Read Japanese Without Guessing - Level A1.1 (Paperback)

Read Japanese Without Guessing — Level A1.1 begins with あたらしい まいにち, a gentle Japanese graded reader for absolute beginners who want to read real Japanese without stopping or guessing.

Follow ルカ, a newcomer in Tokyo and his small brown dog ココ as they discover a new apartment, a quiet neighborhood, a café, new friends, and daily conversations.

No guessing.
No dictionary breaks.
No frustration.
Just beginner Japanese made clear, visible, and readable from page one.

What Makes This Book Different?

This book uses an interlinear reading method: the English meaning appears directly above the Japanese words, so you can understand each sentence while your eyes stay on the story.

Instead of stopping for a glossary and losing your place, you see support exactly when you need it. The result is a smoother reading experience that builds confidence.

Built for True Beginners

This is Level A1.1, the first step in a Japanese graded reader pathway from beginner to advanced reading.

• Level: A1.1 absolute beginner
• Exam focus: JLPT N5 foundation
• Writing system: hiragana and katakana only
• Kanji: none at this level
• Chapters: 10 short stories
• Vocabulary: about 200–300 words

Because the book uses only hiragana and katakana, you can focus on reading, meaning, and simple grammar without the pressure of kanji.

Read Two Ways in Every Chapter

Each chapter gives you the same story in two formats:

• Story with interlinear English — understand every sentence on your first read
• Japanese-only story — reread naturally and build fluency

Read the supported version first. Then try the Japanese-only version. You may be surprised by how much you understand without English help.

What You Will Learn

• Greet people with こんにちは, おはよう, こんばんは, and おやすみ
• Introduce yourself with わたしは ～です
• Talk about people, pets, and things using います and あります
• Count from 1 to 10
• Recognize colors such as あか, あお, きいろ, and ちゃいろ
• Use これ, それ, and あれ to point things out
• Ask yes/no questions with ～ですか
• Express likes with ～が すき です
• Use possession with の, such as わたしの いぬ

A Complete Chapter Structure

• 本文（インターリニア） — story with English support
• 本文（にほんごのみ） — Japanese-only reading
• どっかいもんだい — reading comprehension
• たんごれんしゅう — vocabulary practice
• べんりな ひょうげん — useful expressions
• ぶんぽう — one grammar focus
• さくぶん — short writing practice
• こたえ — full answer key

Who This Book Is For

This reader is ideal if you are a complete beginner, preparing for JLPT N5, learning kana, or frustrated by Japanese materials that ask you to guess too much too soon.

It is useful if you learn best through reading, repetition, and visual meaning rather than heavy grammar explanations. No previous grammar knowledge is required, but you should be learning or reviewing kana.

Part of a Larger Learning Pathway

Read Japanese Without Guessing is part of a structured 12-level journey from A1.1 to C2.2. As the series progresses, vocabulary grows, sentences become richer, kanji is introduced gradually, and interlinear support slowly decreases.

Use it with Pronounce Japanese Without Guessing and Japanese Vocabulary Builder for pronunciation, vocabulary growth, and deeper fluency.

Begin Reading Japanese Today

Start with the story. Let the meanings guide you. Notice the patterns. Read again. Then try the Japanese-only version.

Read slowly.
Understand clearly.
Enjoy Japanese from the beginning.