Series 'Japanese Now'

Books in the 'Japanese Now' series

• Japanese Now Volume 1
• Japanese Now Volume 2
• Japanese Now Volume 3
• Japanese Now Volume 4
• Japanese Now Volume 4 Teacher's manual

Reviews of the 'Japanese Now' series

Review by Joel Sullivan

The textbooks I use, [Japanese Now] (or 'korekara no nihongo'), are a four- volume series aimed at high school students, published by the University of Hawaii Press between 1981 and 1989. Each volume is an inch-thick (or less) hardback consisting of 10 to 20 lessons. Each costs around $20-$30 ... read more

Review by Jerry Siegenthaler

These books are (were) being used by Palo Alto and Gunn High Schools in Palo Alto, California. The four volume set is excellent for beginning students from junior high through adult, but the text is mainly aimed at teenage situations and interests. The definitions and grammar explanations are ... read more

Review of Japanese Now series by Jerry Siegenthaler

These books are (were) being used by Palo Alto and Gunn High Schools in Palo Alto, California. The four volume set is excellent for beginning students from junior high through adult, but the text is mainly aimed at teenage situations and interests. The definitions and grammar explanations are excellent, but knowing and being able to read the kana 痴 are a must. Definitions are in English, but kana is use exclusively for Japanese words. Where Kanji are used , furigana is included for the readings printed over the kanji. Tapes are available from, if not at the book shop where you purchased the books, the University of Hawaii. I have no experience with the tapes and can not attest to the quality or suitability. Tapes can enhance your ability to pronounce words correctly and tune your ears to the ways of Japanese speaking and diction.

Japanese Now Text uses hiragana and katakana from the beginning and introduces kanji from lesson 12 of the first volume. The total number of kanji used throughout all four volumes totals 530 kanji.

☆ See all reviews by Jerry Siegenthaler.