Genki I Apr 2026

“My name is…” — Watashi no namae wa…

You’re learning how to say yourself in a whole new way. Genki I

Every chapter is a small victory. Lesson 3: you learn to tell time. Lesson 5: you make your first full sentence about going to Kyoto. The kanji look like little drawings at first—but then 山 (mountain) actually starts to look like a mountain. “My name is…” — Watashi no namae wa…

Ganbatte kudasai. You’re on your way.

The cover is bright, almost deceptively simple. A cartoon rabbit and a bear wave at you from the corner, as if to say, “Don’t worry. You’ve got this.” Lesson 5: you make your first full sentence

Genki I is the sound of your first real conversation, even if it’s just “What time is it?” It’s the feeling of recognizing a word on a menu. It’s the courage to say Wakarimasen (“I don’t understand”) and not feel embarrassed.

Genki I isn’t just a textbook. It’s a passport.