Minna no Nihongo Shokyu, which has been widely used both in Japan and overseas for many years since it was first published, is a comprehensive Japanese study material designed to be as enjoyable and interesting as possible for both beginner learners and teachers alike. Focusing on the step-by-step learning of grammar, which is essential for language learning, the book provides functions and situations that lead to communication and aims for the learner to acquire the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
The separately sold Translation and Grammar Notes includes a translation of the vocabulary, sentence patterns, example sentences, conversations, reference-related vocabulary, etc., presented in this textbook as well as explanations of the grammar and cultural information. This book is scheduled to be translated into 15 languages, beginning with English in November 2025 and Chinese and Vietnamese in February 2026. Other languages will soon follow.
■ Main Text revision points
1) Review of conversation scenes, vocabulary, and expressions
The conversation scenes, vocabulary, and expressions are being reviewed to match current times. There will be no major changes to the grammar syllabus or the structure of each lesson.
2) The audio content will be distributed via our website and an app
The audio of the Conversation and Practice Questions found in each lesson as well as the Introduction* (Japanese Pronunciation, Classroom Language, Everyday Greetings and Expressions, and Numerals) on the CD included with the Second Edition of the book is now available free of charge on our website (for download and streaming) and an audio app.
*Elementary I only
The Sentence Patterns, Example Sentences, Exercises A, B, and C, and the Vocabulary (new words) in each lesson of Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Translation and Grammar Notes can be listened to for a fee on our website (streaming only) and audio app. Please see the "Publication Schedule" for details.
| Conversations |
★Changed lesson titles are shown in red, and changed conversation scenes are shown in yellow. |
| Practice Questions | 【Elementary I】 The titles of the reading material have changed as follows: Lesson 9 「山田さんとダンス」 → 「ワンさんとダンス」 Lesson 21 「カンガルー」 → 「わたしの夢」 ※In Lesson 21, the content of the reading material has changed significantly, and the related tasks have also changed. ・Please visit here for information on the dialogue topics, reading material, and related tasks included in the Practice Questions section of Elementary I Third Edition Main Text. |
| Vocabulary | ・Changes from Elementary I Second Edition (Vocabulary and Expressions) (PDF file: approx. 704KB) [As of 3 September 2025] |
| Kanji notation | 【Elementary I】 Only the following three words have been changed. [漢字→ひらがな] 兄弟 → きょうだい 君 → くん [ひらがな→漢字] 牛どん → 牛丼 |
| Expressions | 【Elementary I】 Lesson 5: The pronunciation of 「何」 in 「何で~へ行きますか」has been changed from「なん」 to「なに」. (「何<なに>」in Vocabulary has been moved from Lesson 6 to Lesson 5.) |