Japanese Readers for Classroom Use

Designed to support engaging and flexible Japanese lessons.

Ideal for:

• Whole-class teaching
• Interactive whiteboard lessons
• Shared classroom reading
• Small-group activities
• Listening and pronunciation practice
• Guided vocabulary activities
• Independent reading
• Revision and review

Help students build reading confidence through authentic Japanese language and culture.

Book Description

What does it look like?

Each page begins with the simple question 「これ なに？」 (What’s this?) and a beautifully crafted object to observe.

Learners carefully look at each picture and decide what it resembles. Some may look like a lemon, a bell, a Christmas tree, or a ball. As they continue reading, they discover that every picture is actually a beautifully crafted traditional Japanese sweet (wagashi).

Authentic photographs help learners connect Japanese words with real Japanese culture while repeated question patterns build early reading confidence.

Learners are introduced to both hiragana and katakana from the beginning. Katakana words include hiragana support (furigana), helping beginners become familiar with both Japanese writing systems.

The final page introduces wagashi as traditional Japanese sweets that are traditionally enjoyed with green tea, providing a gentle introduction to Japanese food culture.

This reader helps learners build reading confidence through curiosity, observation, authentic Japanese language, and the discovery of traditional wagashi.

Key Features

• One simple question on every page
• Use picture clues to predict what each picture resembles
• Discover traditional Japanese wagashi
• Introduces both hiragana and katakana
• Builds early reading confidence

Language Features

Students will practise:

• Reading the simple question 「これ なに？」
• Using picture clues to predict meaning
• Reading hiragana
• Recognising basic katakana with hiragana support (furigana)
• Building beginner vocabulary
• Developing reading confidence through repeated question patterns
• Discovering authentic Japanese food culture

Details

Japanese Reader Level: 1
Recommended for: Complete Beginners
Language Focus: Simple question pattern (これ なに？)
Vocabulary Theme: Everyday objects used as picture clues
Cultural Theme: Traditional Japanese wagashi and food culture

Character Count: 131
Pages: 15
Product Type: A5 saddle-stitched booklet
ISBN: 978-0-6481178-9-6

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
• Introducing Japanese food culture through authentic photographs