This study examined the role of working memory, especially the role of cross-modal binding, in reading of Kanji letters in 75 elementary school children studying in the second and third grades. I predicted that cross-modal binding ability would explain students’ performance in reading words containing Kanji, reading Kanji words with okuri-gana, and reading sentences containing Kanji, after controlling for phonological loop and visuo-spatial sketchpad. The analysis results showed that there was no association between the reading performance of words containing Kanji and all elements of working memory. On the other hand, a relationship was identified between cross-modal binding and reading performance of Kanji words with okuri-gana and sentences containing Kanji. The study findings suggest that measurement of cross-modal binding ability may be useful as a screening index for students at risk for difficulties in Kanji reading.