Short Stories in Japanese: New Penguin Parallel Texts” is an e-book collection of eight dual-language short stories. They’re first presented in original Japanese followed by an English translation. The stories featured in this collection are from well-known Japanese authors such as Kazushige Abe and Hiromi Kawakami. In fact, this is the first time these stories are being offered in this format and often the first time translated into English. Finally, don't be afraid to stop reading a book that's too difficult or uninteresting and find something you like better.

The aim of graded readers are to expose you to vocabulary, kanji, and grammar in a natural environment. To become comfortable with the practice of reading, so you learn to understand overall context and so it’s less daunting at later levels. Reading is a fantastic way to increase your abilities across all the different language domains. The more you read, the better you'll get! All the time saved means you move through the reading with less interruption, which means that it’s more enjoyable—and that you’ll be more likely to read more! Learn Japanese by Reading with 8 Steps and Over 20 Recommendations 1. Start with Graded Readers These books are, without a doubt, the most useful resources I’ve ever used. They’re worth their weight in gold, and even if you choose to ignore the rest of this post, I implore you to read these. In addition to his Uncovered Courses, Olly has also worked with Teach Yourself to create a number of excellent graded readers. The Japanese reader, Short Stories in Japanese for Intermediate Learners, lets you "read for pleasure at your level, expand your vocabulary, and learn Japanese the fun way!"What happens when you come across a new word but don’t know the kanji? Or maybe you do know what it means but aren’t sure how to read it? If you follow my suggestions, you’ll be doing both types of reading—and each one involves a different approach.

You will then be able to read Japanese texts for pleasure, may it be leafing through your favorite manga (漫画) on a lazy Sunday afternoon, getting your daily news fix from the Asahi Shimbun (朝日新聞), or finishing your first Murakami (村上) novel in the original. We encourage you not to reach for a dictionary while reading Japanese Graded Readers. Try to skip words and phrases that you don’t understand and simply keep on reading. Their meanings will become apparent eventually from the context and illustrations. Finally, if the going gets tough, simply stop reading and try a different one.The topics presented in each box set contain a wild variety, ranging from lighthearted and silly to genuinely heartbreaking.