Japanese for Busy People Series
Japanese for Busy People (JBP) textbooks have been used by 2.4 million students worldwide since its initial publication.
The title says it all – a tool for busy people who want to learn Japanese effectively and efficiently.
What's New!

Japanese for Busy People (JBP) – New Revision!
Volume II of the textbooks and workbooks are now available:
・"JBPⅡ Revised 4th Edition" (hard copy and electronic versions)
・"JBPⅡ Workbook for the Revised 4th Edition" (hard copy and electronic versions)
・"JBPⅡ Teacher's Manual for the Revised 4th Edition" (electronic versions only)
Japanese for Busy People comprises the following features:
- A fully integrated three-level series with related supplementary materials, which is suitable for both self-study and classroom use, forms a comprehensive course in basic Japanese.
- The Japanese for Busy People series requires about 300 hours of classroom instruction. At each level, enough vocabulary and grammar has been provided to enable the learner to easily communicate in uncomplicated adult Japanese.
- Students who have completed all three levels of this series will acquire language skills generally equivalent to Level 4 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.
- Audio for the short conversations and phrases in the textbooks are available to download from the Kodansha USA web site. The natural speed of the Japanese narration helps to improve listening skills.
Japanese for Busy People Ⅰ Revised 4th Edition
Romanized Version
Kana Version |
Volume 1 Features Unit Structure Volume 1 includes 24 lessons, which are broken into 10 units. Each unit covers a specific theme. Culture Notes Illustrations About 500 illustrations in the textbooks make for a stimulating and effective learning experience. Sound Files Sound files are now available to download from the Kodansha USA web site for more convenient learning. Students can listen to conversations and phrases found in the textbooks.
How to Use the Textbook Cultural Background Information on the Japanese culture at the beginning of each unit helps students deepen their understanding of the country and its people. Grammar Speaking Students acquire practical conversation skills with step-by-step lessons on Key Sentences, Word Power, Speaking Practice(s), and Target Dialogue.
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*Download from the link below:
Sound Files for "JBP I Romanized Version" Sound Files for "JBP I Kana Version"
Japanese for Busy People Ⅱ Revised 4th Edition
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Volume 2 Features Unit Structure Like the JBPI, the book's lessons are organized into 8 units, each of which covering a specific topic. They will help expand the student's breadth of conversation with increasingly more complex subject matters. Illustrations Kanji This edition presents a new method of studying kanji. Each lesson offers about 7 topic-specific kanji to add to the vocabulary. Kanji Worksheets for kanji practices are available for download on Kodansh USA website.
How to Use the Text Grammar Study the grammar and syntax related to the topic covered in each lesson. Words and expressions Grammar and Vocabulary Usage Practice speaking Follow example conversations and practice speaking about the topic. |
*Download from the link below:
Japanese for Busy People Ⅲ
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Volume 3 Features Unit Structure Volume 3 comprises five study units, each of which covering a specific topic of study. Students will gradually get acquainted with the Japanese society, while studying the vocabulary and syntax required for more advanced levels. They will also learn the appropriate expressions and words that are essential for day-to-day interactions with people in Japan. Reading Materials for Better Comprehension Each section includes lists of theme-specific words and expressions, accompanied by illustrations, to help expand the student's vocabulary. Kanji This edition presents a new method of studying kanji. Each lesson offers 10 topic-specific kanji to add to the vocabulary.
How to Use the Text Grammar Study the grammar and syntax related to the topic covered in each unit. Words and expressions Practice speaking Follow example conversations and practice speaking about the topic. Review usage Read a short text on the topic to review usage. |
Japanese for Busy People The Main Textbooks : Contents for Each Volume
General Language Objectives |
Grammatical Structural Goals |
Situational Function Goals | New Vocabulary | Class Time | |
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Ⅰ |
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877 words |
50-60 hours |
Ⅱ |
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about 1,367 words |
100-120 hours |
Ⅲ |
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1,101 words |
100-120 hours |
Japanese for Busy People Workbook
Use the following workbooks and study materials with the textbooks for more effective learning.
Core Points
- Improves oral fluency, and enables nonnative students to speak Japanese at normal conversational speed
- Can be used for homework and self-review
- Coordinated with the exercises and quizzes
Japanese for Busy People Ⅰ The Workbook for the Revised 4th Edition

・Basic Japanese sentence pattern
・Encourages basic oral fluency
This workbooks provide practices for using the vocabulary and grammar in the textbooks, including conversation Exercises, Speaking Practices, and Target Dialogues, which are accompanies by a large number of illustrations.
*Download from the link below:
*Available on Amazon and other bookstores.
Japanese for Busy People Ⅱ The Workbook for the Revised 4th Edition

・Complex sentence patterns
・Expands vocabulary and increases sentence patterns and expressions
This workbook provides practice problems on the grammar and vocabulary covered in each unit of the textbook. There are also practice problems for listening comprehension and reading comprehension.
Reading materials include a blog written by a Canadian living in Japan. Each entry covers the lessons presented in a unit, and there is a field for adding comments on the entry.
*Download from the link below:
*Available on Amazon and other bookstores.
Japanese for Busy People Ⅲ: The Workbook for the Revised 3rd Edition

・Practice problems designed to show how to apply various sentence structures for more effective communication
・Quizzes designed to illustrate common mistakes in grammar and usage
・Reading materials for better comprehension
Each lesson in this workbook provides practice problems for helping students apply what they have learned. Each lesson provides quizzes for reviewing the grammar and reading materials for improving the comprehension level. Practice problems cover the same topics covered in the main textbook in order to help students learn vocabulary more
quickly through repetition.
*Available on Amazon and other bookstores.
Japanese for Busy People Kana Workbook for the Revised 4th Edition

・Effective mastery of hiragana and katakana
・Fully integrated with Japanese for Busy People I
・Free audio files enhances oral fluency
The Kana Workbook includes exercises for helping the student learn to recognize, pronounce, and write each hiragana and katakana. The student will learn one character at a time and move onto reading and writing words and simple sentences. The student will also learn interesting facts about Japanese characters, traditional Japanese tools and crafts, and English words that have originated in Japan by reading the notes, written in English, throughout the book.
*Download from the link below:
*Available on Amazon and other bookstores.
Ebook & App
Japanese for Busy People Series : Enhanced Book & Ebook
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Enhanced Edition |
E-books for the following versions of Japanese for Busy People are now available: ・Volume I, Romanized Version Revised 4th Edition ・Volume I, Kana Version Revised 4th Edition ・Volume I, Workbook for the Revised 4th Edition ・Volume II, Revised 4th Edition ・Volume II, Workbook for the Revised 4th Edition ・Volume III, Revised 3rd Edition
Following formats are supported: ・Enhanced Ebook (with sound files) ・Ebook
Digital version offers the following features: (1) A table of content with links to the chapters (2) Links in the text that are highlighted in blue (3) Highlighting, note taking, copying, and online search capabilities (4) Enhanced Ebook allows the reader to browse while listening to |
※ Pricing and purchasing information available on Kodansha USA
JBPⅠ4th : App

・Lite Version (Free):
App for all lessons (Lesson 1 through Lesson 5) in "JBP I Revised 4th Edition"
Available to download from both the App Store and Google Play.
・Full Version:
App for all lessons (Lesson 1 through Lesson 24) in "JBP I Revised 4th Edition"
Available to download from both the App Store and Google Play.
iOS version: Use the keyword "AJALT" to look for the app.
Requires iOS 15.0 or later.
Android version: Use the keyword “Japanese for Busy People” to look for the app.
Requires Android 8.0 later.
Each lesson includes Word Power, Target Dialogue, Speaking Practice(s), and Quiz. |
Japanese for Busy People : Teacher's Manual (Japanese version only)
A comprehensive and practical resource for all instructors using Japanese for Busy People series
Japanese for Busy People Ⅰ
Teacher's Manual for the Revised 4th Edition : Ebook (Japanese version only)

Japanese for Busy People Ⅱ
Teacher's Manual for the Revised 4th Edition : Ebook (Japanese version only)

Japanese for Busy People Ⅱ & Ⅲ:
Teacher's Manual for the Revised 3rd Edition (Japanese version only)
*Available on Amazon and other bookstores.
◆About textbooks and materials including purchasing on Kodansha USA
◆About the contents (AJALT):TEL:(03)3459-9620 FAX:(03)3459-9660 Contact us