Learn Japanese with Stories Bundle #1 [10 Volumes] [Digital Books + Audios]

$ 39.00 $ 69.90 -45% OFF

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Description

What you get

10 eBooks + audio + Anki flashcards + app access

It's a digital bundle, so nothing is shipped. Right after checkout we email you a link to download:

10 eBooks as PDFsRead on a computer or tablet, or print a story.
The same eBooks as ePubsFor phones, tablets and e-readers.
Audio for every storyRead by Yumi, a native speaker, at slow and natural speed.
Anki decksOne deck per story, so you review as you read.
Makoto+ app unlock codesEvery story opens in the app, sentence by sentence.

How you'll use it

Read, listen, review, practice

  1. ReadRead a story one sentence at a time, with a note on every word.
  2. ListenPlay it at slow speed, then at natural speed, and read along.
  3. ReviewGo over the story's words in its own Anki deck.
  4. PracticeAnswer the exercises, then reread the story in the Makoto+ app.

Start with Volume 1, or jump to any story you like.

10eBooks
+2bonus books
2audio speeds per story
1Anki deck per story
LevelN4

JLPT N5 to N4, CEFR A1 to A2 · Best after Genki I

What's inside

10 eBooks, Volumes 1 to 10

Folktales every Japanese child grows up with, from the clever Hikoichi to Urashima Tarou.

  1. Step 1

    Folktales every Japanese child knows

    Hikoichi and the Young Lord, Momotaro, the Tortoise and the Hare, the Inch-High Samurai, Kaguya Hime, the Mouse Bride, Ikkyuu-san, the Cut-Tongue Sparrow, Kobutori Jiisan and more.

    Volume 1: Hikoichi
    Volume 2: Momotaro
    Volume 3: The Inch-High Samurai
    Volume 4: The Mouse Bride
    Volume 5: The Cut-Tongue Sparrow
  2. Step 2

    Ghosts, wonders and a few tears

    Yuki Onna, Anchin and Kiyohime, the Little Match Girl, more Hikoichi, the Hundred Tales Game, Urashima Tarou, Hanasaka Jiisan and more.

    Volume 6: Yuki Onna
    Volume 7: The Little Match Girl
    Volume 8: Hikoichi Revisited
    Volume 9: The Fountain of Youth, The Hundred Tales Game, The Wise Child
    Volume 10: Urashima Tarou and Other Stories
  3. Then on to Volumes 11 to 20

Look inside a story

Every story, three ways

1Line by line, with furigana

むかし、むかし、あるところに彦一ひこいちさんというとても賢かしこい若者わかものが住すんでいました。

2The whole story in Japanese

むかし、むかし、あるところに彦一さんというとても賢い若者が住んでいました。

“Once upon a time, there lived a very clever young man named Hikoichi.”

The first line of “Hikoichi and the Young Lord” in Volume 1. On its own page every word gets a note, like 賢かしこい: wise, clever. Then the story runs again without furigana, then in English, with audio at slow and natural speed.

Read the first story free

In the app too

Read and listen in the Makoto+ app

Hikoichi and the Young Lord open in the Makoto+ app: the story's picture and its first sentence with furigana, a play button, and a Normal or Slow audio switch
Word details in the Makoto+ app for 賢い (かしこい, clever; wise): its pitch accent with a Listen button, a note, the dictionary meaning, and the kanji 賢 to tap for stroke order

All 10 books unlock in the Makoto+ Japanese Explorer app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Here is Hikoichi in the app, and what you see when you tap a word: its meaning, its pitch accent to play, and its kanji. Your unlock codes come with the download.

  • Hear every sentence at normal or slow speed
  • Turn furigana on or off
  • Tap any word for its meaning, pitch accent and kanji
  • Save words and quiz yourself
  • Pick up where you left off in every book

What learners say

4.9from 231 reviews

“These stories are perfectly geared to beginners, and being able to understand them really boosts your confidence so that you can take it to the next level.”

James S.

“I'd definitely recommend this package if you already have some Japanese knowledge, are looking to start reading larger stories, but still need help understanding everything. These are the best readers I can find at that knowledge level.”

Tim R.

“It's great to be able to read fun and engaging stories in Japanese, even with just a beginner-level vocabulary. Highly recommended!”

Wendi W.

Read all 231 reviews

Who it's for

You know hiraganaReady to read real stories, with help on every word.
Textbook graduatesFinished Genki I? Pick up where graded readers leave off.
Story loversFolktales, ghosts and tricksters every Japanese child knows.
  • Pay once, keep them forever
  • Free updates forever
  • Instant download
  • 60-day money-back guarantee

Add Volumes 11 to 20 for $20 more

The Complete Bundle is this bundle plus Bundle 2, all 20 volumes, for $59. That's $19 less than buying both.

See the Complete Bundle

Questions

What do I get?

Volumes 1 to 10 as PDF and ePub files, MP3 audio of every story at slow and natural speed, an Anki deck for each story, and two bonus books: Hiragana, The Basics of Japanese and Makoto magazine issue 1.

How do I download it?

Right after checkout we email you a download link. Download everything at once on a computer, or open single books on your phone or tablet. You don't need Dropbox or any other account.

Can I read them on my phone or Kindle?

Yes. The ePub files work in Apple Books, Google Play Books and most reading apps, and the PDFs open anywhere. Our eBook guide walks you through each device.

Which books unlock in the Makoto+ app?

All ten. Every story opens in the app, and your unlock codes come with the download.

What level is it?

Upper beginner, about JLPT N5 to N4. You should be able to read hiragana. In the line-by-line section every kanji has furigana. If you are just starting, try Beri-Beri Shoshinsha first.

What about Volumes 11 to 20?

They're in Bundle 2, or get all 20 volumes for less in the Complete Bundle.

Is a printed version included?

No, this is the digital bundle. Several of these books are also sold as paperbacks.

What if it isn't right for me?

Tell us within 60 days and we'll swap it for a better-fitting bundle or refund you in full.

TheJapanShop.com bundles are books you own. Makoto+ is a library you join. See how they compare

We run two main sites: TheJapanShop.com and MakotoPlus.com. Here's the gist:

Books you own

TheJapanShop.com bundles

  • Pay once and keep it forever
  • Download every book: PDF, ePub and MP3 audio, plus Anki decks with many bundles
  • Free updates forever, including new volumes we add to the bundle
  • Most bundles also unlock in the Makoto app by themselves, as the full eBook plus interactive sentences
  • 60-day money-back guarantee

A library you join

Makoto+ membership

  • Free, monthly or yearly plans
  • Interactive stories in the Makoto app: about a dozen free, dozens with Samurai, up to 200 with Shogun
  • Stories in the membership rotate monthly
  • A new Makoto magazine issue every month to download and keep (Samurai and Shogun)
  • Members save 10% (Samurai) or 20% (Shogun) on bundles

Join once, for good

Makoto+ Lifetime

  • Shogun membership for life, with one payment
  • Everything we add to Makoto+ later is included
  • Bundle downloads are not included, but your 20% member discount works on them
  • Sold only during limited-time windows

Many learners do both. The free Makoto+ Japanese Explorer App (iPhone/iPad and Android) puts them side by side: the books you own and the stories in your membership, in one library.

Samurai or Shogun member? See which stories you can already read in the app

If you are a Samurai member, you can read these 3 stories in the Makoto+ Japanese Explorer app right now:

Learn Japanese with Stories Volume 1: HikoichiHikoichi and the Young Lord · Hikoichi and the Living Umbrella · Hikoichi and the Tengu's Concealing Coat

And if you are Shogun, you also have access to these 4 stories:

Learn Japanese with Stories #2: MomotaroMomotaro

Learn Japanese with Stories Volume 3: The Inch-High Samuraiかぐや姫 The Moon Princess

Learn Japanese with Stories 4 - The Mouse Brideねずみの嫁入り The Mouse Bride

Learn Japanese with Stories 8 - Hikoichi RevisitedHikoichi and the Mischievous Tanuki

Stories in your membership rotate monthly and don't include downloads like PDFs, ePubs, MP3s or Anki decks. If you just want to read these stories in the app, they're already yours. Buying the bundle keeps all of its stories in the app for good, plus all the downloads.

Not a Makoto+ member? Become one to save up to 20% on this bundle AND get access to up to 200 stories as part of your membership.

Current as of November 2026.

Try before you buy

Read the first story free

Flip through the opening pages of Hikoichi and the Young Lord from Volume 1, exactly as they appear in the book, then hear the story read at slow and natural speed.

Page 1 / –
Loading sample…

Trouble viewing? Open the sample PDF in a new tab.

Hikoichi and the Young Lord Slow speed

Hikoichi and the Young Lord Natural speed

Every story in the bundle comes the same way: line by line with notes, then the whole story, then in English, with audio at both speeds.

  • 5 stars: 217 (94%)
  • 4 stars: 10 (4%)
  • 3 stars: 2 (1%)
  • 2 stars: 2 (1%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
Some of the reviews shown are from related products the merchant grouped with this one.
A
Anonymous (Wettingen, CH)
The new version is much nicer and the QR code is

The new version is much nicer and the QR code is so practical.

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! Glad you like the QR codes. Happy learning!

C
Cody Dreger (Strathmore, CA)
Love these resources!

I bought both the Beri Beri Shoushinsha and Japanese Reader Collection bundles and have slowly been working through the content at my own pace. Everything is laid out in a very straightforward, easy to understand format and the stories are short, fun and practical for learning grammar basics and everyday words. I also love the various print-friendly worksheets for practicing writing, including fun things like crosswords. Thank you Clay and Yumi for making such fantastic learning resources available!

Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad to hear that you're enjoying our Learn Japanese with Stories Bundle. Thank you for choosing our bundles and let us know if you have any questions as you go along.

E
Eddy

Very good learning aid. Definitely helps solidify what I’m learning from other methods.

J
James Smith (Memphis, US)
The Best Way to Learn Japanese

It's been going around that stories are the best way to learn a language, and after giving this a try, I have to agree. One of the biggest problems I've always had was being able to understand spoken language, and listening to stories allows you to engage those skills. Secondly it's not just hearing a language, but comprehensible input. These stories are perfectly geared to beginners, and being able to understand them really boosts your confidence so that you can take it to the next level.

Thank you for the great review! I'm glad you found this helpful. I think you are absolutely right. Reading (and listening as you read) is a great way to build vocabulary as well as build confidence to be able to go beyond the text. Keep at it!

A
Anthony Liu (Richmond, CA)
Beginner-friendly and fun materials with audiobooks

I purchased some series of the Japanese learning books with audio materials, and they are really good for beginners with fun and interesting. Also, the website is easy to follow and the price is much cheaper than other sites. I hope more audiobooks and learning guides will be available, especially for modern Japanese language people using today. Highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn Japanese for work, for making friends, for fun or for travel.

Thanks for the review! We're glad you're enjoying the materials and find them helpful. We hope to add more audiobooks and learning materials in the future.

M
M.W.B. (Salt Lake City, US)
Great Books

I really like these books. I bought all the readers, 1 - 17. The audio is really well done with a slow and fast version. Great explanations. I highly Recommend these books.

Thank you SO much! We deeply appreciate it. More to come soon.

S
Susan Glinert Stevens (New York, US)
Unreadable

So many font sizes...and the Japanese font was tiny. I couldn't read them.

Sorry for the trouble!

What device are you using it on and what format (ePub or MOBI) are you using? Also, which book did you have the most trouble with?

The PDF should look the best, but the ePub and MOBI files should work. If not, we can get that fixed for you.

L
Larissa Cooper (Ann Arbor, US)
Great!

I decided to pick these up now that I'm about a third of the way through the wanikani levels and I can't recommend these enough for practice with reading! I've only gotten through a couple of stories so far, but I've already learned so much!

I'm really glad to hear the books are helping you. If you have any questions as you go through, please let me know!

S
Steve Champagne (Lake Stevens, US)
Great Stories, Great Learning

Lots of good content explained in a way that makes it easy to assimilate. What I love about Clay and Yumi is they include free updates. That is a very generous extra.

Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it. More extras coming soon! :)

M
Michael S Hwang (Toronto, CA)
Japanese easy writing

The material is good for beginner Japanese. FYI: when you go to a higher level of Japanese, all reading materials are written in the dictionary form (る), nothing is written in the ます form. If you like this kind of writing style , there is a free NHK news website, called News Web Easy 優しい日本語で書いたニュース. This website also has audio as well. It provides current daily Japanese news and is updated daily. The vocabulary from NHK website is more relevent and will be able to use in every day Japanese (JLPT N3 level) and it is free.

k
kevin fitzgerald (Gosport, GB)
Just starting but looking great

I have just started my journey but this study material is just what I have been looking for. As soon as I progress I will be buying the rest of the study material.

F
Faith Gibson (Holland, US)
Japanese Books

The books are great

R
Rmc (Santiago, CL)
Love it

Great way to learn. Taking in the language auditorily and visually at the same time in the context of fun stories, makes it easier to understand the meaning of the words and remember them. That's why i love these books. They are well structured and very complete.

T
Tim Reilly (Portland, US)
Quality content, so-so Kindle formatting

I've really enjoyed these books and their structure. Learn some vocab up front, immediately use it learning the story, then check to see if you got everything. I'd definitely recommend this package if you already have some Japanese knowledge, are looking to start reading larger stories, but still need help understanding everything. These are the best readers I can find at that knowledge level.

There are a lot of Kindle formatting problems, but not so bad that I can't enjoy the books. I let the admin know and they sent me a partially fixed version of one of the books, hopefully all of them get updated and fixed sometime soon. :)

B
Barbora Sindelarova (Pardubice, CZ)
Great!

Helpful materials

C
Csilla Nilsson (Hellebaek, DK)
Superb!

Great help, articulated audio, easy to follow notes. Highly recommended!

K
K.O. (Sofia, BG)
Great value!

Awesome materials, thanks guys!

E
Emi Faucher (Laval, CA)
motivation

there's a lot of story, it's a great bundle! This gives motivation to learn. it's really a good idea

J
Jeffrey Gray (Lebanon, US)
A wonderful compliment and support for standard grammar studies.

I have just started playing with them but they are already a key component of my studies. They have been a nice compliment to my basic grammar studies. It's really nice to see the things I am learning in the context of interesting stories. They are wonderful. Well done.

p
pinky (Belfast, GB)
Super cute, good value, really helpful

Title says it all. The download was so worth it, and I got it on sale so the value was great. The permanent price isn't too high anyway, and it was great to save paper and shipping time. The materials I received have been really helpful and I'm making my way through at my own pace. I'm really glad to have found this site!

M
Martina Čuhelová (Prague, CZ)

Very handy

P
Paul von Keutz (Bad Nauheim, DE)
Alles Bestens!

Alles Bestens!

A
Antonio Rodriguez (Waterloo, CA)
It is almost too much ... in a good way!

Honestly, if you can get this bundle, and you are interested in learning to read Japanese, grab it before they realize they are giving the store away!

W
Wendi Werneth (Lisbon, PT)
Engaging stories, great way to learn both language and culture

I'm really happy with these books so far! It's great to be able to read fun and engaging stories in Japanese, even with just a beginner-level vocabulary. Highly recommended!

N
Nicol Agsten (Dublin, IE)
Great material

I’ve been trying to refresh my basic Japanese and these help so much! I absolutely love them!

S
Sara Perrott (Auburn, US)
Love these!

I love that these stories have large print. Hiragana and katakana are easily laid out and kanji has hiragana above them. The way that words are broken out at the bottom to help enforce understanding is fantastic. I love that English follows to ensure that you got the whole story. The audio files are an excellent resource as well to aid in pronunciation and listening practice.

A
Aleksei Lebedev (Tallinn, EE)
Nice resources

The checkout was quick and easy, and this reading material seems clear and very useful for practicing while also having fun. Recommend.

R
Roberto Dal Molin (Milan, IT)
Great

I find it very useful to learn words and expressions within a context. Recommended!

D
Dale (Montreal, CA)
Great! Sugoi!

Great deal, and great way to learn Japanese vocabulary and grammar (and culture as well). It is best to already have some knowledge on the language, but I think it's good for beginners as well!