Are you a beginner in Japanese and would like to improve your reading comprehension? Taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is a great way to set a goal for yourself, and goals help with motivation. Motivation acted upon nearly always leads to success.

Whether you are planning to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test N5 (the easiest level) or would just like to improve your reading ability, this book will help.

This book offers three ways to practice reading Japanese for the N5 test:1) 短文（80文字） short paragraphs with about 80 characters followed by one or more questions for comprehension.Japanese Reading for JLPT N5v2) 中分 (250文字) Mid-length paragraphs with about 250 characters followed by one or more questions for comprehension3) 情報検索 In this section, you will be asked to extract necessary information using short text, graphs, or other visuals (such as timetables, schedules, or pamphlets).

Sounds Files: While the actual test does not include a listening element, we are also including sound files for all the Japanese for no extra charge. The download link is found on the last page.

Click Buy Now to begin improving your Japanese reading comprehension.

Whether you are planning to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test N5 or just would like a solid start on learning the basics of Japanese grammar, this book will teach you the most useful particles, counters, and grammatical patterns in an easy-to-understand way. Download the MP3s and the accompanying PDF for a complete learning system (included for no extra charge).

* Download the sound files for every Japanese example sentence within. Link found on the last page.
* Explanations in plain English with several examples per grammar point.
* Most example sentences are broken down with a literal word-by-word translation to aid comprehension.

The Strange Affair of October 24th, 1859

Perfect for upper beginner level students of Japanese.

BONUS! Get FREE MP3s of the story read by a native Japanese voice actress, one read at normal speed and one read slowly. Listen while reading. The link to the MP3s is found on the last page.

EXTRA BONUS! Included with the MP3s, are PDFs of all the vocabulary and grammar points. Feel free to print these out to use while reading.

Now with Furigana! All our readers now have furigana in both the paperback and Kindle versions. Furigana is the small hiragana over the kanji--most devices support this feature.

Have you studied for a year or two but just don’t feel like you are progressing? This book is for you too. We suggest reading the Japanese only section first (includes furigana) and then go through the line-by-line running gloss section to cement understanding and learn vocabulary.

* All Japanese have furigana (printed version and Kindle version on supported devices (all new devices)) and romaji for those starting out.

* Three complete Japanese short stories. Each story is presented in three unique ways.

* The Fountain of Youth: A traditional Japanese folk tale
* The Hundred Tales Game: With the scariest of all endings
* The Wise Child: A child shows his smarts by answering the question, which is farther, Edo or the Sun.
* GLOSS: Read the story with a running gloss—understand completely. Every sentence is broken down word-for-word and with English explanation of the grammar.

* GRAMMAR: Grammar notes are presented with the running gloss.
* JAPANESE ONLY: The full story in Japanese only (without the running gloss) is also provided so you can practice reading without interruption.

* ENGLISH SUMMARY: Finally, we have included a simple and mostly literal English translation for you to check your understanding (Don’t cheat! Work through the Japanese first!).

* Short stories makes reading full Japanese texts possible.

* Download the FREE MP3s to listen while you study.



Finally, we invite the reader to contact us with questions or requests for future Japanese readers. You will find our personal email addresses in the book. To your Japanese!

What are you waiting for? Ninja up your Japanese. Click “Buy Now” now!

Plug and play vocabulary to learn Japanese sentence structure (文型 bunkei).

• 34 highly useful beginner-level grammatical patterns
• At least five example sentences for each pattern
• 200 sound files for every example sentence found in the book
• Total sentence breakdowns--fully understand the mechanics of each sentence, the vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure
• Meaning, usage, and construction of each grammatical pattern explained in plain English
• Practice by creating Japanese sentences from each grammatical pattern (answers given)
• The download link for the sound files (plus PDF version of the book) found on the last page

• Furigana over the kanji in the line-by-line breakdown section
• No furigana for the "Japanese Only" section to practice reading the story in "real" Japanese once you've gone through the story in the line-by-line section
• Four full traditional Japanese stories about Hikoichi.
• Every sentence is broken down word-for-word and with explanation of the grammar.
• Finally, we have included a simple and mostly literal English translation for you to check your understanding (Don’t cheat! Work through the Japanese first!).
• Download the FREE sound files to listen while you study. Each story
• Download the FREE Anki decks to master the vocabulary before even reading the stories

1. The first story has the lord of the castle testing Hikoichi in a Solomon-esque question—which young lord is the true young lord?
2. The second story shows choosing the first and most favorable isn't always best. In the end, only Hikoichi can enjoy the cherry blossoms.
3. The third story is about a mysterious, but living umbrella. Some things are just too good to be true.
4. We wrap things up with Hikoichi’s encounter with a Tengu—a mythical creature whose straw raincoat renders its wearer invisible.

Each story is broken down word-for-word, with a clear explanation of the grammar to aid comprehension. A full Japanese-only version is also included for uninterrupted reading practice. Plus, a simple and mostly literal English translation is provided for self-checking, although it's recommended to work through the Japanese first to maximize learning.

To enhance your reading experience, you'll also receive free MP3s of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker, so you can listen while you study. Use the free Anki decks to practice the vocabulary before reading.

If you have any questions or requests for future Japanese readers, the authors have provided their personal email addresses in the book for you to contact them. Please note that hiragana knowledge is required to fully benefit from this reader. Start your Japanese reading journey today with Hikoichi's adventures!

51 Pages 3 eBook Formats 20 Sound Files 1 Anki Flashcard Deck

• Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns

• Vocabulary: 腹が黒い

• Prefecture Spotlight: Fukushima

• Etymology: 玉の輿

• Anime Phrase of the Day

• Haiku : 正岡子規

• Kanji Spotlight: 休

• Grammar Time! この・その・あの・どの

• Japanese Readers: Hinamatsuri (beginner) + Kicchomu: Kinoko and Shiitake (Intermediate)

READ real Japanese Today! By choosing short stories, the intimidation factor is greatly reduced. Not only that, but we divide the story up into tiny, easy-to-swallow segments with complete explanations to give you confidence as you read real Japanese page by page.

Recommended for upper beginner to intermediate level students of Japanese.

BONUS! Get FREE sound files of the stories read by a native Japanese voice actress, one read at normal speed and one read slowly. Listen while reading. The link to the MP3s is found on the last page.

BONUS! Get 2 FREE Anki flashcard decks of most the vocabulary and kanji. The vocabulary decks mostly have audio and pitch accent diagrams.

NOW WITH QR CODES - While you can still download the sound files with the link on the last page, we are also including handy QR codes for both the slow and normal speed recordings of the stories. Simply scan the code with the camera of your phone and the audio will begin playing in seconds.

EXTRA BONUS! Included with the sound files, are PDFs of all the vocabulary and grammar points. Feel free to print these out to use while reading.

Now with Furigana! All our readers now have furigana in both the paperback and eBook versions. Furigana is the small hiragana over the kanji--most devices support this new feature. (The Japanese only section has no furigana so you can practice reading the story again in "real" furigana-less Japanese)

Have you studied for a year or two but just don’t feel like you are progressing? This book is for you too. We suggest reading the Japanese only section first (without furigana) and then go through the line-by-line running gloss section to cement understanding and learn vocabulary.

• The line-by-line section has furigana (printed version and eBook version on supported devices (most new devices))
• Two complete Japanese short stories. Each story is presented in three unique ways.
• GLOSS: Read the story with a running gloss—understand completely. Every sentence is broken down word-for-word and with English explanation of the grammar.
• JAPANESE ONLY: The full story in Japanese only (without the running gloss) is also provided so you can practice reading without interruption.
• ENGLISH SUMMARY: Finally, we have included a simple and mostly literal English translation for you to check your understanding (Don’t cheat! Work through the Japanese first!).
• Short stories makes reading full Japanese texts possible.
• Download the FREE MP3s to listen while you study.

THE STORIES:
Kicchomu is a character very similar to another favorite of ours: Hikoichi. Kicchomu was an actual person who lived during the Edo period. However, the stories about him came much later. Like Hikoichi, Kicchomu is quick-witted and a little sneaky.

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.

Finally, we invite the reader to contact us with questions or requests for future Japanese readers. You will find our personal email addresses in the book.

• Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns
• Vocabulary: 鼻につく
• Prefecture Spotlight: Tochigi
• Etymology: しかと
• Anime Phrase of the Day
• Haiku : 夏目漱石
• Kanji Spotlight: 本
• Grammar Time! これ・それ・あれ
• Japanese Readers: Setsubun (beginner) + The Oni of Setsubun (Intermediate)