Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I 2nd Edition – Japanese Beginner Textbooks & Practice Books

The Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I 2nd Edition series is one of Japan’s long-running and widely used Japanese-language learning series for beginners. First introduced in 1998, Minna no Nihongo follows a carefully structured grammar syllabus and is designed to help learners build practical Japanese skills step by step.

This listing includes several books from the Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I Second Edition series, allowing you to choose the material that best matches the area you want to study: the main textbook, English translation and grammar notes, sentence-pattern practice, kanji writing, structured kanji study, or beginner reading practice.

About Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I

Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I is designed for beginner learners of Japanese and introduces essential grammar, vocabulary and communication patterns through a systematic progression.

The Second Edition retains the established grammar syllabus of the original series while updating older vocabulary and expanding visual exercises. The series can be used for classroom study as well as structured self-study when combined with appropriate supplementary materials.

Depending on the selected book, learners can focus on:

• Core grammar and communication
• Sentence-pattern writing practice
• Kanji reading and writing
• Kanji vocabulary and usage
• Beginner Japanese reading comprehension

Available Variants

1. Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I Honsatsu – Main Textbook, 2nd Edition

The main textbook of the Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I series and the central book around which the supplementary materials are organized.

It retains the carefully structured grammar syllabus of the original edition while replacing outdated vocabulary with more contemporary terms and adding more illustration-based exercises.

It includes dialogues, exercises and practice activities covering the fundamental structures needed at the beginner level.

Includes: Audio CD containing recordings for conversation and exercise sections
Pages: 249
Language: Japanese
ISBN-13: 978-4883196036

Best for: Learners looking for the primary coursebook and a complete foundation for studying with the Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I series.

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2. Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I Translation & Grammar Notes – English Edition

The English Translation & Grammar Notes is an essential companion to the Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I 2nd Edition Main Textbook for learners who want to check vocabulary, grammar and lesson content in English.

While the main textbook is primarily in Japanese, this supplementary book provides English translations and detailed grammar explanations, making it especially useful for self-study, lesson preparation and review.

Before the individual lessons, the book introduces key information about the Japanese language, writing system and pronunciation, as well as translations of classroom expressions and common greetings.

For each lesson, it includes:

• English translations of new vocabulary, conversation vocabulary and expressions from the main textbook
• English translations of sentence patterns, example sentences and dialogues
• Additional useful vocabulary and information about Japanese life and culture
• Detailed explanations of grammar patterns and expressions in English

It can be used before a lesson to preview unfamiliar vocabulary or after studying to review grammar and confirm the meaning of material introduced in the main textbook.

Pages: 181
Language: Japanese / English
Publication Date: August 2, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-4883196043
ISBN-10: 4883196046

Best for: English-speaking learners using the Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I Main Textbook, especially those studying independently or wanting clear English explanations of grammar and vocabulary.

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3. Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I Sentence Pattern Practice Workbook – 書いて覚える文型練習帳

A dedicated writing and sentence-pattern practice workbook designed for use alongside the Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I main textbook.

It provides additional written practice to help learners reinforce the grammatical structures introduced in the course and become more comfortable constructing Japanese sentences.

Pages: 138
Language: Japanese
ISBN-13: 978-4883196074

Best for: Learners who want extra grammar reinforcement and prefer learning sentence structures through written practice.

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4. Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I Kanji Practice Book – 漢字練習帳

A practical kanji workbook corresponding directly to the lessons, grammar and vocabulary of the Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I 2nd Edition Main Textbook.

It introduces 218 commonly used kanji and uses three main types of activities:

• Kanji study sheets
• Reading exercises
• Writing exercises

Review tests are included after several lessons. The pages are designed with perforations and two holes, allowing individual sheets to be removed and filed after completion.

Pages: 114
Language: Japanese
ISBN-13: 978-4883196029

Best for: Learners who want systematic handwriting, reading and review practice directly linked to the main textbook.

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5. Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I Kanji – English Edition

A more comprehensive kanji study book created primarily for learners from non-kanji language backgrounds.

It introduces approximately 220 kanji and 351 kanji vocabulary items, covering characters broadly corresponding to the JLPT N5–N4 range.

Rather than relying only on repetitive writing, the book teaches kanji through their shapes, meanings, readings and use in familiar words and contexts. It also includes introductory practice with the basic strokes used to write Japanese characters.

The book is divided into:

Part 1: Introduction to Kanji
Part 2: Introductory Lessons
Part 3: Units 1–20 corresponding to Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I

A separate reference booklet provides additional information about the kanji and related vocabulary.

Pages: 196
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-4883196838

Best for: English-speaking beginners who want a more detailed explanation of how kanji work, rather than only a handwriting workbook.

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6. Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I – 25 Topics for Beginner Reading

A reading practice book that allows students to begin developing Japanese reading comprehension from the elementary level.

The book gradually progresses from simple exercises involving characters and numbers to a wide variety of practical texts, including:

• Notices
• Letters
• Interviews
• Quizzes
• Questionnaires
• Everyday information
• Topics related to life and culture in Japan

Each reading includes simple comprehension activities.

The supplementary booklet contains translations of vocabulary not yet introduced in Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I in English, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean, together with answers and guidance for teachers.

Pages: 111
Languages: Japanese / English supplementary support
ISBN-13: 978-4883196890

Best for: Learners who want to develop practical reading skills and become comfortable understanding different types of real-world Japanese texts.

Which Book Should I Choose?

If you are starting the series, choose the Honsatsu Main Textbook as your core coursebook.

If you are an English-speaking learner, we strongly recommend combining it with the Translation & Grammar Notes – English Edition. The main textbook presents the course material primarily in Japanese, while the companion book provides English translations of vocabulary, sentence patterns, example sentences and dialogues, together with detailed grammar explanations. These two books are designed to be used together.

Choose the Sentence Pattern Practice Workbook for additional grammar and writing exercises, or the Kanji Practice Book if you want handwriting and reading drills closely connected to each textbook lesson.

The Kanji English Edition is better for learners who want more detailed explanations of kanji structure, meaning and usage, while 25 Topics for Beginner Reading is ideal for developing reading comprehension through varied, practical Japanese texts.

Several of these books can be combined to create a complete study system covering grammar, vocabulary, kanji, writing and reading.

Recommended combination for beginners

Main Textbook + Translation & Grammar Notes (English) → the best starting combination for English-speaking learners.

+ Sentence Pattern Practice Workbook → for additional grammar and writing practice.

+ Kanji Practice Book / Kanji English Edition → for systematic kanji study.

+ 25 Topics for Beginner Reading → for additional reading comprehension practice.

Product Information

Series: Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I
Edition: Second Edition
Level: Beginner Japanese
Publisher: 3A Corporation / スリーエーネットワーク
Country of Publication: Japan
Product Type: Japanese Language Learning Book
Format: Printed Book