Japanese Hobby

The incredible second hand market in Japan

<div> 
 Unlike every other country I’ve previously been to, there is a huge 2nd-hand market for nearly everything in Japan. And all the stuff is usually in pristine condition. Books, games, electronics, clothing, and magazines. Yeah, used mags. You can just buy the latest issue of your favorite paper for maybe half the price you’d normally pay. Fun fact: All these fashion magazines aimed at young women contain big supplements like a small, cheap pocket bag, specially made for this edition, by a big fashion company. I bet that most girls (like my girl) buy these mags only for the little extras. And I can’t blame them.
Second-hand shops in Germany have mostly old, worn down stuff nobody really seems to care about. In Japan, on the other hand, everything these shops offer is in very good condition if not like new.
For books, games, and magazines there are several stores around which sell used copies. Mostly in excellent condition and for good prices. And the selection is always pretty good. You can buy current magazines and the latest tankobon of your favorite manga. Used and a bit marked down from its actual price.
<img alt="book off" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3383" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="book off" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3383" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_00041.jpg" width="1200">
One of the most popular store-chains is Book-Off which you can find in every neighborhood in Japan. The selection depends on the location but is mostly pretty decent. I noticed that the prices don’t seem to be the same for every store of the chain, so it’s always worth to look around a little.
<h4>You play a game and then you sell it</h4>
Stores selling used video games are quite popular in France as well, but on a whole different scale popularity and quality wise. In Germany, there is only GameStop which are buying used games from their customers, but like in France, this isn’t really an option if you’re not in desperate need of some instant cash.
<img alt="used bookstore tokyo" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3389" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="used bookstore tokyo" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3389" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC_0092.jpg" width="1200">
In Japan, on the other hand, these stores are paying quite good for used games and manga. Especially for new releases, of course. Japanese kids like to make use of this offer. Many of them instantly sell their games when they played through them and use the money to buy a new one. And because second-hand retailers pay handsomely, this is all possible in one store.
Tsutaya, for example, is not the best place to buy used games, but even there you can sell your stuff for decent prices and can immediately grab one of the new releases. I realize that all this might sound like they get as much for a used game to fully pay for a new release. That’s not the case.
You need to add maybe 10-15kY. But it’s still a pretty good deal. If you’re especially looking for some retro-goodness then check out our feature about the infamous <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/super-potato-is-a-candy-land/">Super Potato store</a> with lots of (hopefully beautiful) pictures.
<h4>Used manga and helpful staff who introduce you to hentai</h4>
On my visit to Japan, I went nuts buying used books. Every night I went out for a little stroll in our neighborhood. Taking pictures at night and exploring the city at the same time is one of my favorite things to do. There was a little second-hand bookstore just a few minutes walking distance away to which I went nearly every night.
Yeah, they knew me there. It was the place where I picked up a big part of my <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/easy-to-read-manga-for-japanese-beginners-vol-01/">first Japanese manga</a>. A Book Off was close nearby but I usually skipped that one. The selection of e-Books was just better and it was somewhat a very cozy place to visit and browse. So my favorite little place for buying used books was this little store on the picture below.
<img alt="used book store tokyo" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3381" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="used book store tokyo" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3381" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/tumblr_mi8p54q56k1s4rlr2o1_1280.jpg" width="1200">
They had a big selection of manga but not only the more recent stuff but mostly older ones and a really big selection of fashion magazines. Added up, I spent hours in there, browsing through their bookshelves. I usually ended my visit with the purchase of a couple of manga which I then carefully stored in my bag.
The clerk was sometimes looking a bit skeptical in my direction because I was such a regular visitor. Or though I thought at first. When asking for a specific manga he was so kind to introduce me to the stores’ hentai collection as well. You know, the comics with big breasted anime girls who have just one goal in their lives: To make men happy. After that day I had another explanation for the clerks’ curious looks: He probably thought I was too shy to visit the store’s hentai corner and just wanted to help me a little with this tough undertaking.
 
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The incredible second hand market in Japan

Unlike every other country I’ve previously been to, there is a huge 2nd-hand market for nearly everything ...

Give your listening comprehension a boost with Japanesepod101

<div> 
 Studying Japanese as a self-learner is a long journey. Especially when you have a full-time job or full-time studies which demand your full attention. I’m learning for two and a half years now. On and off with very busy months learning Japanese (and completely burning myself out over this) and months where I can’t even keep up with my <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/getting-back-learning-japanese-wanikani/">Wani Kani</a> studies. But it’s probably the same for most of us. Learning Japanese is a hobby which can be a pretty time consuming one. Which is frustrating at times when you don’t notice any real progress but which can be super sweet when you’re finally able to get a couple pages of Yotsuba& without any interruption.
But for me, it’s still a hobby and I set my expectations reflecting this. My main aim was to<a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/easy-to-read-manga-for-japanese-beginners-vol-01/"> read manga in Japanese</a>, to read some magazines and to get through in Japan when I’m visiting. I never had any illusions of becoming fluent or anything like that and didn’t even try to get better at my speaking/listening comprehension.
That was a mistake I noticed pretty early on and it’s quite obvious if you think about it. The main reason a language exists is to communicate and if you don’t absorb the unique “rhythm” of the language you’re learning, you will have a pretty hard time to understand written texts as well. At least that’s been the case for me. It’s all about the rhythm.
When I tried to brush up on my grammar skills I used TextFugu a while back. I’m not too enthusiastic about the website itself (even if the motivational part is awesome and always seems neglected by Japanese study books) but when I signed up I got <a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&amp;i=b0">a 25% off coupon</a> for Japanesepod101. A website I already heard a lot about but never really looked into. After browsing their site I pretty quickly decided to give it a try. Not only because I really trust the tofugu team and their recommendations. These guys were exactly offering what I needed to complement my rather stale Wani Kani + Genki routine. Some good old-fashioned listening comprehension. (And the 14days free trial gave me the final push)
Update August 2017:
I’m studying Japanese on and off for about 6 years now and just started again after a long hiatus for a couple of months (due to my exams). Mixing up your study routine a little is always a good thing especially if you want to clearly start fresh. Haven’t used Japanesepod for quite a while but just re-subscribed a couple of weeks ago and am still amazed by their great content. The hosts are doing their job really well and every lesson is perfectly scripted with a nice mix of grammar, new vocab and a rather interesting storyline that continues through each season. I don’t always read the lesson notes but it’s already enough for me to just listen to one or episodes when I’m on the go and get some quick Japanese lessons while driving to university or going for a walk.
It was always my aim to update articles on this blog to keep them up to date, nothing changed much for J-pod but I still wholeheartedly recommend them to every Japanese learner. If not only for little tidbits like “おーい” which I read over and over again in よつばと the other day and just heard an explanation for it in a Japanesepod101 episode.
<h3>The website, the app and tons of content</h3>
When I first clicked the link to head over to Japanesepod I was a bit skeptical. The website somehow looked a little sketchy to me especially because of all these different languages to learn which are advertised in the lower right half of the landing page. Reminded me a little too much of Rosetta Stone and we all know how great their Japanese “training” is. All this “learn Japanese fast” talk didn’t sound very trustworthy to me and the “polished” subscription prices did the rest. When they are talking about 4$/month for their basic subscription this only applies if you instantly pay the whole amount for one year. If you want to get a monthly payment, the price doubles. 8$ is still alright and a good price for the huge amount of content they’re offering but still. Make the prices more transparent. Otherwise, it gives most people a bad feeling right from the start even if the actual product is pretty awesome.
When. I first signed up for Japanesepod101 about 1,5 years ago you could only use <a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&amp;i=b0">their podcasts</a> and notes on a computer or tablet. Or let’s say comfortably use. Nobody really wants to handle a clunky website on their phones, not when trying to learn as well. Another negative point in this regard was that I love listening to podcasts on the go which wasn’t possible without an internet connection before.
But all that changed with the “recent” release of their App. You were now able to comfortably download the podcasts on your phone so you wouldn’t require a steady internet connection to listen to them.
<a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&amp;i=b0"><img alt="_" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5341" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="_" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5341" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/jpg" width="1200"></a>
The different podcasts are categorized after the difficulty of content and for every learning stage, there is already a huge amount of material available. I’m still listening to the Beginner podcasts but I’d say there are a couple hundred podcasts in total.  I just received my new Phone and am downloading two Beginner levels. 5 and 5 to be precise. Both consist of 25 episodes but earlier levels contained much more than that and occasionally surpass the 100 episode mark per level.
<a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&amp;i=b0"><img alt="_-3" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5340" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="_-3" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5340" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/3.jpg" width="1200"></a>
And that’s how it looks inside an “episode”. When you’re feeling super diligent you can read along the dialog with the lesson notes. I’m just paying for the basic subscription (which is more than enough for me. Just want the podcasts)  that’s why I can’t comment on the review and dialog track features which are still locked.
<a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&amp;i=b0"><img alt="_-2" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5339" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="_-2" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5339" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2.jpg" width="1200"></a>
<h3>But now, let’s finally talk about the most important part. The podcast itself</h3>
And hands down. It’s awesome. Each episode is around the 15 minutes mark and very well scripted. It’s always a small dialog with two different speakers which is discussed afterward. There is usually a specific grammar point used in the dialog which will be explained in the discussion as well as the vocabulary of each lesson. And that’s what I really like about Japanesepod101 that they’re talking about the small Japanese dialog as if a Japanese newbie would be in the room with them but without trying too hard.
The speakers for the dialogues are always Japanese natives so their pronunciation is flawless but the discussion is led by the man behind the podcast, Peter Galante. He is fluent in Japanese and as a big bonus, as an English speaking native, you will get perfect explanations of all the different grammar points and vocabs.
I’m currently listening to the Beginner level where he is usually having the discussion part with Natsuko Kawamoto. It’s great to have her giving explanations of Japanese words and grammar points and to make things perfectly clear Peter sums things up in between. <a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&amp;i=b0">Every speaker so far</a> has done an incredible job. What’s so great about this mixture is that you get some “inside knowledge” about the Japanese language and learn how you would really express something but also why another expression wouldn’t be used in a specific context in Japan. It’s the same in every language. You can learn a lot of vocab but without having any experience how people are talking in the country you couldn’t possibly know which term to use casually and what’s been “the shit” five centuries ago.
Really, consider me a Japanesepod fan. The episodes are scripted throughout, there are no holes in the conversations but nonetheless, it’s still a very “light” conversation with an occasional joke in-between. I just feel comfortable listening to the podcast and virtually hang in’ out with the team.
Using <a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&amp;i=b0">Japanesepod101</a> alone and expecting to learn Japanese from it would be a little naive but as a supplement to have among Wani Kani and Genki, I can absolutely recommend it. And you should know by now that I only recommend the stuff that I absolutely love and really use on a daily basis. Or better: Would love to use on a daily basis
<a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&i=b0"><img alt="Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101.com" border="0" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif"><img alt="Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101.com" border="0" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.japanesepod101.com/images/aff_banners/C1_468_60.gif"></a>
Coupon Codes February 2018 (links attached)
<a href="https://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&l=uggcf%3A%2F%2Fjjj.wncnarfrcbq101.pbz%2Foernxguebhtu">28% OFF BASIC, PREMIUM & PREMIUM PLUS</a>
The link above contains an affiliate link, so if you want to support the site just make your subscription using the link. It’s always highly appreciated and really helps to keep the site running.
Subscribe <a href="https://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&l=uggcf%3A%2F%2Fjjj.wncnarfrcbq101.pbz%2Foernxguebhtu">here</a>

Please let me know your thoughts about the podcast. Are you using it as well?
 
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Give your listening comprehension a boost with Japanesepod101

Studying Japanese as a self-learner is a long journey. Especially when you have a full-time job or full-ti...

Guide: Where to buy Japanese Manga and Books

<div> 
 If you’re living in Europe, it may seem difficult to buy Japanese manga and books. You don’t have any shops that sell the stuff you want and when they do, it’s so overpriced that you decide not to buy anything after all. But you really would love to do so because Japanese books and manga are just plain awesome.
Want to order clothing and other goods from Japan?  – <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/ultimate-guide-buying-japan/">Check my guide</a> for more awesome resources for everything that is not printed on paper.
You’re still reading, which means that we’re on the same page here. We both love Japanese stuff and just need a valid source with reasonable prices to buy all the printed goodness we ever wanted. Here comes the ultimate solution:
<h3>Cdjapan – English friendly with Japanese prices</h3>
Many readers did complain that honto didn’t accept their credit cards (mainly problems with Visa) or just canceled their order. I recently discovered <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/8U21aEwn3lw/4756/A148868/?_xbid=CDJapan+General+Banner">cdjapan.co.jp</a> again, a very reliable shop for Japanese books, video games, CDs & DVDs. Their prices on books are exactly the same as on honto.jp and you don’t have to pay the Japanese taxes when shipping outside of Japan which is extra sweet. They also have a nice points system which rewards you for being a loyal customer. You can even pay with payal for all the people who don’t own a credit card (or for me who loves it for the simplicity).
But what’s most important is that everything is in English, the shipping options are vast (including cheap SAL) and you can even add a Japanese video game or CD to your order. The only thing I always missed at honto, not being able to sneak in a game with my book order.
Shipping to Europe, Germany takes around 2 weeks via SAL.
I started using <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/8U21aEwn3lw/4756/A148868/?_xbid=CDJapan+General+Banner%22%20target=%22_blank">cdjapan</a> again because you can check the shipping rates at checkout and sneak in a video game to your order. Another important factor is that magazines and limited edition manga (which contain some extra goods like Drama Cds or a Dvd) are sold out fast at honto.jp. In most cases, cdjapan still has some in stock.
If you want to support Japanese Tease click on the button below or the links above. These are affiliate links and will earn the site a small percentage from your order. Thanks a lot for this, it really helps to support the site.
<a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/8U21aEwn3lw/4756/A148868/index.html?_xbid=logo234x60" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img alt="1_General CDJapan" border="0" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif"><img alt="1_General CDJapan" border="0" src="https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/banners/1_General/logo234x60.gif"></a>
13.05.2017 Update:
Even more than three years after updating this article and nearly four years after writing it, CDjapan is still the way to go for ordering books and magazines from Japan. I’ve used them countless times over the years and was never disappointed. Because many readers asked this over Twitter, Mail and in the comments: Shipping to Germany takes around two weeks give or take using SAL. I’ve yet to get into trouble with customs but so far none of my orders was fished out and I’ve nearly always ordered well above the magical 100€ mark for books.
For my German readers (might be the same for all European readers): There is only 7% tax on printed matters and you only have to pay taxes after reaching a tax total of 5€ (give or take here as well) for your order. So – happy book shopping from Japan.
07.03.2014 Update:
I’ve ordered quite a lot of stuff from cdjapan over the past months. Be it the <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/yotsuba-calendar-2014/">よつばとcalendar</a> or my latest shipment with <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/ollie-mag-bape-2014-ss-emook-nail-venus/">some Japanese magazines</a>. The stuff was always perfectly wrapped and securely shipped. Shipping times with SAL were the same as with honto and even their service is on par. Here are two pictures how the stuff is packed by cdjapan. Manga get bundled (many 4/5) and then wrapped as a whole in bubble wrap.
<img alt="nigo pharrell ollie magazine" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4246" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="nigo pharrell ollie magazine" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4246" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/nigo-pharrell-ollie-magazine.jpg" width="1200">
<img alt="nigo pharrell ollie magazine-2" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4233" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="nigo pharrell ollie magazine-2" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4233" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/nigo-pharrell-ollie-magazine-2.jpg" width="1200">

<h3>Honto.jp ships internationally as well</h3>
With a little trick which I’ll explain in a jiffy. The good thing about honto is their vast selection in general and their option to <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/download-digital-manga-japanese/">download Japanese manga and books digitally</a>. Shipping costs which will be determinded after! ordering. You can choose which shipping speed to use and you will get an Email with the total you’re charged when the package is ready for dispatch. I always use SAL which is best explained by the Japanese Post itself. It results in something like 2 weeks for the delivery from Japan to Germany and probably Europe in general. Until now, I made 9 orders in total and none came in later than 2 weeks after dispatch.
Concerning shipping costs. A rough estimate is: 4 volumes of よつばと！, or any other medium-sized manga, costs 1300¥. Not a bad deal, if you ask me. But don’t worry too much about shipping costs. Like I said, I already ordered a couple of books there. Mostly kinda big packages and for none, I was charged more than 3000¥. And one was a big order with several (heavy) fashion books for my girlfriend.
<h3>How to signup for honto.jp?</h3>
I thought about doing a guide myself but there is already <a href="http://kaizora.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/how-to-signup-for-honto/">a perfect one</a> out there which explains everything in great detail. It will make the registering process a breeze for you. You will need a Credit Card but that shouldn’t be a problem. If you don’t have one – get one. You can save a lot when ordering directly from Japanese shops, avoiding the middleman. But you will nearly always need a CC for this.
<h3>What are these points for and how can I use them?</h3>
Like nearly every Japanese store, honto.jp is offering a frequent customer model. Depending on the value of your purchase you get a certain amount of points (or 得点) when your order is shipped. Each point equals 1 ¥. You can decide to use your points when you checkout your order but this is well explained in the guide as well.
<img alt="banner_tsukaitaoshi_m" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3286" height="130" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="520"><img alt="banner_tsukaitaoshi_m" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3286" height="130" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/banner_tsukaitaoshi_m.jpg" width="520">
Normally you’ll only get a few points for each book but honto is nearly always hosting a special event which will double your points or give you 1000 points for a 10,000¥ order. Each event is announced with a big banner on the starting page so you can’t miss it.
<h3>Which manga and books should I pick up and how do I know how they look in reality?</h3>
That’s a tough one. I love browsing through book-stores. It’s just great to check out which selection of books are on display, to check the paper and binding and everything that makes a good book so special. I tried to recreate the feeling with my small section of <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/category/books/">Japanese books</a> but I’ve been slacking the last few weeks. You sure know where to find some <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/easy-to-read-manga-for-japanese-beginners-vol-01/">easy Japanese manga</a> and pictures of them but if you want to check out the more recent stuff (especially 少年) then head over to Reading Japanese Manga (defunct). A nice blog from a guy about his (frequent) manga orders.
Update: I made a nice searchable list with all manga titles I featured on this site. It’s conveniently called <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/manga-index/">Japanese Manga Index</a>.
<a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/20130808-094714.jpg"><img alt="20130808-094714.jpg" border="0" class="alignnone size-full" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif"><img alt="20130808-094714.jpg" border="0" class="alignnone size-full" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/20130808-094714.jpg"></a>
Sorry for the bad picture but it was the only one I was able to find. That’s how honto ships small orders. It doesn’t really look like it but the books are very well protected in there. Never experienced anything like this and I order a lot of stuff from abroad. I will do some proper pictures when my next order arrives.

Hope my post was helpful to you. Please drop a line in the comments and let me know how it went with the signup. Don’t be shy and share what you put in your first order.
 
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Guide: Where to buy Japanese Manga and Books

If you’re living in Europe, it may seem difficult to buy Japanese manga and books. You don’t have any shop...

My guide to self-studying Japanese

<div> 
 It’s time to contribute my little share to all the websites out there telling you how to learn Japanese, which textbooks to buy and which resources to use. I’m just a beginner myself but tried a lot of stuff, gave up twice and then started again with a different approach. There are a couple of things I want to make clear from the beginning which really got on my nerves reading different blogs trying to teach you how to learn Japanese – There are multiple ways to achieve your goal – There are many different sources which offer great ways to learn Japanese – If you like something, stick with it – I’m nowhere near the point where I would say that the stuff I’m doing and using for my Japanese studies is the perfect way to go. But it’s the right stuff for me and maybe for you too. Just some friendly tips from one Nerd to another which may save you a lot of time and money!
Revisited: 24.12.2013 I thought the time was right to update this page a little. Since then the ways and tools which I use to learn Japanese have changed and why not share the good stuff with you.
Revisited: 20.08.2014 It’s a time again for a little update. Included <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/japanesepod101-give-your-listening-comprehension-a-boost/">Japanesepod101</a> and Japanese the manga way<img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1381747" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="0"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1381747" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=japateas-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=a09240294b374e622247841960fc6d20&_cb=1431563027679" width="0">. Will re-structure the article and give you my personal laid out plan how I would start learning Japanese.
Revisited: 13.02.2015 Small update to the layout. Added my favorite Japanese dictionary App.
Revisited: 29.09.2015 Added a section on productivity and how to stay motivated for long-term learning (and with this, success).
Revisited: 16.08.2017 Added a study routine.
If you buy the books through my links, I’ll get a small referral fee which will be used to buy even more awesome books for review.
In the beginning, it’s always comfortable when you have a list you can go through. A numerical one at best with all the steps you should take in an orderly fashion. The tips in this posts aren’t random but for a beginner, it may be a little confusing with what to start nonetheless. That’s why I decided to break my Japanese learning process down. Let’s begin:
<h4>1. Learn Hiragana and Katakana</h4>
The two Japanese syllabaries are essential for every book and tool in this list. Hiragana is used for everything that’s not written in  Kanji (the complex Chinese characters), Katakana, on the other hand, is used for “imported” English words or when Japanese want to stylise a word. I found the <a href="http://drmoku.com/">Dr. Moku Apps</a> the absolute best for this purpose. It’s available for iOS, Android and on your Desktop so there should be a way for everyone to learn from the Doctor. If you prefer a physical version you should <a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" href="https://shop.whiterabbitjapan.com/collections/japanese-kana-kanji-flashcards/products/kana-flashcards?rfsn=27572.9913d" id="amznPsBmLink_5816315" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">check out these here</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_5816315" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="0"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_5816315" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=japateas-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=3e17b0f5e4552076c80a1373927d0181&_cb=1439903701776" width="0">.

<h4>2. Get a textbook. My favorite: Genki (second edition with a lovely MP3 CD)</h4>
An awesome textbook which teaches you the basics of Japanese grammar in two volumes and 25 lessons. Everything is very well explained with lots of example sentences, recurring characters who take part in various short stories and the exact right amount of vocabulary for each section. The MP3 Cd contains the text and vocabulary read out loud which is crucial to work on your listening comprehension at an early stage. It won’t get more easy when you wait with this step, trust me. There is also a corresponding workbook available but there is more than enough stuff to practice within the main book itself.
Still, I got both <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/PytJTGW7Lok/4756/A148868/product%2FNEOBK-929369">workbooks</a> and went through them as well. Each one is accompanied with an MP3 Cd (in the same manner like the main textbook) which contains all the text and dialogue spoken by a native speaker. If you got both down and the main books, basic Japanese grammar shouldn’t be a hurdle for you anymore. To sum it up, you don’t need the workbooks but some extra practice never hurts, right. Your call.
Forget <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/review-minna-no-nihongo/">Minna no nihongo</a> and all the other books which are just crappy for self-learners. Genki is the real deal. Don’t forget to buy the answer key which contains every answer for both work- and textbook for Genki I & II in one single volume.
Buy the book: <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/PytJTGW7Lok/4756/A148868/product%2FNEOBK-929367">Genki I </a>& <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/PytJTGW7Lok/4756/A148868/product%2FNEOBK-1030715">Genki II</a> // <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/PytJTGW7Lok/4756/A148868/product%2FNEOBK-1030710">Answer Key</a> (crucial!)// <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/PytJTGW7Lok/4756/A148868/product%2FNEOBK-929369">Workbook I</a> & <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/PytJTGW7Lok/4756/A148868/product%2FNEOBK-1030691">Workbook II</a> 
<a href="http://shop.whiterabbitjapan.com/products/genki-i-an-integrated-course-in-elementary-japanese-a-second-edition?rfsn=27572.9913d">WRJ</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_6619873" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="0"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_6619873" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=japateas-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=efc26a85a8501896a94500a0aea2a15c&_cb=1443540352847" width="0"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3182810" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="0"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3182810" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=japateas-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=d37ab9e68f3a05e830231acc0c1740c4&_cb=1439903662165" width="0"> has it also in store. If you include the shipping costs from Japan, it’s not such a bad deal even if it’s more expensive. And I got the feeling you might want to get the textbooks as fast as possible.
There is also a pretty <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/trouble-find-right-tense-genki-conjugation-cards-app-will-help/">neat iOS App</a> available which lets you train conjugations. Trust me on this one – just get it while studying the mighty Genki textbooks.
<img alt="Genki Volume 1&2" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2904" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="Genki Volume 1&2" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2904" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Genki-Volume-12.jpg" width="1200">
<h4>3. Get this dictionary for Japanese grammar</h4>
There will come the situation when you’re reading something and can’t make sense of a grammatical term. You’re trying to look it up in Genki but with no success. Tae Kim can’t give you a solid explanation either. But fear not, there is a great tool to help you in these moments. The dictionaries of Japanese grammar. It’s a series of three books published by the Japan Times (like Genki) with a beautiful layout and really well-written explanations with lots of example sentences. There is a reason why these three books are used by Japanese teaching universities all around the globe.
I’ve already written a more in-depth post about the first <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/dictionary-basic-japanese-grammar/" title="dictionary of basic Japanese grammar">dictionary of basic Japanese grammar</a> with a couple of pictures. Just have a look and decide for yourself if you could need one of these. For me, it’s the best thing that happened to me after Genki and a steady partner on my night table.
<ul>
<li>Buy A dictionary of basic Japanese grammar from <a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/PytJTGW7Lok/4756/A148868/product%2FNEOBK-1331589">CDjapan</a></li>
</ul>
<img alt="dictionary of basic japanese grammar japan times" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7138" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="dictionary of basic japanese grammar japan times" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7138" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/dictionary-of-basic-japanese-grammar-japan-times.jpg" width="1200">
<h4>4. Give your listening comprehension a boost and learn some sentence structures with Japanesepod101</h4>
When I signed up for TextFugu a long while back I also got a coupon for <a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&amp">Japanesepod101</a>. Heard a lot about the program before but never really considered subscribing because the whole site looked a bit “sketchy” to me. They just tried a little too hard to sell their stuff. But I thought to myself “if the tofugu team recommends something, it has to be good”. And it was the right decision.
Before Japanesepod I even struggled with the most basic sentences in Japanese. My listening comprehension was really crap. But thanks to this little podcast it got a lot better. It’s even incredibly useful to learn some grammar on the way with example sentences and explanations right away. Every episode has a little story up front which contains a specific grammar point. After that a native speaker and the host Peter Gallante are talking about the story, make some jokes, explain and just have a very well thought out discussion. Honestly, I’m always amazed how they make their episodes so poignant and casually at the same time. Kudos.
I really love listening to Podcasts on the go and if you do so as well you may know the feeling you get over time. Like you really know these people who you’re listening to regularly. Just like a bunch of old friends you like to hang out with and chat. I get that feeling when listening to Japanesepod as well which should tell you how much I enjoy the cast.
When I first started with Japanese I completely neglected any listening comprehension. It was a big mistake. You’ll never be able to really understand a language if you’re not used to the “flow”, the rhythm of that language. At least it was an immense game changer for me.
Just head to their <a href="http://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&amp">website</a> and give it a try or read my more in-depth <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/japanesepod101-give-your-listening-comprehension-a-boost/">review of Japanesepod101</a> if you want to learn more about their service first.
Japanesepod is sending me some coupons from time to time and I thought it would be a good idea to update the post with the new ones.
Coupon Codes February 2018 (links attached)
<a href="https://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&l=uggcf%3A%2F%2Fjjj.wncnarfrcbq101.pbz%2Foernxguebhtu">28% OFF BASIC, PREMIUM & PREMIUM PLUS</a>
<ul>
<li>Subscribe <a href="https://www.japanesepod101.com/member/go.php?r=571147&l=uggcf%3A%2F%2Fjjj.wncnarfrcbq101.pbz%2Foernxguebhtu">here</a> (coupon code already applied!)</li>
</ul>
<img alt="_-3" border="0" class="aligncenter wp-image-5340 size-full" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="_-3" border="0" class="aligncenter wp-image-5340 size-full" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/3.jpg" width="1200">
<h3>Recommended study routine: </h3>
<ul>
<li>After learning Hiragana & Katakana start with Genki I. I don’t think its the best idea to write your own flashcards for vocab so I would opt for a different route right away: <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/learn-tons-new-japanese-words-context-iknow-jp/">iKnow</a>. You train your reading ability and learn Japanese words in context. There is no better way (at least for me).</li>
</ul>
The program itself is not included in this list and that’s for a reason. I had to decide between two time-consuming SRS programs. Wanikani (just look below for a detailed explanation) and iKnow. The latter one is great for vocab but not essential so I opted for WK instead. 
<ul>
<li>Join Japanesepod101 and start with Newbie Season 1. Use it alongside Genki but don’t try to find the same grammar points in both the podcast and the book. Just let it flow and learn from both. The beauty of this method is that you’ll eventually encounter already learned grammar points again, get a second explanation and make them really stick.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Do you want to read manga in Japanese? Get this book.</h3>
Not really a necessity but – If you like to read manga in Japanese or want to get to that level where you can enjoy your favorite series in Japanese – buy this book. It’s really the best thing you can buy. Don’t confuse it with Japanese in Mangaland. This one here teaches real written Japanese using different scenes from popular manga as examples. A little like the column which once ran in the now-defunct <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/wanna-read-manga-japanese-try-mangajin/">Mangajin magazine</a> if some of you remember. You’ll learn a lot of useful grammatical stuff you really don’t get taught in regular textbooks. If you want to read manga – tries this book here. It helped me immensely in understanding some of the more obscure sentence enders and terms.
If you work through this book I guarantee you that you’ll at least have the grammatical foundation to comfortably read manga in Japanese. Yes, it’s that awesome. Japanese Tease reader Chris recommended it to me on twitter a while ago and I’m really glad he did. Worked my way through the book and reading Japanese got a lot more easy for me afterward. All these strange sentence enders and variations I couldn’t place anywhere were described in this book. Or at least a good part of em’. Even when <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/learn-japanese-anime/">watching Anime to learn Japanese</a> you’ll notice that this book here is essential. The slang remains the same no matter if you watch the shows or read the manga.
Buy Japanese the manga way at Amazon.com<img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_2087765" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="0"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_2087765" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=japateas-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=4249f26cc89fcac0a8a2b86021eb24c6&_cb=1431563067243" width="0">
<img alt="japanese the manga way" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5036" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="japanese the manga way" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5036" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/japanese-the-manga-way.jpg" width="1200">
<h4>5. Start learning the Kanji and tons of vocab with WaniKani</h4>
I’ve already written a post about <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/getting-back-learning-japanese-wanikani/">getting back to learning Japanese with WaniKani</a> but it just had to be included here. I always wanted to write a blog where articles that matter were updated when the time was right and that’s exactly what I’m doing now. WaniKani is great. Even if you’re just making your first steps in trying to learn Japanese, learn hiragana & katakana and make yourself a <a href="http://www.wanikani.com">WaniKani</a> account. It starts from scratch and is a great alternative to Heisig. It’s actually the one I prefer nowadays. JT reader <a href="https://twitter.com/Kendawg_McRad">NinKenDo</a> pointed out that he is actually using WaniKani in conjunction with Heisig. So that’s also an alternative. If you want to know more about WaniKani and it’s immense benefits, just read the above-linked post to the original article. But in short: You’ll learn the Kanji, learn tons of vocabulary and meet great people in the community. The best thing I did for my Japanese studies was signing up with WK. Hands down.
To make studying with WaniKani even more easy  I compiled <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/favorite-wanikani-extensions-sites-really-use/">a list of the extensions</a> I use with the site to make things a little faster and more efficient. Safari is normally my go-to browser but specifically for WK I switch to Chrome just for the sake of using all these little helpers.
Heisig: Remembering the Kanji<img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_9109968" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="0"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_9109968" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=japateas-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=355d7575560607db40a28ed05d45d597&_cb=1440768870545" width="0"> – Before WaniKani came around this was the ultimate way to learn the Kanji. The key was to break down the Chinese characters in small parts called primitives. Out of these, you make up a story that will help you memorize the meaning of each Kanji. If you got a meaning down for each Kanji you can advance to learning the different meanings.
<img alt="how to learn japanese-4" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4208" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="how to learn japanese-4" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4208" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/how-to-learn-japanese-4.jpg" width="1200">

When someone asked me how he should start to learn Japanese as a self-learner these were the tips I would give him. But there is a lot of other stuff out there which is great as well. Let’s start with a classics. The infamous online Japanese textbook.
<h4>Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide</h4>
If you want another shot at Japanese grammar or want to read more about a certain topic<a href="http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/"> Tae Kim’s grammar guide</a> is my go-to place. It’s free, it’s awesome and very well explained. Good stuff for beginners who like a more casual and natural approach towards grammar and always a great complement to Genki. Some are even using solely Tae Kim for their grammar needs but I wouldn’t recommend that. Not because his site isn’t great (it is) I just think that it’s a little confusing at the beginning and a little vague with his explanations sometimes as well. If you already have a foundation in Japanese you’ll greatly profit from the many example sentences and small grammatical nuances Tae Kim explains so well. If you don’t have a certain background you’ll probably feel the same I felt back then. Not being able to see the forest between all the trees.
There is also a <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learning-japanese/id377785100?mt=8">free IOS Version</a> of the guide which is really well made – and free. A no-brainer if you have a fitting device. I actually bought the printed version as well but am not that keen on it. Maybe because the App is just too good to be true. And free, did I mention that?
<h4>Get a Japanese dictionary for your mobile phone and tablet.</h4>
No matter if you’re using Android or iOS there are many different Japanese dictionary Apps available and they are more or less all offering the same. At least they’re all referring to the same database of words. So, in the end, it’s a matter of preference which one you like to use. Or rather a matter of style. I tried out a couple of different ones but stuck with <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/midori-japanese-dictionary/id385231773?mt=8">Midori</a> and am using it now for a couple of years. I really like that the App is already searching for the word while I’m typing. Makes finding words where you only know the Kanji and you’re not quite sure about the exact reading a lot easier. There are a lot more bells and whistles to this App but I’m using none of them. Built-in list to which you can add your words, Kanji and vocab after JLPT and so on. In this regard, all the dictionary Apps are more or less the same and in the end (again) it just comes down to which interface you like best.
<a href="http://www.imiwaapp.com">Imiwa</a> has been mentioned in the comments and I tried it myself. Nothing wrong with this App either. There is even the functionality to change the language to German or French or Spanish. But not all Japanese words included in the dictionary are available in all translations and some may still be shown with an English translation. It’s free and a great alternative to Midori (which costs a hefty 10$). Download it and try it for yourself.

<h3>Reading material</h3>
Learning Japanese is a journey that never seems to end. At least for me, it doesn’t. Luckily there is a vast market of neat books and programs out there which make studying the language a joy to do so. I’ve written some articles about nearly all the books I’ve used up to now and always aim to give you a personal feel for the books with the pictures I’m taking. Hope that works. Some stuff which I love to recommend to nearly all stages of learners are the <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/japanese-graded-readers/">Japanese Graded Readers</a> books. Available from super easy to intermediate. They come in attractive little boxes, each story in a separate booklet, but have a look yourself.
<a href="http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/aff/click.cgi/PytJTGW7Lok/4756/A148868/products?term.media_format=&q=japanese+graded+readers%22%20target=%22_blank">Japanese Graded Readers</a> – When a native material is still far too difficult and frustrating these are an excellent way to start finally putting your newly learned Japanese to some use. You can choose a set from grade 0 to 3 with rising difficulty in grammar, vocabulary and sentence structure. Each story gets is printed in a different booklet and they accompanying MP3 Cd has every little story read by a native.
<a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/easy-to-read-manga-for-japanese-beginners-vol-01/">Read manga in Japanese</a> – I made a total of five posts with manga recommendations for Japanese beginners. You should always keep in mind though that every one of these manga is aimed at a native Japanese audience and thus it can be quite a harsh entry if it’s really the first thing you read in Japanese. But it’ll get better over time (like always) and the above-mentioned book Japanese the manga way will help you out a great deal.
<a href="https://shop.whiterabbitjapan.com/products/nihongo-notes-vol-1-language-and-culture?rfsn=27572.9913d">Nihongo Notes</a> – When learning and trying to understand and speak Japanese you’ll always face the difficulty that you just express yourself a lot different in Japanese than you would do in a European language. Nihongo Notes is collecting all the essays from the column with the same name which run in the newspaper The Japan Times. In fun little stories covering everyday situations in Japan, you’ll learn a lot about how to use different phrases correctly and more importantly about their heritage and true meaning. If you want to slip inside of a Japanese and make sense of all the seemingly random dos and don’ts in Japan these two books are your best bet. – <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/nihongo-notes-review/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Read the full review</a>.

<h3>Productivity</h3>
<a href="https://habitica.com/static/front">Habitica</a> – If you want to tackle your daily tasks and to-do-lists like they were missions in an RPG this is the website for you. You earn some in-game money and experience points for every task you finished which will level up your character and even allows you to be some neat gear. Join the Japanese Tease guild and let’s tackle some monsters together through learning more Japanese.
Moleskine Notebook<img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_4248917" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="0"><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_4248917" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=japateas-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=4f1da7920811b738b143ca7917e2b0d0&_cb=1440834954707" width="0"> – Tracking your learning progress is essential to keep you on plan and motivated as well. A technique that works very well for me is just to write down with a few keywords what I learned each day. Or if I have to work through a big bunch of pages in a textbook I’ll write down where I started and finished that day. I personally love the little Moleskine weekly planers, but of course, even the note function or calendar on your mobile is up for this task.

Defunct. The section for all the stuff I don’t use anymore but once have. Loved these tools at one point but don’t use them in my current state anymore.
<h4>Anki</h4>
If you don’t know about <a href="http://ankisrs.net">Anki</a> yet here us a short description of the best program/<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/ankimobile-flashcards/id373493387?mt=8">app</a> I own. Or at least the most useful to me. It’s a program to make digital flashcards but instead of just having two sides you can do the wildest things with Anki. The Ultimate Japanese Vocab Packs by Tofugu support Anki as well and are really well made. With sound files and different forms. Just download Anki and get these Vocab packs. There is no better introduction to Anki out there. A nice feature of Anki is that you can download ao called “decks” by other people directly within the program. So if you decide to tackle the Heisig method for learning all the Joyu Kanji, just search for a deck. Maybe someone else was kind enough to upload his own Anki-deck which can save you a lot of time. And the good part is: You always have the opportunity to customize these decks. Well done Anki!
<img alt="how to learn japanese-5" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4209" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif" width="1200"><img alt="how to learn japanese-5" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-4209" height="800" src="https://www.japanesetease.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/how-to-learn-japanese-5.jpg" width="1200">
<h4>Make your own vocabulary-decks</h4>
When you finished the essential packs you will have some basic Japanese vocabulary knowledge which will come in quite handy reading stuff like <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/easy-to-read-manga-for-japanese-beginners-vol-01/">Yotsubato! and Shirokuma Café</a>. But because Japanese is damn complex you need to learn more vocab and I mean: Lots more. I just expanded the Tofugu decks and made additions to them whenever I stumbled across an unknown word. I would advise you to do the same because the tofugu vocab “template” is really well made with the ability to learn the different forms and kanji reading in a breeze. Little tip: Add a field for the te-form within the Verbs template, which will make things much easier for you in the long run.
<h4>Where do I pick up my vocab?</h4>
When reading a manga I try to put all unknown words into Anki. Sometimes I skip a few. There is really no need to learn ancient Japanese words when you’re still trying to figure out the basics. You can rather spend the time on the more useful stuff first which you will actually use and come back for fancy vocab a couple of months (or years) later when you have a decent knowledge of Japanese. Of course, there are some places with more useful vocab to pick up than others. Manga may not be such a great choice all in all because of all the slang and sometimes fantasy language (always depending on what you read of course). But Yotsuba with its everyday anecdotes really is a good way to start. I compiled a list of <a href="https://www.japanesetease.net/easy-to-read-manga-for-japanese-beginners-vol-01/">beginner-friendly manga in Japanese</a> which should give you plenty of suggestions.
 
 </div>

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