FOR THOSE ABOUT TO START LEARNING JAPANESE
A curated selection of books for complete beginners to start with confidence
These are the books I choose from when a student is starting from zero.
The following is a selection of textbooks designed for complete beginners who have no prior knowledge of Japanese and cannot read Hiragana, Katakana, or Kanji. These books use Romaji (the alphabet-based representation of Japanese sounds for learners) alongside Kana to help learners start studying smoothly and master survival conversation. Some also introduce basic grammar. They can be used for both self-study and lessons with a teacher.
Before you order
Editions change. Please check the edition and the cover carefully before you buy — several of these titles have more than one version in print.
The links below go to Amazon Japan. If you are outside Japan, most of these titles can be found on your local Amazon by title.
And if you study with me, you do not need to buy anything in advance. Your course book is chosen for you after your first lesson, once I know your level and what you need Japanese for. Students who are past the beginner stage, or preparing for the JLPT, work from different books — this page is the starting point only.
NIHONGO FUN & EASY
A recommended book for those who have just arrived in Japan and want to acquire survival conversation skills in 20–30 hours of study. It keeps grammar explanations to a minimum and focuses on essential phrases and vocabulary needed for daily life.
NIHONGO FUN & EASY 2
This book is for those who have completed NIHONGO FUN & EASY in the same series, mastered survival conversation, and want to start learning grammar systematically. It offers a structured approach by organizing lessons based on sentence patterns that use the same conjugation forms, making learning more efficient.
NIHONGO Breakthrough
Designed to help learners go from survival conversation to basic communication in just 30 hours of study. The essential dialogue conversations are fully illustrated in a separate booklet, making them easy to understand and practice.
Japanese for Busy People 1
This book allows learners to effectively master survival conversation while also beginning systematic grammar study. It is recommended for use in lessons with a teacher.
Available in either a Romaji or Kana version. If you choose the Romaji version, Kana is included only in the dialogue sections.
Basic Japanese for Expats Book1
The dialogues are designed to reflect real-life communication, including casual speech, helping learners grasp the overall image of Japanese from an early stage. This book is ideal for lessons with a teacher. Kana is included only in the dialogue sections, while all practice exercises are provided in Romaji.
Nihongo Daijobu!
Essential daily vocabulary and basic sentence patterns are presented in a well-balanced manner. The goal is to help learners handle various everyday situations with their current Japanese ability and describe their surroundings to some extent. A separate vocabulary booklet is included.
Why isn't Genki included in the list?
Genki is a textbook for beginners that is often used by learners living outside Japan, particularly those in a younger age group. It consists of conversations and content settings featuring university students and those around them. Also, with the exception of the first few chapters, it is written entirely in kana.
The textbooks introduced on this page by WELC have been selected with the primary focus on enabling busy business professionals like yourself to start and continue learning as efficiently and effortlessly as possible.
A book alone does not teach you Japanese.
Which one suits you, and how to use it, is what we work out in your first lesson.
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