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100 top resources to learn Japanese

Posted on April 28th, 2012 by Philip Seyfi in Language |

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70 best Japanese
We find ourselves often giving recommendations of products to learn Japanese with, and non-pop music
we thought itd be useful to compile a list for your reference. artists

We have included a number of our own products, only where we are convinced that they
are deserving of their place in the list, and we have included paid and free resources
without discrimination.

The list is broken up by category and each item is clearly marked as to what JLPT level it
targets. Everything on this list deserves your attention, but resources were particularly
fond of, the kind wed use ourselves, are additionally marked with a little star.

1. Japanese textbooks
2. Reviewing vocab & kanji
3. Serious games
4. Grammar reference
5. Dictionaries
6. Practice & radio
7. Podcasts & audio lessons
8. Vodcasts & video blogs
9. Cheat sheets
10. Other

Japanese textbooks
Japanese LinguaLift E-Textbook N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

POPULAR
Our very own textbook. Not written in a hold your hand style that some require, but clear
and comprehensive, covering all that is needed to prepare for the JLPT exams and most
day-to-day situations. Those who prefer romaji should look elsewhere, but the native
audio, interactive elements and assessments make it a perfect study and revision tool. How to write kanji

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100 top resources to learn Japanese | Japanese LinguaLift blog

The end of smart.fm

Genki N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

100 top resources to learn Japanese

Probably the most popular Japanese textbook, published by The Japan Times, is well
worth its reputation. Everything is well laid out, with clear grammar explanations, engaging What is the JLPT?
dialogues, and helpful exercises. Best used with a teacher, working towards taking the
JLPT. Top 5 applications to learn Japanese on
your iPhone
An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Irasshaimase!
You can think of this textbook as Genki III. Same publisher, similar presentation and
Best Japanese apps for Android
structuredefinitely one of the best intermediate-advanced paper textbooks on the
market. Interview: Michael Gakuran

Authentic Japanese N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 + Japanese & Portuguese: Vocabulary

Another good intermediate-advanced textbook. Pretty much all of the content, including Japanese colour names (cheat sheet)
grammar explanations, is in Japanese so be prepared to brush up your kanji and
vocabulary before your begin.

Kana101 N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
Free weekly round-up for a
Our free 14-day hiragana & katakana course. We strongly believe that you should avoid true Japanophile
romaji and learn kana as soon as possible, and this course will make sure you stick to it
and succeed.

Human Japanese N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 + We hate spam and won't

Subscribe now
share your e-mail.

Probably the only Japanese textbook distributed as a desktop application has recently also
become available on all kinds of mobile devices. Well organized lessons with engaging
cultural notes and native pronunciation audio, but it doesnt go beyond the very basics. Japanese LinguaLift
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You like this.
Erins Challenge! N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 + Like

Professional, fun and practical videos, helpful games & exercises, a unique user interface You and 1,284 others like Japanese LinguaLift.1,284
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and engaging social features if youre into that kind of thing. Erin wont teach you
everything, but youll learn a lot, and youll enjoy the ride.

TextFugu N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Textfugu is a good choice for a total beginner who needs the basics broken down into
extremely manageable chunks. The language taught can be a little contrived, and the
approach to kanji learning is unorthodox, but the creators are friendly and happy to help
if you encounter difficulties.
We'reon Follow

Japanese for Busy People N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

+125
As long as you get the kana-version, this can be a pretty good textbook. The title is
somewhat misleading though as the textbook is best used in classroom setting and
alternatives such as Genki or our Japanese E-Textbook are much better adapted for
Follow @japanese_ll 499 followers
sporadic one-point learning.

Minna no Nihongo N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +
JAPANESE BOOKS

Quite a good textbook, especially in classroom setting. The content is very comprehensive Learning Japanese? Check out our

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100 top resources to learn Japanese | Japanese LinguaLift blog

but the book focuses more on examples than explanations, and there is no English selection of best Japanese textbooks!
throughout unless you buy the Translation and Grammar Notes volume separately, which
can be daunting if you are a complete beginner.
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Japanese for Everyone N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 + Guest blog about what you enjoy, get
exposure! Contact us to find out more.
This textbook is more dense than the others and goes at a much faster pace than for
example Genki. If youre a diligent and motivated learner and other textbooks feel too
slow for you, this might be a better choice.

Japanese in Mangaland N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

This series of text and workbooks uses manga to illustrate what youre learning, and it
does work surprisingly well, especially if youre into Japanese comics. Give it a tryit
might be just what youre looking for.

Colloquial Japanese N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Were not fans of its extensive use of romaji in early chapters, and its slow, progressive
introduction of hiragana and katakana, but it is otherwise a decent beginner textbook,
worth taking into consideration.

Nakama N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

With a hefty price tag, mediocre grammar explanations and boring content this is not a
good textbook for self-learners, but good organization and decent activities make it a
viable choice in classroom setting.

Reviewing vocabulary & kanji

Online

Japanese LinguaLift Kanji Academy N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

In this kanji learning & reviewing tool were trying to avoid rote-learning obscure
characters and readings, instead teaching them in context, through useful compounds,
example sentences with audio pronunciation, and mnemonics. The application comes with
a handy, colourful kanji grid & look up feature providing an quick overview of your
progress.

Japanese LinguaLift Vocab Lab N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

An SRS vocabulary learning web app full of useful compounds, accompanied with native
pronunciation audio and nifty stroke order animations, and tested in a variety of different
ways.

iKnow N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Formerly smart.fm, this site has pretty interface and a very well done spaced repetition
quiz with high quality curated lists of Japanese vocabulary. Its not particularly well
adapted for reviewing kanji, but its vocabulary-learning features more than make up for
it.

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Skritter N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Skritter does one thing, and it does it wellit is the only online offering that lets you
actually write the Chinese characters using a tablet or your your mouse, and then
assesses your speed and stroke order.

Kanji Koohii N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

If youre following Heisigs Remember the Kanji methodology (not that were particularly
big fans of it), this is the site for you. It has lots of creative community-sourced mnemonic
devices which will help you remember the most complicated of kanji, and a simple but
functional SRS quiz using an algorithm similar to that in our Kanji Academy.

Read The Kanji N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

One of the first online kanji reviewing tools. Very streamlined and featuring an
aesthetically pleasing user interface but somewhat repetitive and limited in question types.

kanji+ N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

A recent arrival to the kanji reviewing market, Kanji Plus tries to handle the problem in a
slightly different manner by asking you to complete the blanks in Japanese compounds,
and it does work pretty well indeed.

Desktop

Anki N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

If youre a dedicated learner and have the time and determination to spend perfecting
your reviewing habits and environment, Ankione of the leading SRS applicationsmight
be the product for you.

Kleio N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Kleio is a recently launched competitor to Anki, and while its still very young and lacks
some of the more advanced features, the app is actively developed and can be found on
platforms where Anki is not available. Unfortunately there arent many good Japanese
decks just yet, so youre best off creating your own.

Print

WRP Flashcards N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

The famous White Rabbit Press kana and kanji flashcards are well worth the price if you
prefer learning away from your computer but dont have the time to create your own set.

WRP Kanji Poster N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

A huge, beautiful, laminated wall poster of all jy kanji categorized by JLPT level. If
youre following Heisigs Remember the Kanji method, check out the other Kanji Poster
instead.

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Games
Japanese Frenzy

One of the few kana games that doesnt bore the death out of you. Practice your IME
skills and reinforce your kana knowledge. Expert level is particularly challengingeven for
natives.

Japanese Blocks

The only resource on the internet that targets Japanese synonyms. The highest difficulty
level can be challenging even to proficient speakers, and can be especially helpful as a
review tool for higher levels of the JLPT.

Slime Forest Adventure

For all fans of RPG games out there. Learn hiragana, katakana, vocabulary kanji. Kill some
monsters and save a princess while youre at it. Theres unfortunately no sound, and the
graphics are somewhat lacking, but useful mnemonics make up for it.

Grammar reference
Print

Dictionary of Japanese Grammar N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Indispensable for any serious Japanese learner, this book consists of three volumes
covering almost every aspect of the Japanese grammar from the very basics up to truly
advanced concepts in a clear and concise manner. If you buy just one book, this is the
one to go for.

A Dictionary of Japanese Particles N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

This handy book covers over 100 particles in alphabetical order, explaining them with
sample sentences for each meaning, illustrations and exercises for those who wish to test
their knowledge of particle usage.

English Grammar for Students of Japanese N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Not so much a grammar reference as an overview of grammar patterns in the English

language and how they relate to Japanese. If youre having trouble getting your head
around Japanese grammar, this reverse approach may be the solution.

Online

Japanese Language and Usage N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

The new addition to the excellent Stack Exchange network, Japanese Language and Usage
is the place to ask your intermediate-advanced grammar questions. Dont forget to do a
quick search first, as much has been answered in great detail already.

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Japanese LinguaLift E-Textbook N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Were trying our best to make the LinguaLift E-textbook not only a place to learn the
language, but also a handy reference tools. Each chapter is divided into sections
dedicated to different grammar points, and all are easily searchable both in Japanese and
in English.

Maggie Sensei N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

This site features extremely thorough and fairly well organized lessons covering all kinds of
Japanese grammar topics from the very basics up to advanced and colloquial concepts
and expressions, and is extremely culturally sympathetic.

Tae Kims Grammar Guide N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Part grammar reference, part Japanese textbook, Tae Kims website is a classic. The
grammar guide is not the easiest to navigate, but it covers most beginner-intermediate
grammar including colloquial variations and is available in many different formats and
languages.

Jgram N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

J-gram tried to be the Wikipedia of Japanese grammar, but the result is wanting. The site
does have a very extensive grammar database but it can be difficult to find what you
need, and errors and inconsistencies can easily lead you off track. Make use only when
necessary and make sure to read the discussion in the comments.

Wikipedia N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

If all else fails, Wikipedia generally comes to the rescue, especially if youre ready to
wander into its Japanese language territory. You can find many Japanese grammar points
discussed at least in some detail, as well as use it to check how a certain construction is
used by searching it in Japanese articles.

About.Japanese N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

About.com has pretty good articles on virtually every topic, and Japanese language is no
exception. Their grammar explanations are particularly helpful and generally explain things
in simple language without unnecessarily going into too much detail.

Dictionaries
Desktop

Tagaini

Tagaini is an open source application based on the EDICT database by Jim Breen from
Monash University which is also used by most online dictionaries. While the content itself
is in no way special, the software is very well done with some unique features, especially
in the kanji search department.

Babylon

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Babylon is an application that sits in the tray and allows you to translate anything by
clicking it and pressing a keyboard shortcut at the same time. What is available for free is
nothing special, but what makes it unique, is the immense amount of premium
dictionaries which can be loaded into it, including gems such as Genius Unabridged and
Meikyo listed below.

Online

nciku

This site started as a leading Chinese dictionary but later expanded into Japanese. Unique
features include kanji handwriting input, autocomplete, pronunciation audio, example
dialogues and a thematic picture dictionary. Unfortunately, the site tends to be very slow.

Tangorin

The best online EDICT dictionary with tons of unique features and a functional user
interface. Search kanji by radicals, filter through the results with utmost precision, look up
example sentences, create exportable vocab lists and more.

Denshi Jisho

Whether its for its simple domain name, or some of the unique features it has under the
hood, Jisho.org is by far the most popular EDICT-based dictionary outside of Japan.

Yahoo Dictionary

This site is all in Japanese, but the UI is simple enough to navigate even if you dont
understand all of the labels. This is the dictionary for intermediate-advanced learners,
especially valuable due to its accurate definitions, many example sentences, and synonyms
look-up ().

ALC Dictionary

Another good Japanese dictionary, but only really useful for advanced learners. The
content is crowd-sourced and targeted at translators so lots of definitions are too
intricate, confusing, or quite simply wrong.

Kanji Networks

This is by far the most comprehensive Japanese kanji etymology dictionary on the
internet. Search by character, reading or English definition to find out more about
historical origins of Chinese characters, including illustrations of related pictographs and
cultural tidbits.

Jim Breen WWWJDIC

There cant be a list without Jim Breens WWWJDIC, the original EDICT dictionary which
spawned countless, including most dictionaries on this list. The user interface is slightly
dated, but the recent addition of pronunciation audio make it at least worth checking out.

Print

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Meikyo Japanese-Japanese Dictionary

A new Japanese dictionary that came on the market in 2002. With information regarding
usage of honorific words, typical misusages, Kanji conjugations, nuances between the
different words and expressions, new Katakana words and grammatical dos and donts
this dictionary is a must-have for intermediate-advanced learners.

Kodanshas Furigana Japanese Dictionary

One of the most popular dictionaries among beginner-intermediate learners, and for a
reason. The dictionary contains detailed explanations of Japanese words, there are lots of
example sentences, and most importantly, all kanji have furigana (small kana above the
characters to show their pronunciation).

Taishukans Unabridged Genius English-Japanese Dictionary

At 2508 pages, this is the largest and most detailed English-Japanese dictionary on the
market, without sacrificing the quality and good organization for which the Genius brand
of dictionaries has always been known in Japan. Unfortunately, it is not an easy book to
get a hand on outside of Japan.

Kodanshas Kanji Learners Dictionary

With its unique System of Kanji Indexing by Patterns (SKIP), an indexing system that
enables the user to locate characters as quickly and as accurately as in alphabetical
dictionaries, this book answers the urgent need for an easy-to-use kanji dictionary
compact enough to be easily carried around, yet detailed enough to satisfy the practical
needs of the beginning and intermediate learner.

Kenkyushas New Japanese-English Dictionary

One of the oldest (first published in 1928) and certainly the most authoritative
JapaneseEnglish dictionary. Considered to be the reference book for scholars and
translators, with over 260,000 entries this dictionary is intended for those who already
have some knowledge of kanji, looking to expand their word usage out of the common
and everyday.

A Dictionary of Japanese Food: Ingredients & Culture

A complete dictionary for finding words related to food in other languages. Since food is
such an international subject, the dictionary contains food-related words in English,
French, Italian and Chinese. Need to look up words in a Japanese bento book? This
dictionary of food words will help a lot.

Practice & radio

Lang-8

Write Japanese, get corrected by native speakers, help others in return. One of the first,
and certainly the most successful site of this kind. Try to write regularly and take the time
to understand the corrections and your writing ability will improve in no time.

ABCLoop

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Another, younger site similar to Lang-8. Its more focused on Japanese language
corrections with a streamlined user interface and fewer social features than its older
sibling. Its easier to get into the habit of ABCLooping as youre expected to write less
than a Lang-8 entry, so its a good starting point.

All Japanese All The Time

The notorious AJATT will show you how to immerse yourself entirely into the Japanese
language. Were not into this kind of stuff, but if you have the time and money, you
should give it a try. Those who claim success using the system are quite messianic in their
reverence for the system and its creator.

Japanese Graded Readers N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Graded readers are a great way to practice your Japanese. Each book has a collection of
engaging texts using kanji and vocabulary at your level. No need to wade through the
dictionary every sentence, looking up words and kanji you might never see again in your
life.

Breaking into Japanese Literature N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Reading Japanese novels is an engaging experience and a great way to learn, but it can
be a daunting task, especially if kanji are not your forte. This books presents well known
works with furigana on the first occurrence of the kanji, translations, helpful explanations
and downloadable audio recordings.

Read Real Japanese Fiction N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Another great source of real, contemporary Japanese stories with translations and detailed
explanations of nuance, usage, grammar, and culture. The book includes a free CD with
the texts recorded by professional narrators.

The Great Chokochoko Library N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Quite a few texts on all kinds of topics, at all the different levels. The texts are in PDF
format, well formatted and followed by vocabulary lists.

Todays Aesops Fable N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Aesops fables are well known all over the word and thus it comes as no surprise that his
writings were also translated into Japanese. An entire year of daily reading material with
an intuitive interface, beautiful illustrations, and mp3 recording of most of the texts.

Japanese Classical Literature at Bedtime N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Free audio recordings of engaging Japanese and bilingual bedtime stories with PDF
transcripts. New ones are added several times a year.

Fanta jikan N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Wonderful stories by NTT, professionally narrated and accompanied with lovely

illustrations. Some are also available as subtitled videos with a voiceover, as well as mobile
applications.

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Free Japanese audiobooks N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

A list of free audio books, in Japanese, with transcripts and occasionally English
translations. These are famous works from both Japanese and world writers and so the
content is fairly advanced.

U of V Japanese Text Initiative N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

An extensive database of Japanese texts compiled by University of Virginia and easily

searchable by author, title and chronological period. Theres even a hand handy option to
display the text vertically or display furigana.

Radio Nikkei N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Japanese radio shows on all kinds of topics, from market trends, through horse racing, all
the way to podcasts on being an ecological mother and news from Russia. Natural speed
but clear and professional which makes them easier to follow than most amateur
broadcasts.

Podcasts & audio lessons

Learn Japanese Pod N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Probably the best Japanese language podcast. Great grammar lessons at all difficulty
levels, interesting cultural tidbits, and more.

JapanesePod101 N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Another great podcast. Its not particularly well organized, and all the intro sounds and
marketing messages do get annoying over time, but some of the lessons are really good.

Pimsleurs Japanese N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

This is in no case the fastest way to learn the language, but what you will learn youll
probably remember forever. Fairly enjoyable, well thought out lessons, but beware of the
hefty price tag.

NHKs Japanese Podcast Lessons N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Very professional, free Japanese audio lessons. Each starts with a simple dialogue around
one or several useful expressions and then goes on to discuss every word and sentence
in more detail.

Vodcasts & video blogs

Gimmeaflakeman N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Victor aka Gimmeabreakmans videos are full of helpful tips on learning Japanese and
lessons on all kinds of topics at all difficulty and politeness levels. Especially check out his
Japanese for Morons series.

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ThatJapaneseGirl N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

One of the few Japanese video bloggers. Shell speak Japanese, and teach you some
every once in a while too.

BobbyJudo N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

If you like Japanese food, this is the channel for you. Bobby Judo will show you how to
cook, and teach some handy vocabulary at the same time.

Hikosaemon N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Hikosaemon speaks in fluent Japanese on all kinds of topics from current events to
random thoughts. If youre beginner or intermediate, check out his Genki Japan videos
which might be closer to your proficiency level.

Ciaela N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Beautiful videos on all aspects of the Japanese culture. Some are in Japanese with English
subtitles, some in English with Japanese subtitles, all equally worth watching.

Tofugu N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Koichis wonky videos on Japan and the Japanese language. Great for beginner learners if
you like this kind of style.

JapanesePod101 N5 N4 N3 N2 N1 +

Shady, annoying marketing tactics dont do their content justice. If you manage to wade
through the ads, intro animations and misleading claim, JapanesePod101 has some of the
most professional video lessons out there.

Cheat sheets
Nihonshocks Ultimate Japanese Cheat Sheet

The Japanese cheat sheet of all cheat sheets. Nihonshock managed to cover all the
fundamental Japanese grammar into two compact, yet readable A4s. Print, laminate, and
dont let out of your sight.

Japanese colour names

Our Japanese colour names cheat sheet is beautiful and useful at the same time. Quickly
lookup the right colour name for the occasion, as well as a bunch of other, related
vocabulary.

Japanese body parts

If youre going to visit a doctor in Japan, dont leave your house without this cheat sheet
labeling (almost) every part of the human body in Japanese.

Japanese verbs conjugation

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If youre having remembering all the many Japanese verbs forms, this conjugation cheat
sheet is for you.

Japanese adjectives declension

Similar to the verbs cheat sheet but this time covering the declension of Japanese adverbs
and adjectives.

Japanese hiragana & katakana table

Whether youre just beginning your Japanese learning journey, or simply cant help but
forget some of the kana characters every once in a while, check out our kana cheat sheet.

Other
Advanced expressions and grammar

Making Sense of Japanese

Previously known as Gone Fishin, this book is an American scholars attempt to convey his
conviction that the Japanese language is not vague. Rubin explains how to find the
subject in a subjectless sentence, explains a number of confusing expressions, and teaches
how to properly read and analyze Japanese texts. Unfortunately, all examples are written
in romaji.

Basic Connections: Making Your Japanese Flow

This book provides basic information about expressions and usages that facilitate the flow
of ideas and thoughts in written and spoken Japanesefrom basic particles and sentence
structure, through common connective expressions, all the way to common mistakes.

Common Japanese Collocations

A great book on the most frequently used noun-and-verb and noun-and-adjective

combinations categorized by topic and accompanied with example sentences and
common usage errors. A must read for any serious student.

Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication

An excellent book for self-learners covering many important Japanese sentence patterns,
arranged by difficulty, with lots of example sentences and exercises.

The Structure of the Japanese Language

A unique book targeting students who already have a good knowledge of Japanese
grammar, and want to learn how not to use given grammatical patterns. The book deals
with those problems of Japanese that are either completely ignored or erroneously
treated in conventional grammar books and shows what kinds of sentences one should
check with native speakers to prove or disprove ones initial hypothesis.

How to Sound Intelligent in Japanese

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This is a quick and concise way to build difficult specialist vocabulary across many topics
from law and politics, through business and science, all the way to philosophy and
religion. Also helpful to better understand some of the more advanced kanji and how
theyre used in compounds.

Rapid Reading Japanese: Intermediate and Advanced

Great book for intermediate-advanced level students who are still uncomfortable reading
real-world texts. The first section teaches you how to scan Japanese texts, the second part
teaches you to skim-read, the third combines the two and some longer challenging texts
at the end give you something to practise on.

All About Particles: A Handbook of Japanese Function Words

Another good book about particles. More simplistic than the Dictionary of Japanese
Particles mentioned above, but easy to understand and with a large number of varied
example sentences.

Japanese Core Words and Phrases

This book covers a great number of common Japanese words, idioms and phrases that
are not explained satisfactorily in dictionaries or textbooks for they cannot be conveniently
defined. Each explanation is accompanied with useful example sentences and dialogues.

Niche and dialectal language

Kansaiben

A website dedicated to kansaiben, a major dialect of the Japanese language spoken

primarily in and around saka. If you plan to live in the Kansai region, this site will be of
great help to understand and communicate with the locals.

Thorough keigo (formal, humble Japanese) lessons with videos and assessment quizzes for
advanced learners of the Japanese language.

Writing E-mails in Japanese

Published by The Japan Times, this is the book if youd like to learn the intricate art of e-
mail correspondence in the Japanese language.

Japanese in Anime & Manga

One of many well done websites by The Japan Foundation, in this case teaching all kinds
of anime and manga vocabulary, kanji and expressions through interactive games and
exercises.

101 Japanese Idioms

This book will teach you over a hundred Japanese fixed expressions, crucial if you want to
sound natural in your speech, and understand that of others. Each expression is
accompanied with an illustration and natural example sentences.

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Jazz Up Your Japanese with Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeic and mimetic words are an integral part of the Japanese language, used
more frequently and in a wider range of contexts than their English counterparts. This
book, full of easy to understand explanations and many example dialogues will not only
teach you what some of these words mean, but also show you how they are actually
used.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Japanese Onomatopoeic Expressions

Another great book covering onomatopoeia, and especially gitaigo, in great detail, with
short and precise explanations, and amusing illustrations.

Making Out in Japanese

A fun book on colloquial Japanese which despite its title goes beyond romantic
relationships, covering all aspects of Japanese slang and informal language. Be sure to
check what you learn with a native as some of the content might be outdated or
potentially offensive.

Dirty Japanese

Another book on colloquial Japanese. From slang, through insults and swear words, all the
way to explicit sex terms, Dirty Japanese teaches the casual expressions heard every day
on the streets of Japan. Again, be sure to check what you learn with a native as some of
the content might be outdated or potentially offensive.

Love, Hate and Everything in Between

Staying on the topic of emotions, good or bad, this book covers more than 400 phrases
that are useful when talking about personal experience and nuances of feeling. The book
includes loads of example sentences which will allow you to understand the material and
start using it confidently in your own speech.

70 Japanese Gestures: No Language Communication

If youre low on words, but still want to express your emotions, gestures are where its at,
and this book is one of the more thorough and especially enjoyable resources on the
topic.

This is a great book for those of you whod like to expand your history and geography
related vocabulary. The book is full of pictures and is made to be easy to understand, but
it does require good knowledge of kanji.

Japanese verb conjugation (cheat sheet) Japanese adjective declension (cheat sheet)

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+Philip Seyfi is a Russian new media developer, designer, and

entrepreneur. He is the author of NihongoUp and co-founder of EduLift.

All posts | Homepage | Twitter

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100 top resources to learn Japanese | Japanese LinguaLift blog

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Discussion Community Share #

Alexandre Lveill 4 months ago

That is the most impressive list I've seen. All with the N# levels too.
Wow, good work!!

You might be interested to add Japan Activator and their Android app: JA
Sensei. I use the app frequently to look up Kanji or as a all-in-one offline
resource.

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vijay 6 months ago

great, this is amazing, cannot thank you enough!

1
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Eastern Odyssey 7 months ago

Great list of Japanese language learning resources. Normally hard to

find these sort things. Takes a google few hours searching.

1
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Ashwini 9 months ago

http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/best-japanese-learning-resources/[2/16/2013 4:02:29 PM]

100 top resources to learn Japanese | Japanese LinguaLift blog

This is amazing! Thank you very much.....

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Secret 9 months ago

This list is great!

1
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Grayson Koonce a month ago

Blown away this doesn't include my favorite kanji learning tool -

wanikani.com

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Jo Somebody > Grayson Koonce 14 days ago

I am a new user to WK and I think it's great too. But it was in Alpha
9 months ago and hasn't been in Beta that long. Maybe when it is fully
ready and public it can be added to the list.

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NihongoMaster 3 months ago

What a fantastic list of resources! We'd love to make it 101 by adding

our own link. It's new (which is why it wasn't around 6 months ago). We're an
online resource for learning Japanese and Kanji. We've broken down the lessons
so they're not so scary, adding in achievements and points to keep you
motivated.. our community is rocking it out and growing by the day. We'd love to
see some new faces come our way!

http://nihongomaster.com

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AhmadMDev 7 months ago

why jishop (http://www.jishop.com) is not in the list ..

for me ,i think it's the best program to learn kanji characters ..

anyway i'm making a program that I hope it'll be in a similiar list someday ..
it's name JapWrite (http://tinyurl.com/amdev-Japwr... and it's (till now) have all
Hiragana/Katakana characters .

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foozlesprite 8 months ago

Great list but you have a small/hilarious typo: "Skritter does one thing,
and it does it wellit is the only online

http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/best-japanese-learning-resources/[2/16/2013 4:02:29 PM]

100 top resources to learn Japanese | Japanese LinguaLift blog

offering that lets you actually write the Chinese characters using a
table or your your mouse."

I'm rolling with laughter trying to imagine someone writing kanji with a table :D

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seifip Mod > foozlesprite 8 months ago

Thanks for the heads up! Fixed ^^

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David ab 9 months ago

There's missing Japanese for Young People in the textbook section, I

belive.

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10 months ago

No mention of the excellent iKana or iKanji for Mac and iPhone? Great
for reviewing kanji and kana.

0
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seifip Mod > 10 months ago

I've tried to limit the list to resources that can be accessed on any
computer, regardless of the operating system, which is why mobile apps
and iKanji/iKana have not be included. We'll publish separate lists for major
mobile platforms and operating systems in the near future :)

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zonjineko > seifip 10 months ago

Thanks Philip but Kleio is Windows only so can't be used on

"any computer" really :) Fantastic list BTW just missing one really
great website ;)

I'd prefer to see the major iOS/Android apps listed here so then there
is one list that covers everything. I second the votes for iKana and
iKanji - great apps!

0
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Ollie Capehorn > zonjineko 10 months ago

We do have a separate post for iPhone apps and a

(albeit slightly out of date) post on Android apps too. Philip will
soon be doing one for Windows Phone too.

http://japanese.lingualift.com/blog/best-japanese-learning-resources/[2/16/2013 4:02:29 PM]

100 top resources to learn Japanese | Japanese LinguaLift blog

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