Let’s Play Shiritori!

Discover shiritori, one of Japan’s favourite Japanese word games.

Each page features one authentic photograph and one Japanese word, making it easy for complete beginners to recognise vocabulary and enjoy early reading success. Students can begin reading from their very first Japanese lessons using a hiragana chart.

Learners are introduced to both hiragana and katakana from the beginning. Katakana words, such as トマト and トイレットペーパー, include hiragana support (furigana), helping students recognise and read both writing systems with confidence.

As learners progress through the shiritori word chain, they discover fascinating aspects of Japan, including tanuki, daruma, maiko, koinobori, and even everyday sights such as Japan’s famous vending machines. Every word opens the door to another part of Japan, making reading both meaningful and enjoyable.

This book helps learners take their first steps in reading Japanese while discovering everyday vocabulary, authentic Japanese culture, and both hiragana and katakana.

Language Features

Students will practise:

• Reading individual Japanese words
• Reading hiragana using a hiragana chart
• Recognising basic katakana with hiragana support (furigana)
• Building everyday vocabulary
• Developing reading confidence one word at a time

Details

Japanese Reader Level: 1
Recommended for: Complete Beginners
Language Focus: Individual Japanese words
Vocabulary Theme: Everyday vocabulary and Japanese cultural words
Cultural Theme: Japanese word games and authentic Japanese culture

Character count: 95
Pages: 21
Product type: A5 saddle-stitched booklet
ISBN: 978-1-925808-09-4

Perfect For

• Students taking their first steps in reading Japanese
• Primary school Japanese programs
• Beginning secondary school students
• Adult beginners
• Home learning
• Japanese language classrooms
• Learners building their first Japanese vocabulary

📚 Teaching & Learning Resources

Every reader includes free access to our Resource Library, designed to support both classroom teaching and independent learning.

Included with every reader

• 🎧 Audio recordings narrated by Mariko Sensei
• 📖 English translation
• 💻 Quizlet vocabulary activities

Also available for schools and teachers

• 🖥️ Class Sets with Online Flipbooks

💜 A Note from Mariko Sensei

Shiritori was one of my favourite word games when I was growing up in Japan.

My family often played shiritori at home, on picnics, and during long car trips. I always wanted to beat my older sister, but she usually won! Even so, those games became some of my happiest childhood memories.

When I created this reader, I wanted Japanese learners to experience the same fun while building confidence in reading. With one photograph and one word on each page, I hope learners will discover that reading Japanese can be enjoyable from the very beginning.

Happy reading!

— Mariko Sensei

📖 Your Next Japanese Reader

Now that you’ve started reading individual Japanese words, you’re ready to take the next step with simple phrases and questions while continuing to discover Japanese culture.

Try these readers next:

• たこ — Read one simple beginner phrase while learning about the Japanese zodiac animals through beautiful traditional kites.
• これなに？ — Guess traditional Japanese sweets using simple questions and authentic photographs.
• にほんのおかし — Build reading confidence by discovering popular Japanese snacks through simple descriptions.

📚 Explore More Japanese Reader Packs

Looking for a complete learning pathway? Explore our carefully graded Japanese Reader Packs, designed to help learners build reading confidence step by step.

• Beginner Hiragana Readers Starter Pack
• Primary & Elementary School Readers Pack
• All Japanese Readers Pack

These Japanese readers are intended for individual use and extensive reading (tadoku).

© Mariko Earle. All rights reserved.