I quite like puzzles and recently I have hit on a way to use this passion to make up drills for kanji shape recognition.
This is how it works:
1. get a sudoku puzzle to solve.
2. make a grid and note the numbers given in the appropriate boxes in small print in a corner.
3. select 9 kanji I want to become proficient at remembering, or rather at recognising.
4. write the legend with these kanji and numbers under your grid.
5. transfer the kanji corresponding to the number in the appropriate box in the grid.
6. now play the sudoku as normal but with kanji instead of numbers.
et voila- Enjoy!
Advantages:
a. you get a lot of practice in fast recognition of the kanji as a whole; useful if you confuse particular ones with each other
b. you can learn whilst doing something else which is fun よく学びよく遊べ as they say..
c. by concentrating on the puzzle you expose your subconscious to the shapes and engage your brain in subliminal learning.
d. you have to write the kanji down which helps with kinestetic learning.
e. a ready made square box is there for you to help you write the kanji neatly.
Disadvantages:
a. difficult to learn shape, meaning and readings at same time.
mikuji