr. Tsuguo Kaneko is also a member of the Scientific and Education Committee of Intersteno.
His e-mail address is: bxd06051@nifty.ne.jp
Normal Japanese writing isn't that time-consuming. It's just about what system you're used to. Journalling in (Traditional) Chinese for me is about only 20-30% slower than in English, The difference is not great enough to deter me from journalling in Chinese.
Neat! 20-30% is a fairly big jump, but it's smaller than I expected.