When to Start Learning Kanji (and Why Sooner Is Better)
Two ways to learn kanji early, and how it makes the rest of your Japanese study easier. Hi, I’m Fumito Emi, and today I want to answer a question that I get asked a lot: when should you start learning kanji? I touched on this topic a few times in other…
10 Best Japanese Learning Books in 2026 (Honest Reviews)
こんにちは。My name is Fumito Emi, and I have spent embarrassing amount of hours in my life comparing Japanese textbooks — partly because I am tutor who needs to recommend right book to right student, and partly because, I admit, I have small addiction to…
4 Ways to Stay Motivated When Learning Japanese by Fumito Emi
Hi everyone, Fumito here! Welcome back to reading-japanese.com. Do you have trouble staying motivated to learn Japanese? If so, you are not alone — this is, without question, the number one thing learners message me about. Not grammar, not kanji.…
How to Speak Japanese for Beginners: 50 Basic Japanese Phrases
Hi everyone, Fumito here! Welcome back to reading-japanese.com. Almost every beginner I meet tells me the same thing: “I’ve studied some Japanese, but when the moment comes, nothing comes out of my mouth.” I understand this completely.…
Japanese Vocabulary QuickStudy Guide Review
こんにちは。My name is Fumito Emi, a Japanese teacher and the writer behind Reading-Japanese.com. When students ask me for a small, practical vocabulary reference they can keep beside their notebook, I often suggest looking at laminated guides—not as a…
All-in-One Japanese for Beginners Review: Is This 5-in-1 Book Really Worth Your Money?
Hello everyone, Fumito here again from reading-japanese.com 🙋♂️ Many of my student ask me same question this month: “Fumito-sensei, I saw this book on Amazon call All-in-One Japanese for Beginners, is it really 3 workbooks and 2 textbooks in one?…
A Complete Review of Genki Volume 1 (3rd Edition): Is It Still the Best Japanese Textbook?
Whether you are starting your Japanese learning journey from scratch or guiding new students through the basics, choosing the right foundational textbook is critical. Today, we’re taking a close look at the Genki Textbook Volume 1, 3rd edition —currently…
Learning Japanese with ADHD or Dyslexia (15 Tips)
If you have ADHD or dyslexia, and you are wondering whether you can really learn Japanese, I want to say this clearly, right at start: yes, you can. I know studying new language can feel intimidating when your brain works little differently than…
Ganbatte Kudasai and Ganbarimasu Meaning
One of the things that makes Japanese so interesting is how much social information is packed into verb endings. In this lesson we move into Lesson 4 — and right from the very first dialogue we get a grammar point that’s immediately practical: the…
Japanese From Zero! Book 1 Review (2026): Is It Still the Best Way to Learn Japanese From Scratch?
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. I only recommend materials I’d actually hand to my own students. If you’ve typed “best book to…