🪁 Level 1 Japanese Reader | Absolute Beginners

Can your students discover all twelve Japanese zodiac animals while reading their first Japanese book?

Kites (たこ) introduces beginners to Japanese reading through beautiful handmade kites created by Yoshio Sakazawa from Utsunomiya, Japan.

Through authentic photographs, students practise the repeated ～さん、かわいい！ pattern before exploring simple expressions and a short introduction to the kite maker.

🎯 Key Language Features & Learning Benefits

• Hiragana & zodiac vocabulary – Recognize and read all twelve Japanese zodiac animal names.
• Meaningful repetition – Build confidence through ～さん、かわいい！.
• Natural Japanese expressions – Encounter こんにちは、わあ、すごい、かっこいいね.
• Gentle reading progression – Move from repeated expressions to simple ～ます sentences on the final pages.
• Authentic visual & cultural support – Connect Japanese words with photographs of real handmade kites.
• Independent reading confidence – Enjoy an achievable first reading experience with an additional challenge for developing readers.

Ideal for: Absolute beginners, beginning Hiragana readers, and students ready for simple Japanese expressions.

📚 Explore the Special Features That Make Japanese Reading Easier