OUR NEWEST DIGITAL BUNDLE For Beginners to Intermediates Learning Japanese isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary and mastering grammar—it’s about stepping into the rich, vibrant world of Japanese history and culture. What better way to do that than by exploring the fascinating eras that shaped Japan? From ancient pottery and peaceful villages of the Jomon period to the elegant poetry and political intrigue of the Heian period, each era tells a story. In this new series, you’ll dive deep into these historical worlds through engaging essays written in authentic Japanese, designed to improve your language skills while bringing history to life.  Bulk Discount - Remember, buy more to save more. Add two bundles to your cart and get an automatic 5% off your entire digital order; Buy three, get 10% off; Buy five or more and get a whopping 20% off your entire digital order! No coupon is needed! ➡️ How to read the eBooks in your bundle? You may need to follow the steps outlined in our eBook guide P.S. All our bundles have: ✅ Multiple formats (PDF, ePub, MP3s, plus many have Anki flashcard decks)✅ One-time payment✅ Discounted compared to buying individually on Amazon✅ Free lifetime updates to this bundle✅ Instant download gratification✅ [Satisfaction Guaranteed] - Seriously, if you aren't happy with it because it's too easy or difficult, just let us know and we'll swap it with a bundle better suited for you or we'll refund your money. WHAT'S INCLUDED? Some of these essays were first published in our Makoto Magazine (click here to learn about becoming a Makoto member), but we have greatly edited and expanded those essays.  More books coming soon! Purchase the bundle now before the price increase and get future updates for no additional charge! This is a bundle of eBooks in digital format. Download instantly and begin improving your Japanese reading skills (PDFs), listening abilities (sound files - slow and normal speed), and vocabulary (Anki flashcard decks). Use the Anki flashcard decks to quickly learn vocabulary. An amazing value! WHO IS THIS FOR? This bundle is recommended for upper beginners to intermediate students of Japanese. If you are just starting out, no problem! We have a bundle just for you. Click here to learn about our Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha Beginner's Bundle. ---  Each volume sells on Amazon and elsewhere for $4.99. But remember, you will get lifetime updates including new eBooks in the series and supplementary material. THE ESSAYS: Volume 1: Joumon Period & Yayoi Period Volume 2: Kofun Period & Asuka Period Volume 3: Nara Period & Heian Volume 4: Kamakura & Muromachi Volume 5: Sengoku & Edo Period COMING SOON BENEFITS: Each essay includes two sound files. One read slowly and one read at normal speed Use the QR code so you can scan to instantly hear the sound file streamed to you on demand! An easy and fun way to introduce yourself to important Japanese eras while also improving your vocabulary, grammar, and kanji. Best for upper beginners, however even beginners who have a solid knowledge of hiragana and basic grammar can enjoy this bundle. (Don’t know hiragana yet?! No problem. See our Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha digital bundle here.) Every single line and every word are explained and defined. Designed specifically for upper beginners to intermediates. Build your Japanese vocabulary, understand new grammatical patterns, improve your reading skills, and hone in your listening abilities Each essay includes two MP3s recorded by a native Japanese voice actress. Print out the PDFs and drop the MP3s on your phone for on the go studying. Anki decks - Use the provided Anki flashcard decks to help you learn the vocabulary found in the stories. These decks are included free of charge. These books sell individually for $4.99. Get them all together for a single low price AND get future volumes for no extra charge! Ready to learn Japanese while uncovering the secrets of Japan’s past? Let’s travel through time, one sentence at a time.   Reminder: This is the digital versions of the books. There will be NO shipping charges since... nothing will be shipped :) Please note: you will receive a Dropbox link which can be accessed from any device (phone, tablet, or computer) instantly. If you are on a computer, you can download it all by clicking on the Download button at the top right. NOTE: Print Versions are Available! (Not included in this digital-only bundle) Click here for the print versions - Clay and Yumi's Paperbacks If you choose a digital version, you'll instantly get the download links in a minute after purchasing. The print versions also come with the digital files. You do not need to have a Dropbox account or pay anything further to access or download the files. You will be able to instantly download all files on a PC or Mac (computer or laptop) and/or access any individual file on any of your mobile devices. Learn more here. If you don't see the email after the order, please check your spam folder or email us for support. These books are available on Amazon.

Note: This is the physical paperback version which will be shipped to your location. If you are looking for the digital only version, please click here for the bundle with this book in it. Digital products have no shipping charges! 121 pages | Paperback | Includes FREE Sound Files and eBook formats   READ real Japanese Today! Enjoy and Fully Understand 25 haiku by 小林一茶 (こばやし いっさ) Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) Haiku fascinates people worldwide—so much emotion and meaning can be conveyed with so few words. Yet, few outside of Japan can truly appreciate Japanese haiku in its original form. While good translations can capture the essence of the words, the nuances and cultural aspects are often lost. This book is designed to help beginner to intermediate students of Japanese learn vocabulary and grammar while uncovering some of the subtle meanings that are lost in translation. The collection features twenty-five haiku, presented in both Japanese and English, with QR codes that allow you to instantly hear recordings of the poems by simply scanning them with your phone. Each haiku is followed by a short commentary in both languages, along with a comprehensive vocabulary list that includes definitions and grammatical notes for all the Japanese terms. In this new edition, we've added even more commentary and provided multiple translations for each haiku, ranging from literal to figurative interpretations. At the end of the book, you’ll find a download link to access all the sound files, complementing the QR codes. What You'll Get: Read and understand twenty-five of Kobayashi Issa's most famous haiku. Perfect for beginner to intermediate students of Japanese. Downloadable sound files for all the haiku in Japanese and the commentary. Definitions for every word, along with explanations of key grammar points and haiku elements. Every haiku and commentary include a QR code for instant access to audio recordings. Newly updated and expanded with a modern design, enriched vocabulary lists, and more translations and commentary. Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828) was a renowned Edo-period haiku poet known for his deeply personal and empathetic style. His haiku often highlighted the struggles and beauty of everyday life, with a focus on small creatures and nature, infused with humor and irony. Though he faced many personal hardships, Issa is now celebrated as one of Japan’s greatest haiku masters, alongside Basho, Buson, and Shiki. Ready to improve your Japanese while deepening your cultural knowledge? Add it to your cart now!

NOTE: The digital version is found in the digital only Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha bundle.  Have you only recently learned hiragana but need practice? Or perhaps, your hiragana is no problem, but you want to build your hiragana and kanji reading comprehension? This new collection of stories is here to the rescue! Read real Japanese—beginner level but not boring Japanese! You won't find the Japanese version of Dick and Jane, but you will find stories written for adults. Enjoy reading flash fiction, super short essays, and funny stories of common mistakes made by learners of Japanese.Best of all, the only requirement is that you can read hiragana and have a very basic understanding of Japanese. Vocabulary and grammar will be defined and explained.     In this volume: STORY 1 SETSUBUN STORY 2 HINAMATSURI STORY 3 JAPANESE SCHOOLS  STORY 4 CHILDREN'S DAY STORY 5 SHIKKE STORY 6 OPENING THE BEACHES STORY 7 SIGNAGE STORY 8 TOMOKOROSHI  STORY 9 KANNAZUKI STORY 10 KOHARUBIYORI The format is a little different from our other more advanced readers. The idea is for the reader to read the entire story three times. Each page will have a sentence or two in hiragana (with spaces between words for you to see “words” instead of syllables) at the top and that same content in full Japanese (with furigana—small hiragana over kanji) at the bottom. The middle will have the glossary and grammatical explanations. Lastly, the story is presented in Japanese without furigana. See if you can read it after going through the previous two versions and explanations. If you have just learned hiragana, you may want to listen to the sound file while reading the hiragana section to practice correct pronunciation. If you have studied Japanese a bit longer, you may want to start with the bottom version and take note of the glossary for understanding.The glossary will have the word as it appears in the story, but it will also give the “dictionary” form so you can look the word up further. Having fun while learning a language is a great way to increase motivation. With increased motivation, you are less likely to skip a day's study. A skipped day can quickly become a lost week and then a lost… forever. And so, we hope you will have as much fun reading these stories as we had writing them. This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files for no extra charge immediately after ordering.

  Note: This is the physical paperback version which will be shipped to your location. If you are looking for the digital only version, please click here for the bundle with this book in it. Digital products have no shipping charges! 86 pages | Paperback | Includes FREE MP3s and eBook formats   READ real Japanese Today! 正岡(まさおか)子規(しき) (Masaoka Shiki) (1867–1902) was a Japanese poet, essayist, and literary critic, best known for his work in revitalizing traditional Japanese poetry forms such as 俳句(はいく) (haiku) and 短歌(たんか) (tanka) during the Meiji period. Born in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, his birth name was Masaoka Tsunenori (正岡(まさおか) 常(つね)規(のり)), but he later adopted the pen name "Shiki 子規(しき)," which means "cuckoo." According to legend, the cuckoo is said to cough up blood when it sings, a poignant symbol for Shiki, who suffered from tuberculosis for much of his life. Despite living only 34 short years, Shiki is credited with writing nearly 20,000 haiku. Many consider him one of the four great haiku masters, alongside Matsuo Bashō, Yosa Buson, and Kobayashi Issa.This book is intended to help the beginning to intermediate student of Japanese not only learn Japanese vocabulary and grammar, but also to reveal some of the hidden nuance in translation.What you'll get: Read and understand twenty of Masaoka Shiki's most famous haiku. For beginner to intermediate students of Japanese Download sound files of all the haiku in Japanese and all the commentary of the haiku Every word is defined, and major grammar or haiku elements explained Every haiku and commentary have a QR code which you can scan to instantly get the sound recording for that text Ready to improve your Japanese while increasing your cultural knowledge? Add to cart now.

SAVE WITH DIGITAL! This item is included in a digital bundle at a discount. If you would like the eBook version (PDF and ePub) and the MP3s sound files, please see our discounted bundles here - Japanese Vocabulary Booster Value Pack WHICH FORMAT SHOULD I GET?Paperback: Requires shipping but you also instantly get the digital filesDigital Download: Get instant access of the ebook and sound files Discover 101 more Japanese idioms.This book picks up where our first and second books leave off. This adds another 101 for a total of 303 useful idioms.  In this volume, we continue our exploration of Japanese idioms, categorizing them into four thematic sections: Part 1: Body Part IdiomsPart 2: Animal IdiomsPart 3: Personality and Behavior IdiomsPart 4: Situational Idioms Each idiom is thoroughly explained, providing: •    The expression in Japanese and its figurative English translation•    The literal meaning and common usage•    Etymology and cultural background where available•    An example sentence showcasing the idiom in context•    A comprehensive vocabulary breakdown of the example sentence While this book is immensely beneficial even for beginners, hiragana and a basic understanding of Japanese sentence structure are required. Once one zooms beyond the basics of a language, idiomatic expressions, proverbs, and slang can provide the spice to keep motivation up and progress going forward. This book will introduce 101 of the most common Japanese idioms. We are including, at no extra charge, sound files for all the examples found in this book. Use these files to practice your pronunciation and listening. In addition, we are also including a free Anki flashcard deck with sound of all the idioms found in the collection. Anki is a free flashcard software that will help you quickly remember these idioms. In this edition, we've eliminated all Rōmaji (Roman letters) and limited Furigana (the small Hiragana over Kanji) to its first occurrence in each lesson. This approach may challenge beginners, but it's our way of ensuring your success in Japanese - consider it 'tough love. Our goal is your success in mastering Japanese. Early reliance on Rōmaji and Furigana can impede long-term progress.We advocate for learning vocabulary in its proper context as the most effective method. Every idiom is followed by an example sentence and a paragraph or two explaining the context and usage.To further support your learning journey, we're offering an exceptional collection of bonus materials: 300+ Sound Files Anki Flashcard Deck ePub and PDF versions of the book For each idiom, we provide three accompanying sound files. All sound files have been recorded by native Japanese voice actors and actresses. The first sound file is the idiom itself. The second is the example sentence. The third sound file has the idiom, an English translation, the idiom repeated slowly, and the example sentence with translation. Try to mimic the Japanese speakers in sound and presentation. The download link for the complimentary sound files is located on the book's last page. Don't wait any longer to enrich your Japanese vocabulary. Give your Japanese vocabulary a boost with 101 More Common Japanese Idioms now.

SAVE WITH DIGITAL! This item is included in a digital bundle at a discount. If you would like the eBook version (PDF and ePub) and the MP3s sound files, please see our discounted bundles here - Japanese Vocabulary Booster Value Pack WHICH FORMAT SHOULD I GET?Paperback: Requires shipping but you also instantly get the digital filesDigital Download: Get instant access of the ebook and sound files Discover 101 more Japanese idioms.This book picks up where our first book leaves off. Eventually, this series will cover over 300 Japanese idioms in common use today. Ever wondered what it means when your mouth is 'heavy,' how to 'use people with your chin,' or what 'grinding sesame' signifies in Japanese? Uncover the meanings behind these fascinating idioms and many more. While this book is immensely beneficial even for beginners, hiragana and a basic understanding of Japanese sentence structure are required. Once one zooms beyond the basics of a language, idiomatic expressions, proverbs, and slang can provide the spice to keep motivation up and progress going forward. This book will introduce 101 of the most common Japanese idioms. We are including, at no extra charge, sound files for all the examples found in this book. Use these files to practice your pronunciation and listening. In addition, we are also including a free Anki flashcard deck with sound of all the idioms found in the collection. Anki is a free flashcard software that will help you quickly remember these idioms. In this edition, we've eliminated all Rōmaji (Roman letters) and limited Furigana (the small Hiragana over Kanji) to its first occurrence in each lesson. This approach may challenge beginners, but it's our way of ensuring your success in Japanese - consider it 'tough love. Our goal is your success in mastering Japanese. Early reliance on Rōmaji and Furigana can impede long-term progress.We advocate for learning vocabulary in its proper context as the most effective method. Every idiom is followed by an example sentence and a paragraph or two explaining the context and usage.To further support your learning journey, we're offering an exceptional collection of bonus materials: 300+ Sound Files Anki Flashcard Deck ePub and PDF versions of the book For each idiom, we provide three accompanying sound files. All sound files have been recorded by native Japanese voice actors and actresses. The first sound file is the idiom itself. The second is the example sentence. The third sound file has the idiom, an English translation, the idiom repeated slowly, and the example sentence with translation. Try to mimic the Japanese speakers in sound and presentation. The download link for the complimentary sound files is located on the book's last page. Don't wait any longer to enrich your Japanese vocabulary. Give your Japanese vocabulary a boost with 101 More Common Japanese Idioms now.

SAVE WITH DIGITAL! Don't need a physical book? This is also available in this Money-Saving Digital Bundle. 133 Pages | Includes Digital Files | 5.5 x 8.5 inch Paperback Note: this is a physical paperback that will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files by email immediately after ordering.   Finally, a fun and easy way to learn REAL conversational Japanese! (And get FREE sound files of all the dialogues too!)   Learn Japanese vocabulary in context, improve your listening comprehension, and learn how to talk to others in Japanese.   This was written for beginners of Japanese, but if you haven't yet learned hiragana, please see our Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha here.   We are including, at no extra charge, MP3s for the eight dialogues found in this book. Create play-lists to study on the go or burn the sound files to a CD to listen at home. The download link will be emailed to you immediately after ordering. The MP3s are all recorded by native voice actors and actresses.   The dialogues found in this book are all about context and how Japanese is actually used with friends casually and when peppered with politeness among new acquaintances.    Please use the sound files (included in this download). We hope this book by itself will be helpful, but the sound files--in our opinion--give it most of its value. Contents Move your Hands instead of your Mouth 「口(くち)より手(て)を動(うご)かせ！」Killing two birds with one stone 「一石二鳥(いっせきにちょう)」Preaching to deaf ears 「馬(うま)の耳(みみ)に念仏(ねんぶつ)」 Better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away 「遠(とお)くの親戚(しんせき)より近(ちか)くの他人(たにん)」Full of Inconsistencies 「支離滅裂(しりめつれつ)」Best under the heavens 「天下一品(てんかいっぴん)」The Scenic Beauty 「風光明媚(ふうこうめいび)」Undoubtedly Genuinely Real 「正真正銘(しょうしんしょうめい)」   What are you waiting for? Ninja up your Japanese. Click “Add to Cart” now! Please note: This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive a download link for the digital files immediately after ordering. Please check your spam folder if you don't see it.

NOTE: The digital version is found in the digital only Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha bundle.  Have you only recently learned hiragana but need practice? Or perhaps, your hiragana is no problem, but you want to build your hiragana and kanji reading comprehension? This new collection of stories is here to the rescue! Read real Japanese—beginner level but not boring Japanese! You won't find the Japanese version of Dick and Jane, but you will find stories written for adults. Enjoy reading flash fiction, super short essays, and funny stories of common mistakes made by learners of Japanese.Best of all, the only requirement is that you can read hiragana and have a very basic understanding of Japanese. Vocabulary and grammar will be defined and explained.     In this volume: STORY 1 TAIYAKI  STORY 2 MITARASHI DANGO  STORY 3 JAPANESE PANCAKES  STORY 4 JAPANESE DIALECTS STORY 5 COLD MEALS  STORY 6 DISASTER PREPAREDNESS DAY  STORY 7 SPORTS DAY STORY 8 JAPANESE NAMES STORY 9 GENERAL CLEANING STORY 10 MOTIVATION    The format is a little different from our other more advanced readers. The idea is for the reader to read the entire story three times. Each page will have a sentence or two in hiragana (with spaces between words for you to see “words” instead of syllables) at the top and that same content in full Japanese (with furigana—small hiragana over kanji) at the bottom. The middle will have the glossary and grammatical explanations. Lastly, the story is presented in Japanese without furigana. See if you can read it after going through the previous two versions and explanations. If you have just learned hiragana, you may want to listen to the sound file while reading the hiragana section to practice correct pronunciation. If you have studied Japanese a bit longer, you may want to start with the bottom version and take note of the glossary for understanding.The glossary will have the word as it appears in the story, but it will also give the “dictionary” form so you can look the word up further. Having fun while learning a language is a great way to increase motivation. With increased motivation, you are less likely to skip a day's study. A skipped day can quickly become a lost week and then a lost… forever. And so, we hope you will have as much fun reading these stories as we had writing them. This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files for no extra charge immediately after ordering.

OUR NEWEST DIGITAL BUNDLE For Beginners to Intermediates Each biography contains two versions of the essay. First, read a simpler version with mostly JLPT N5-N4 beginner-level vocabulary and grammar. Then, tackle the intermediate version which covers basically same information but longer and with more difficult grammar and vocabulary. Bulk Discount - Remember, buy more to save more. Add two bundles to your cart and get an automatic 5% off your entire digital order; Buy three, get 10% off; Buy five or more and get a whopping 20% off your entire digital order! No coupon is needed! ➡️ How to read the eBooks in your bundle? You may need to follow the steps outlined in our eBook guide P.S. All our bundles have: ✅ Multiple formats (PDF, ePub, MP3s, plus many have Anki flashcard decks)✅ One-time payment✅ Discounted compared to buying individually on Amazon✅ Free lifetime updates to this bundle✅ Instant download gratification✅ [Satisfaction Guaranteed] - Seriously, if you aren't happy with it because it's too easy or difficult, just let us know and we'll swap it with a bundle better suited for you or we'll refund your money. WHAT'S INCLUDED? Some of these biographies were first published in our Makoto Magazine (click here to learn about becoming a Makoto member), but we have greatly edited and expanded those essays. In addition, each book includes a shorter beginner-level version of the essay. Review the vocabulary and grammar notes, read the beginner-level essay, and then tackle the full intermediate essay. We are launching with four full eBooks but will soon add book #5.  Purchase the bundle now before the price increase and get future updates for no additional charge! This is a bundle of eBooks in digital format. Download instantly and begin improving your Japanese reading skills (PDFs), listening abilities (sound files - slow and normal speed), and vocabulary (Anki flashcard decks). Use the Anki flashcard decks to quickly learn vocabulary. An amazing value! WHO IS THIS FOR? This bundle is recommended for upper beginners to intermediate students of Japanese. If you are just starting out, no problem! We have a bundle just for you. Click here to learn about our Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha Beginner's Bundle. ---  Each volume sells on Amazon and elsewhere for $4.99. But remember, you will get lifetime updates including new eBooks in the series and supplementary material. THE BIOGRAPHIES: 1 Natsume Souseki - Author and scholar 2 Tezuka Osamu - Manga artist 3 Shibasawa Eiichi - Super businessman 4 Fukuzawa Yukichi - Education is key 5 Yamaha Torakusu - Music and more! 6 John Manjiro - COMING SOON 7 Kitasato Shibasaburou - COMING SOON 8 Tsuda Umeko - COMING SOON Learn important kanji from the essays with Kanji in Focus BENEFITS: Each essay (both easier and intermediate essay) includes two sound files. One read slowly and one read at normal speed Use the QR code so you can scan to instantly hear the sound file streamed to you on demand! An easy and fun way to introduce yourself to important Japanese figures while also improving your vocabulary, grammar, and kanji. Best for upper beginners, however even beginners who have a solid knowledge of hiragana and basic grammar can enjoy this bundle. (Don’t know hiragana yet?! No problem. See our Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha digital bundle here.) Every single line and every word are explained and defined. Designed specifically for upper beginners to intermediates. Build your Japanese vocabulary, understand new grammatical patterns, improve your reading skills, and hone in your listening abilities Each essay includes two MP3s recorded by a native Japanese voice actress. Print out the PDFs and drop the MP3s on your phone for on the go studying. Anki decks - Use the provided Anki flashcard decks to help you learn the vocabulary found in the stories. These decks are included free of charge. These books sell individually for $4.99. Get them all together for a single low price! Reminder: This is the digital versions of the books. There will be NO shipping charges since... nothing will be shipped :) Please note: you will receive a Dropbox link which can be accessed from any device (phone, tablet, or computer) instantly. If you are on a computer, you can download it all by clicking on the Download button at the top right. NOTE: Print Versions are Available! (Not included in this digital-only bundle) Click here for the print versions - Clay and Yumi's Paperbacks If you choose a digital version, you'll instantly get the download links in a minute after purchasing. The print versions also come with the digital files. You do not need to have a Dropbox account or pay anything further to access or download the files. You will be able to instantly download all files on a PC or Mac (computer or laptop) and/or access any individual file on any of your mobile devices. Learn more here. If you don't see the email after the order, please check your spam folder or email us for support. These books are available on Amazon.

NOTE: This is also available in the Learn Japanese with Stories Volume 2 Bundle. 112 Pages | Includes Digital Files (Sound files and Anki deck) | 5.5 x 8.5 inch Paperback   This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files immediately after ordering. The Kicchomu stories are part of a genre called 頓智話(とんちばなし), or "quick wit stories." He can be a trickster or he can use his wisdom to get out of difficult situations. Often, the village headman or some rich but somewhat arrogant fellow thinks Kicchomu is a fool and tries to trick him and Kicchomu uses his ready wit to turn the tables. In the first tale in this volume, Kicchomu's attempt to heed sage advice during a village crisis yields unexpected and comical results. In the other adventure, his cunning ruse involving a seemingly magical horse leaves the wealthy headman utterly speechless. 112 Pages For Upper Beginners to Intermediates Sound file recordings of story both slow and normal speed for both stories Anki deck with all the vocabulary in the stories Recommended for upper beginners and lower intermediates of Japanese. FREE PDF and MP3s of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker–download link found on the last page. Listen while reading to develop listening comprehension, reading skills, and building vocabulary.    WHAT YOU GET:  All vocabulary is defined in English under each paragraph The full story just in Japanese is also provided so you can practice reading without interruption An English translation is provided (but we encourage you to try the Japanese first) Extensive grammar notes for both stories Free Anki flashcard deck for the vocabulary Best of all, download FREE MP3s of the story read by a native Japanese speech actress. (Link will be emailed to you after ordering - check your spam folder if you don't see it)

NOTE: This is also available in the Learn Japanese with Stories Volume 2 Bundle. 103 Pages | Includes Digital Files (Sound files and Anki deck) | 5.5 x 8.5 inch Paperback   This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files immediately after ordering. Kicchomu is a character often found in Japanese folktales, but he actually existed. Or rather, the character is based on a historical figure. This book contains two stories about Kicchomu. If you haven’t read our other stories staring Kicchomu, you are in for a treat. In Kicchomu and the Big Rock, Kicchomu has a big problem. There’s a big rock in his yard. Never fear! The ever clever Kicchomu has an idea how to get someone else dig it out for him. In the second story, Kicchomu accidentally sells his horse to the rice cake shop owner. How does Kicchomu get the horse back? Read and find out. 103 Pages For Upper Beginners to Intermediates Sound file recordings of story both slow and normal speed for both stories Anki deck with all the vocabulary in the stories Recommended for upper beginners and lower intermediates of Japanese. FREE PDF and MP3s of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker–download link found on the last page. Listen while reading to develop listening comprehension, reading skills, and building vocabulary.    WHAT YOU GET:  All vocabulary is defined in English under each paragraph The full story just in Japanese is also provided so you can practice reading without interruption An English translation is provided (but we encourage you to try the Japanese first) Extensive grammar notes for both stories Free Anki flashcard deck for the vocabulary Best of all, download FREE MP3s of the story read by a native Japanese speech actress. (Link will be emailed to you after ordering - check your spam folder if you don't see it)

NOTE: The digital version is found in the digital only Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha bundle.  Have you only recently learned hiragana but need practice? Or perhaps, your hiragana is no problem, but you want to build your hiragana and kanji reading comprehension? This new collection of stories is here to the rescue! Read real Japanese—beginner level but not boring Japanese! You won't find the Japanese version of Dick and Jane, but you will find stories written for adults. Enjoy reading flash fiction, super short essays, and funny stories of common mistakes made by learners of Japanese.Best of all, the only requirement is that you can read hiragana and have a very basic understanding of Japanese. Vocabulary and grammar will be defined and explained.   The format is a little different from our other more advanced readers. The idea is for the reader to read the entire story three times. Each page will have a sentence or two in hiragana (with spaces between words for you to see “words” instead of syllables) at the top and that same content in full Japanese (with furigana—small hiragana over kanji) at the bottom. The middle will have the glossary and grammatical explanations. Lastly, the story is presented in Japanese without furigana. See if you can read it after going through the previous two versions and explanations. If you have just learned hiragana, you may want to listen to the sound file while reading the hiragana section to practice correct pronunciation. If you have studied Japanese a bit longer, you may want to start with the bottom version and take note of the glossary for understanding.The glossary will have the word as it appears in the story, but it will also give the “dictionary” form so you can look the word up further. Having fun while learning a language is a great way to increase motivation. With increased motivation, you are less likely to skip a day's study. A skipped day can quickly become a lost week and then a lost… forever. And so, we hope you will have as much fun reading these stories as we had writing them. This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files for no extra charge immediately after ordering.

NOTE: This is also available in the Learn Japanese with Stories Volume 2 Bundle. 108 Pages | Includes Digital Files | 5.5 x 8.5 inch Paperback   This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files immediately after ordering. Kicchomu is a character often found in Japanese folktales, but he actually existed. Or rather, the character is based on a historical figure. The two stories found in this book features Kicchomu dealing with a difficult samurai on a ferryboat and besting a master carver with his cunning rather than skill. Kicchomu's Ferryboat: きっちょむさんの渡し船【わたぶね】 The Mouse Carving: ネズミの彫り物【ほりもの】 108 Pages For Upper Beginners to Intermediates Sound file recordings of story both slow and normal speed for both stories Anki deck with all the vocabulary in the stories Japanese Reader Collection Volume 17: The Mouse Carving Recommended for upper beginners and lower intermediates of Japanese. FREE PDF and MP3s of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker–download link found on the last page. Listen while reading to develop listening comprehension, reading skills, and building vocabulary.    WHAT YOU GET:  All vocabulary is defined in English under each paragraph The full story just in Japanese is also provided so you can practice reading without interruption An English translation is provided (but we encourage you to try the Japanese first) Extensive grammar notes for both stories Free Anki flashcard deck for the vocabulary Best of all, download FREE MP3s of the story read by a native Japanese speech actress. (Link will be emailed to you after ordering - check your spam folder if you don't see it)

NOTE: The digital version is found in the Beginning Japanese Phrases and Stories digital bundle. (This paperback will be shipped to you and you will also get the digital files) Have you only recently learned hiragana but need practice? Or perhaps, your hiragana is no problem, but you want to learn useful phrases you can actually use in conversation? Beginning Japanese Phrases is here to the rescue! The level of this book is somewhere between our (total beginner-level) Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha and our more advance readers such as Learn Japanese with Stories. This series is based on a weekly podcast we produce called (unimaginatively) Beginning Japanese Phrases. See here: https://thejapanesepage.com/beginning-japanese-phrases-podcast-and-videos/ This book contains the data and actual podcast files for episodes 61-90. The podcast concentrates on a single beginner-level word or phrase and then breaks down an example sentence using it. 70 Pages Includes the digital files (PDF, ePub, and MOBI) Includes all example sentence sound files  Includes all podcast sound files Scan QR codes for quick on-demand listening as you go through the book This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files for no extra charge immediately after ordering.

NOTE: The digital version is found in the Beginning Japanese Phrases and Stories digital bundle.  Have you only recently learned hiragana but need practice? Or perhaps, your hiragana is no problem, but you want to build reading fluency? Mike's Diary is here to the rescue! The level of this book is somewhere between our (total beginner-level) Beri- Beri- Shoshinsha and our more advance readers such as Learn Japanese with Stories. Instead of learning isolated vocabulary (no fun!), reading real Japanese is a great way to learn vocabulary and kanji in context. For the beginner, however, native reading material is too much of a challenge. Our Learn Japanese with Stories for Beginners series enables even beginners to truly enjoy reading natural Japanese. The early stories use basic vocabulary, beginner-level grammar, and simplified Japanese sentence structures. As you progress, earlier concepts build into more complex grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structures. Each story is presented in several ways. The story with spaces and complete vocabulary and explanation The story in full Japanese (without spaces, but with furigana—the small hiragana—over kanji) The story in English to cement understanding This is followed by five important kanji found in the story. There are only five kanji here, so spend some time familiarizing yourself with them. 122 Pages Includes the digital files (PDF, ePub, and MOBI) Includes all sound files  Free Anki flashcard deck of all the vocabulary from each story Scan QR codes for quick on-demand listening as you go through the book This is a physical paperback which will be shipped to you. You'll also receive the digital files for no extra charge immediately after ordering.