Yookoso by Yasu-Hiko Tohsaku (2005, Hardcover, Illustrated)

Only bought for class. I do not like this book as a way to learn Japanese.

If serious, purchase the Genki textbooks instead.

This is the best Japanese textbook,that I have ever seen. It is the only one I have run across, that teaches both how to speak as well as the written form of the language, especially the fact it teaches kanji, which seems to be absent from other Japnese language books.

I really like the option of going to the book's website to listen to the its audio program and take the quizes, since I'm studying Japanese on my own and not in a school, I have been able to keep track of my progress online.

My only real complaints are the lack of colour photos and the fact it really only teaches formal Japanese, it does not get into the normal everyday speech and slang, that some of the other Japanee books do.