Independent
Japanese
Study
-


The
Resource
Guide.

JET Programme Tokyo Orientation 2009

About this guide:
This is a list of (we hope!) some of the best
resources for studying Japanese independently -
books and electronic resources to add to your
toolkit for getting out of the “English-bubble”, and
learning new Japanese as you come across it.
We’ve emphasised e-resources, for a few reasons:
1) They’re often free, or cheap. 2) Good books
can be found easily at a bookshop or online, but
good websites and software can be a needle in a
haystack. 3) This is about independent study, so
more emphasis has been given to tools than
textbooks. 4) Resources on a portable device like
an iPod are easy to carry everywhere with you.
Contents:
• Part I: Spaced-Repetition learning software - p2
• Part 2: Dictionaries - p3
• Part 3: General textbooks & courses - p5
• Part 4: Kanji & Kana study tools - p6
• Part 5: Other resources - p8

How to enable Japanese language
on your computer
Being able to read and type Japanese on your
computer is more or less a must, for Japanese study
purposes. Here are directions on how to do so, for
Windows and Mac OSX users.
For Windows >>>
Guides on how to download and install the
Japanese language pack for Windows 2000,
Windows XP, and Windows Vista can be found at
http://www.declan-software.com/japanese_ime/.
For Mac OSX
1.Launch “System Preferences” from the “Apple”
menu in the top-left of your screen.
2.Select the “International” preference pane from
the System Preferences screen that comes up.
3.Select “Input Menu” from the bar at the top of the
International preference pane.
4.Make sure the checkbox next to “Kotoeri” is
checked. Under Kotoeri, all you really need to have
enabled is Hiragana. Also make sure that “show
input menu in menu bar” is enabled.
5.You can now type Hiragana by selecting it from
the input menu in the menu bar - it should be next
to a flag. To type Kanji, type the reading then press
SPACE to convert the character - you should be
able to select from several choices. To type
Katakana, hold shift or select “transliteration” from
the pop-up conversion menu.

Notes about this guide: It was a hard choice, but web addresses have been omitted for reasons of
readability and limited space. DON’T PANIC - YOU CAN GET A COPY WITH CLICKABLE LINKS!
You can find the online PDF of this guide with working web-links at http://
muchtolearn.wordpress.com “ >>> “ in this guide denotes a web-link in the online version.

1
Part
I:
Spaced
Repetition
Systems
 So Spaced Repetition Systems use algorithms to
schedule exactly when you should review
(SRS) something, based on when your reviewed it last,
and how difficult you found it. This means that you
What is SRS? review most often the things that you have the most
"SRS" stands for "Spaced Repetition System", a trouble with, while things that are easier for you are
really useful, smart, and scientific way to reviewed at longer intervals for maximum
memorise kanji and new vocabulary. retention.

Here’s the science: the idea of SRS is that by
reviewing something after a short time, it's much
more likely to stick in your memory. That much is
pretty obvious, but research into the human
memory has shown two things: 1) that the ideal
time to review something for longest retention is
when you're just about to forget it, and 2) the rate at
which your mind forgets things is predictable.
Obviously this is pretty awesome stuff for anyone
learning a language. While you can do something
like this with paper flashcards, it’s much easier
with computers. Most SRS computer programs
look and act like electronic flashcard systems.
These techniques are a great way to improve your
memory performance and Japanese study - three of
the most popular programs are described below.

Mnemosyne >>> Anki >>> Supermemo >>>

A free, very popular and
powerful spaced repetition app.
Works on different platforms and
is simple to use.
Another free spaced-repetition
learning app for multiple
platforms. It has some more
features than Mnemosyne and
was specifically designed with
Japanese in mind. It’s more
complicated, though. Has some
features that aid in adding new
cards for Japanese, and online
synchronisation.
The scary grandfather of Spaced
Repetition software. Very
powerful, but isn't free, and
doesn't run under Mac or Linux.
Has some features (incremental
reading) not found in any other
applications, but is known for
being very hard to use.

2
Part
II:
Dictionaries
of
all
sorts
A good dictionary is something that you really
NEED for studying a language.
In fact, it’s good have more than one: something
portable and quick to use that you can take with
you to help with conversations and unknown words
on the go, something on your computer or phone
for easily reading Japanese emails and websites, a
good kanji dictionary for looking up unknown or
exotic characters, a more authoritative Japanese/
English dictionary with a bit more depth for
reading/studying at home or at work, a “grammar
dictionary” for understanding particles and
grammar structures you haven’t seen before, and
perhaps when you reach a more advanced level, a
Japanese/Japanese dictionary for high-level words
and advanced concepts that are difficult to
translate.
A quick note: many of the computer/website/iPod
dictionaries use the same entries (called EDICT or
JMDICT). This means that only the interface, or
way of using them, is different.

Books A dictionary of 1.Run “Dictionary”, it should

Kodansha's Furigana
Japanese Dictionary
>>>
(Amazon US) A really useful
Japanese/English dictionary for
learners up to advanced level.
Does not use any romanisation
(learn the kana!) and contains
kanji for entries wherever
possible, with furigana (kana
written in small script above
kanji to give their readings).
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars
Japanese Character
Dictionary, by Spahn
& Hadamitzky >>>
(Amazon US) This brick of a
book may not be ideal to carry
with you on the go, but it's an
excellent reference for hard-to-
find kanji & kanji compounds. It
has 47,000 entries, and lookup by
radical/stroke order, or reading.
Amazon rating: 5 stars
Basic /
Intermediate /
Advanced Japanese
Grammar >>>
(Amazon US) A series of
"grammar dictionaries" published
by the Japan Times. Contains
very comprehensive explanations
of grammar structures and usage
(including example sentences) for
times when you're not satisfied
with a textbook's explanation, or
you encounter something
unfamiliar. Highly recommended.
Amazon rating: 5 stars
Software Dictionaries
Mac OSX built-in
Sorry Windows people - this is
for mac users only. You may be
unaware that Mac OSX (any
version after 10.5 “Leopard”)
actually contains a built-in
Japanese/English and Japanese/
Japanese dictionary. Here’s how
to enable it:
found in the “Applications”
folder on your hard disk.
2.From the “Dictionary” drop-
down menu in the menu bar,
select “preferences”.
3.In the screen that appears,
check the “On” checkbox next to
the Japanese/English dictionary
in the list, and maybe the
Japanese/Japanese dictionary as
well. Drag them into your order
of preference - I recommend
below the English dictionary,
with the Japanese/English
dictionary ahead of the Japanese/
Japanese one.
4.To use it, just search from the
dictionary application, with the
“Japanese-English” source
selected in the bar at the top. You

3
can also look up words by
selecting text in any application
and choosing “Look up in
Dictionary” from the right-click
menu.
Tagaini Jisho >>>
A free JMDICT powered
dictionary application for
Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux.
Includes some study-list and
JLPT functions.
Rikaichan >>>
A pop-up Japanese dictionary
extension for Firefox, powered
by JMDICT. Allows you to view
the definition for any word or
kanji simply by moving the
mouse cursor over it. Fantastic
for reading Japanese websites.
Requires some fiddling on
installation to install the
dictionary file.Free, and highly
recommended.
iPhone & iPod touch
apps
Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch
make excellent language learning
tools - there’s a large number of
Japanese study apps available,
including the dictionary apps
described here - all the dictionary
apps described here are powered
by JMDICT.
“Japanese” >>>
An excellent dictionary with a
powerful and unique system for
viewing entries by category, not
found elsewhere. Contains lists of
proverbs, counters, and kanji by
JLPT level (also has a countdown
to the next JLPT) or Japanese
school year. Allows you to create
custom vocabulary lists. Very
detailed and well-linked entries.
Also allows traditional-style
lookup by radical/stroke count,
something missing from others.
More expensive than others, but
highly recommended.
Jisho Touch >>>
A good dictionary app with an
attractive and minimal interface.
It features persistence (opens to
where you left off last time),
search history, a kanji-zoom
view, and the ability to mark
favourite entries for easy recall.
Unlike “Japanese” there is no
radical-based lookup.
Kotoba >>>
An excellent dictionary app that’s
completely free, yet has an
interface and features on par with
the other apps mentioned here.
Features a really excellent
search-function, detailed entry
view, and a very useful “kanji-
decomposition” feature. No
radical-based lookup, and it can
feel slightly sluggish to load.
Nintendo DS apps
Not just for games anymore.
There is at least one dictionary,
and several kanji-learning games
available for the DS.
Kanji Sonomama
Rakubiki Jiten >>>
A very popular Japanese
dictionary for the Nintendo DS.
Allows you too lookup kanji by
writing them on the touch-screen.
4
Online dictionaries
WWWJDIC >>>
An online version of the mother
of all (most, anyway) Japanese
dictionary software (JMDICT),
created by Jim Breen. Often
simply referred to AS "Jim
Breen".
Nihongoresources
.com >>>
A reliable online Japanese
dictionary site that uses the
WWWJDIC data (but with a
slightly nicer interface) and also
provides free Japanese grammar
and Kanji lessons.
www.alc.co.jp >>>
A powerful web dictionary -
although designed for Japanese
users, it has excellent example
sentences, and can be useful for
looking up unfamiliar grammar.
Online aids for
reading Japanese
websites
Hiraganamegane
>>>
“Hiragana-glasses” A service that
automatically provides furigana
for Japanese websites. Very
helpful.
Rikai.com >>>
An online service like Rikaichan
that provides pop-up definitions
for Japanese words on websites.
Inferior to Rikaichan because it
struggles with more complex
websites.
Popjisyo.com >>>
Another online pop-up dictionary
service for web-browsing. May
work slightly better than
Rikai.com
Hand-held electronic
dictionaries -
“denshi-jisho”
The author of this year’s
Independent Japanese Study
workshop is not a frequent user
of this type of electronic
dictionary, so this advice comes
second-hand.
The advantage that these
dictionaries offer over a
dictionary for your iPod/
Nintendo DS or other device is
that they work very quickly, and
use a professional dictionary
database.
Prices apparently range from
9000円 to over 50,000円. Some
models come with a touch-screen
for writing kanji. These are more
expensive, but useful for looking
up unknown kanji quickly. There
are a number of different brands
of dictionary, but the Canon
Wordtank line is fairly popular.
One thing worth keeping in mind
with regard to these dictionaries
is that they are almost always
designed for Japanese users - so
expect the interface to be all in
Japanese. You can purchase these
in any Japanese electronics shop,
such as Yodobashi Camera near
the Keio plaza in Shinjuku, or
anywhere in Akihabara, though it
may be worth waiting to make a
more considered decision rather
than rushing to buy one during
orientation.
Part
III:
General
 vocabulary for self study.
textbooks
&
courses
The JET Japanese
courses
Shortly after your arrival in your
new placement, your supervisor
or Contracting Organisation will
pass you information about these
courses. They’re free, run from
about November until May the
next year, and are available at
Beginner, Intermediate, and
Advanced levels. More
information on levels and
examples can be found in the
information you’ll receive.
The courses consist of a kanji
workbook and six textbooks/
exercise books with
accompanying audio CDs, one
each month. There is also a test/
homework assignment each
month (at intermediate - the
advanced course has additional
compositions to write). The
authors would recommend the
course to most JETs - it’s broken
up into 5 daily lessons every
week, and fits well with a JET’s
schedule (though you may have
to check with your workplace
whether they mind you studying
in any downtime you might
have), apart from the late start
date.
You may or may not like the
course, but you’ve got nothing to
lose by trying it. Even if the
dialogue and exercises don’t
thrill you, it contains some good
5
explanation of grammar-points,
and can be a source from which
to harvest grammar and
Since the course doesn’t start
until November, you might want
to try some of the self-study
resources described in this guide
to tide you over.
GENKI: An
Integrated Course in
Elementary Japanese
>>>
A series of textbooks and
workbooks that introduce kanji
from the earliest stages and
explain grammar
comprehensively.
Amazon rating: 5 stars
(textbook 1)
An Integrated
Approach to
Intermediate
Japanese >>>
Essentially the 3rd book in the
Genki series, and follows a
similar format. Since this is an
intermediate course, dialogues
do not have English translations.
Amazon rating: 4 stars
Japanese for Busy
People >>>
A widely used series of 3
textbooks, popular for business
learners. Available in either kana
or romanised versions (Tip: use
the kana version!) Includes a CD.
Amazon rating: 4 stars
Part
IV:
Kanji
&
Kana
 remember. Good for intermediate
Study
courses
&
 Amazon rating: 4 stars
tools
Books
Basic Kanji Book >>>
(Amazon US) 4 different books,
each covering about 500 kanji.
Includes onyomi and kunyomi
(Japanese and Chinese readings
for a character), writing space
and practice exercises.
Amazon rating: 5 stars
A guide to Reading
and Writing
Japanese >>>
This book covers all of the 1,945
characters in the General Use set
of Japanese characters, with
particularly detailed coverage of
the 1,009 Essential characters
that Japanese children must learn
in the first six years of grade
school.
Amazon rating: 4 stars
A guide to Writing
Kanji and Kana >>>
Two books covering all the
jouyou (common use) Kanji.
Book one includes hiragana and
katakana. Examples and ample
practice space.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars
Kanji in Context >>>
(Amazon US) A textbook series
comprising a reference book and
two workbooks, it seeks to teach
the Kanji in a sequence that's
most useful and easiest to
and advanced learners.
Remembering the
Kanji >>>
by James Heisig. A somewhat
controversial approach towards
learning the kanji - this series
first teaches you to use
mnemonics to learn the meaning
and writing ONLY of Kanji. The
readings of characters are not
covered until the second book.
This book has many fans, and
many detractors.
Amazon rating: 4 stars
Kanji Pict-O-Graphix
>>>
An imaginative system of visual
mnemonics for remembering the
kanji. Includes over 1000
mnemonic illustrations.
Amazon rating: 3.5 stars
Software
The best software for Kanji
learning may be the SRS
previously described - see part 1.
Described here are other, non-
SRS apps that help with Kanji
study.
iKanji >>>
A kanji reference and learning
application for Mac OSX. Lovely
graphics, although it may not suit
everybody's learning style. Costs
$28.12 USD to buy.
LRNJ >>>
A retro-styled RPG game for
learning Japanese. Available for
Windows and Mac OSX. Free
6
demo available, and the full
version is $20 USD to buy.
Nihongo-Up >>>
A simple, pretty looking game for
reviewing kanji, kana, and
particles. Nice music, too.
Available for Windows and Mac
OSX. Full version costs $4.99
USD.
iPhone and iPod
touch apps
iKana touch >>>
A gorgeous-looking and versatile
app for learning hiragana and
katakana, by the same author as
iKanji and iKanji touch. Has
flashcards and can test you on
reading and stroke-order.
App-store rating: 3.5 stars
Kana Flip >>>
An app for learning hiragana and
katakana.
App-store rating: 2 stars
iKanji Touch >>>
iKanji touch is a gorgeous-
looking and powerful kanji
reference and learning app for
ipod touch. It has some excellent
testing and teaching functionality.
Includes some SRS functionality.
Definitely worth a look.
App-store rating: 5 stars
Kanji Flip >>>
An app for leaning kanji. It
includes some SRS functionality.
Does not function as a kanji
reference.
App-store rating: 4.5 stars
Kanjipop >>>
A simple iphone game for
reviewing kanji. Pick the correct
kanji for a given reading before
the time runs out. Very simple,
but attractive graphics, and a
useful time-killer when you're
waiting somewhere.
App-store rating: 4 stars
Japanese Flip >>>
A Japanese vocabulary-learning
(with Kanji) flashcard-app by the
author of the Kana and Kanji Flip
apps.
App-store rating: 4 stars
Nintendo DS software
Kageyama Method:
Tadashii Kanji
Kakitori-Kun >>>
A cute game that teaches you to
write kanji. Designed for
Japanese people, but otherwise
suitable for advanced beginners
onwards.
Websites and online
study tools
smart.fm >>>
A fantastic free "social learning"
site that provides very slick SRS-
powered interactive flashcards,
containing kana, kanji, and
sounds. This site contains a huge
library of pre-made flashcards,
can be customised to your level
and needs, and allows you to
make your own and share them
with others. Very highly
recommended, this author's
personal favourite study tool.
speedanki.com >>>
A simple and fairly minimal
online flashcard site, containing
the appropriate kanji for the four
JLPT levels. Allows you to create
an account so that your progress
will be saved. Does not
incorporate any Spaced
Repetition mechanics though, to
the best of my knowledge.
Kanji Koohii >>>
An online flashcards app geared
towards James Heisig's
"Remembering the kanji" books
(see below under “books”).
Kanji In Context
Anki file @ Nihongo
Pera Pera >>>
A pre-made deck of flashcards
for the Anki SRS software, from
the Kanji in Context books.
Kanji Box for
Facebook >>>
A facebook application for
learning/reviewing kanji.
Paper Flashcard Sets
Tuttle Flashcards
>>>
4 volumes covering the 1945
kanji required by the Ministry of
Education. Organized by the way
they are learned in Japan (starting
with Primary school first grade).
Each card includes stroke order,
radical meanings, vocabulary
words, onyomi and kunyomi.
Onyomi and kunyomi are written
in romaji. Many vocabulary
7
words not very practical.
Amazon rating: 3.5 stars
White Rabbit
Flashcards >>>
2 volumes, one for JLPT 4th and
3rd Grade, one for JLPT 2nd
Grade. Each card includes stroke
order, memorization strategies for
radicals, vocabulary words,
onyomi, kunyomi, and kanji
which look similar. Vocabulary
words include some vocab from
JLPT. Onyomi is written in
katakana, and kunyomi is written
in hiragana.
Amazon rating: 4.5 stars
Other suggestions:
These are not, by any means, the
only ways to study or practice
Kanji. In particular, two ways to
learn Kanji recommended by
some JETs are:
1.Manga - childrens manga can
be found that only include Kanji
of a certain Japanese school level
or below. Try asking the person
who supplies textbooks to your
school.
2.Children's Kanji practice books
from 100 yen stores: Many 100
yen stores carry practice books
for the kanji taught to different
levels of primary school. Kanji
includes space for writing,
practice exercises and some
readings.
Part
V:
Other
 it contains an number of study
resources
Websites - Social
Networking and
Language Exchange
Lang-8 >>>
A language exchange website
where you can write journals in
Japanese, to be corrected by
native speakers, and help them
learn English by doing the same.
mixi.jp >>>
A popular Japanese social-
networking website, all in
Japanese. Can be useful for
making new friends with whom
to practice your Japanese.
eduFire >>>
an online learning site that
provides lessons over webcam.
Free lessons as well as paid
lessons available, group lessons
and one-on-one.
Websites - grammar
and study guides
Guide to Japanese
Grammar >>>
A comprehensive grammar guide
with exercises - written by Tae
Kim (and often referred to simply
AS "Tae Kim").
jGram >>>
A free online database of
Japanese grammar, contributed
by users. As well as a reference,
features such as quizzes and daily
lessons via email.
Nihongoperapera
.com >>>
A website that contains some
useful guides on how to learn
Japanese using Mnemosyne and
the "Kanji in Context" books.
JapanesePod101.com
>>>
Free, excellent audio and video
podcasts for learning Japanese.
More Japanese podcasts can be
found in the podcasts directory of
the iTunes store (still free!)
Japanese Language
Proficiency Test -
information >>>
Some general information on the
next test.
Thanks for reading!
Get the digital copy of this guide,
with working web-links
http://muchtolearn.wordpress.com
This guide would not have been
possible without the contributions
of others - in particular the
presenters of Independent
Japanese Study in 2008, as well as
too many others to mention.
Thank you.
All data and links from
Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.com, and
the iTunes App Store were current
at time of writing.