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As several people on this guild, whether by choice or lack of better resources, are self-teaching themselves, I thought I'd make a thread to list all the (good) books/CDs/games/software/dictionaries/flash cards/etc. that they use to help them study Japanese.

Post any suggestions you may have, and I'll update the list whenever I check back - also, feel free to critique my decisions, as well as others, but don't get into any fights please!

Application Form
Name:
Brief Description:

Flash Cards

- White Rabbit Press : Kana/Kanji
A collection of kana and 2 kanji flash card sets with most of the information needed for each character available on every card, for a good price.
- Tuttle : Kana/Kanji
A four-volume collection of kanji flashcards and a collection of kana flashcards that are divided by grade-level (starting at 1st-Grade level and working up) to help beginner's learn the way children do.
- Remembering the Kanji
Flashcards that go with th first two RTK books with references to other kanji books.

Dictionaries

- (Random House) Japanese-English English Japanese Dictionary
A large collection of words in romanization and original Japanese characters, new editions available often, useful guide to beginners at front.
- Kodansha's Dictionary of Japanese Particles
Over 100 particles in alphabetical order.
- Kodansha's Furigana Japanese-English Dictionary
Pretty self-explanitory.

Books

- Essential Kanji
2,000 basic kanji used for reference and learning, with writing guide at beginning and short passage about each character.
- Pict-o-Graphix
A couple of book using mneumonics and pictographs to help you remember the various Japanese characters.
- Kana/Kanji de Manga
A collection of manga to help teach Japanese characters to manga fans and beginning Japanese students alike.
- Remembering the Kana/Kanji
(1) All the kana in a two sided book taught by using your imagination. (2) The English meanings of all the commonly used kanji taught by using your imagination. (3) All the readings to all of the kanji learned in RTKI...
- Japanese Verbs At A Glance

- How to Tell the Difference Between Japanese Particles
The same sevety particles explained, but grouped by similar functions.
- A Handbook of Japanese Verbs
Title is pretty self-explanitory.
- Breaking Through Japanese Literature
Seven Modern classics by two authors with parallel text.
- Genki
A textbook that teaches using kana!
- Yookoso

- All About Particles
About seventy commonly used particles explained in a handbook.

Software

- Instant Immersion : Japanese (Deluxe 2.0)
A collection of discs to help you interactivly learn Japanese. Comes with: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Shopping and asking questions; Color, Telephone Numbers; Age; Time/hours, Alphabet; Sounds; Pronunciation, Greetings; Introductions; Jobs, and a JquickTrans disc.
- Rosetta Stone : Japanese
The world-famous company, Rosetta Stone, has always been outstandingly useful in the study of any foreign language, giving hundreds of lessons in many different ways for all sorts of learners - unfortunatly, you seem to pay a dollar per lesson (a.k.a. it costs a bit of $200).

Audio CDs

DVDs/VHS

Websites

- Japanese-Kanji.com
A handy site to drill Kanji on. Can choose to view the Kanji by JPL level. Displays Kanji, on and kun readings, usage, and meaning. You can test yourself with on, kun, and two meaning tests.
- Genki Japan
Beginner's level Japanese site with fun activities (and songs) to help learn basic phrases, words, characters, and numbers!
- WWWJDIC
An online dictionary for French and English speakers. Also has a few ways to look up kanji.
- Guide to Japanese
Tae Kim's awesome guide on grammar! He explains everything clearly in various lessons. Aiko san even suggested him!
- Yamasa

- J-Gram.Org
A site for more advanced students that teaches all levels of grammar.
- Kanji Game
Kanji game for memorizing kanji!
- E-Japanese
A site for studying for the JLPT
- JLPT Study Page
A site for studying for the JLPT
- <3 yen
Another site by Tae Kim. Looks like it's for more advanced students.
- 日本語が習う
A blog for beginner's.
- Slime Forest Adventure
A game to help teach the meanings of kanji.

Collections/Sets

- Ultimate Japanese (Living Language)
Comes in Beginner-Intermediate and Advanced editions, as well as extra online practice available after advance course is complete. Essentially the equivelence to a school workbook/text book that teaches the language directly, but efficiently. Also available with CD/Cassette, course books, and dictionary.
- Adventures in Japanese
Speaking, listening, reading, and writing are equally stressed in this series, which is designed to stimulate an interest in Japanese culture as well as in the language. Culturally related activities and topics, from making onigiri (riceballs) to learning Japanese songs to understanding the educational system in Japan, enrich students' learning. Can be bought as text books (with teacher editions available), workbooks, audio CDs, and software and has 4 levels.

Ouch! There's a lot to list here that I own, and there will be more biggrin

One thing I use is tuttle kanji cards volume 1,2,3,4. While it does use roumaji, it does help. (use a computer too make sure though, I do that for the おう/おお　っ/つ part. And some spelling mistakes but you can fix that yourself. (I emailed them and they said they'll put it to the reprinting people later)

But it does help AND helps with vocab! I have a choice of taking beginner or advanced japanese in high school but I don't know what level I am, so the teacher asked me questions in japanese and I had to respond. Then do a written test. Let me tell you! THEY HELPED A LOT!!!! They are good, you just need to try them.

I'll put the book thing list up later.

this is helpful to me. i only have japanese for dummies. but i want to learn kanji.

I messed up. Japanese verbs at a Glance.

And one more, All About Particles.

I can recommend a textbook:

Adventures in Japanese Volume 1 (of 3)

This textbook holds a combination of Japanese culture, grammar, vocabulary, and some activities broken down into simple chapters, which further deviates into individual lessons. There are two "units" to the textbook, the first being hiragana, and the second is katakana.

From my own experience, this textbook is good. (4.0/5.0). The book begins by presenting both hiragana/katakana and its romanization. However, the romanization will end towards a quarter into the texts, to allow for a sharper focus on the written language.

The only annoyance I find with the textbook is that the romanization shows the "ou" combination (in hiragana) as "oo" (in romanization). However, simply being able to read hiragana can fix the problem (which is also gone once the romanization is dropped).

However, I feel that the textbook is not enough. I only recently discovered that the textbook also has accompanying materials (sold separately). I have just ordered the workbook online, and will post my review on it once it comes in the mail (and have worked on it).

So the break it down, if you are a complete beginner in Japanese with time to spare, I would seriously think about investing in this textbook. It does a good job of presenting information without putting you asleep. So once again, this book is only for beginners.

LINK HERE

Here's my blog for beginners.
http://nihongogabenkyou.blogspot.com

I updated my post. Everything not in italics underneath the titles I'm not sure about.

domokun I hated Kana and Kanji de Manga. James Heisig is much better at teaching. And the guy who wrote the those didn't even give the right amount for the levels of the JLPT. rolleyes

EDIT And anyone who uses my blog, please PLEASE tell me how I'm doing. I tend to lose heart in teaching when no one say anything. It might be confusing at first, but I'm working on writing so it might get better as I continue.