Which Japanese textbook should you actually buy?

We verify editions, prices and required companion books, then show what fits your situation — and what you can skip.

Cover of Shin Kanzen Master N2 Reading ComprehensionCover of Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese ICover of Tobira: Gateway to Advanced JapaneseCover of Nihongo So-matome N2 Reading ComprehensionCover of Quartet: Intermediate Japanese Across the Four Language Skills ICover of Nihongo So-matome N2 GrammarCover of JLPT Official Practice Workbook N2 Vol. 2

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65 books indexed · 13 analyzed in depth

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Cover of Shin Kanzen Master N2 Reading ComprehensionCover of Nihongo So-matome N2 Reading Comprehension

Shin Kanzen Master vs So-matome, for N2

If you have enough time, choose Shin Kanzen Master. If the exam is close — or the exam is not the point — the answer changes.

Workload, difficulty, explanation style, self-study fit — compared volume by volume, with a verdict per skill.

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Genki vs Minna no NihongoThe beginner comparison →Tobira vs QuartetIntermediate, after Genki →

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Japanese textbook price indexEvery list price and page count, 2026 →Browse every bookAll 65 on one page, honestly labeled →