Sometimes it's hard to get started learning a language - where are all the resources? What's the best method? Hopefully these links will set you on the right path!
1. Reviewing the kanji aka RTKLearn the Japanese Kanji once and for all – excellent website / online tool. Save yourself months and months by using this.
2. AnkiA computer program that you can fill with flash cards. It uses a special algorithm to test you – making the spacing perfect for maximum retention.
3. MiroMiro isn't Japanese software per say. But it can download Japanese TV and programs for you to watch – hassle free. Which is useful for the language learner.
4. RikaichanRikaichan is an addon for the firefox webbrowser. Hover your cursor over a japanese word and it will tell the possible meanings and readings. Extremely useful.
5. Ajax IMECan't install Japanese on your computer (for whatever reason) then use this – you can type Japanese directly into the editbox. Extremely useful
6. Japanese Pod 101Podcast straight from Toyko with native Japanese speakers. Mp3 files for all levels
7. Japanese Culture Podcast in JapaneseJapanese dicussion about Japanese culture
8. Daily Yomiuri PodcastNews podcast
9. All Japanese all the timeThis site is great – it lays out a course of study and has plenty of articles that will have you raring ready to go
10. Drama NoteScripts for Japanese dramas. Excellent resource for puzzling out what someone is saying. There's a google search near the top use that to search for drama scripts. Usually there's a root page for a given drama and from there you can get all the episodes scripts. Remember to search in Japanese :D
11. AnimeSukiTorrent site for unlicensed anime
12. JPop SukiTorrent site for Japanese music
13. D-addictsFull of south east asian tv. Lots of excellent dramas raw and subbed in Japanese. There's also Japanese tv – sometimes with adverts!
14. Crunchy RollWatch anime online!
15. Drama WikiUse this with D-addicts to find dramas you might like – or find dramas with similar actors – useful if you're trying to emulate a particular person.
16. Namiko's Japanese Language BlogNamiko has been writing a short blog post in English and Japanese since the mid 90s. There's also a detailed explanation of the Japanese used.
17. The JLPT Study PageSentences and grammar points taken from Japanese Language Proficiency Test with excellent translations. Great source for sentence mining.
18. 2 chanThe Japanese message board. This thing is massive and scary and very unlike western forums – there's no moderation or nice formatting. Everything is just out there like a giant chalk board.
19. The Dirty Guide To JapaneseA quick overview of the entire language!
20. Tae Kim's Guide To JapaneseExcellent series of articles going over the basics of the language in a very straight forward clear manner.
21. Japanese Verbs GuideOnline book / guide to how Japanese verbs work
22. Jim's Japanese Grammar SummarySummary of Japanese grammar all on one page.
23. A logical Japanese GrammarAnother site going over the main points of Japanese grammar
24. JGram Grammar Wiki A wiki that covers grammar mainly associated with JLPT tests. Each point has a comments section that is sometimes more enlightening than the main article.
25. Goo Japanese DictionaryGreat example sentences
26. Yahoo's Japanese DictionaryAnother good dictionary to search
27. ALC Japanese DictionaryOf all the dictionaries this seems to give the most examples.
28. Excite Japanese DictionaryOften my first stop! Japanese explanations are quite simple – there are also English explanations and many examples.
29. Sanseido Online DictionaryGood terse Japanese definitions.
30. Kanji Dictionary (English Frontend)Has all the reading plus sound clips!
31. Nihonho2Japanese language and grammar reference – in Japanese.
32. TBS News OnlineTokyo Broadcasting system news – lots of news video feeds.
33. Asahi ShinbunJapanese online newspaper
34. Yomiuri ShinbunAnother good quality Japanese newspaper.
35. 100 Japanese ThingsFantastic blog that takes something Japanese
36. Daily Kids Japanese NewsSometimes adult news can be a bit much
37. Inspirational Japanese Learning LogThis log cover's 'Sheetz' journey from begginner to advanced Japanese speaker
38. MixiJapan's answer to facebook – though if I remember correctly you'll need an invite.
39. Japanese WikipediaPro-tip – if you don't the Japanese
40. Joshu Grammar SectionThis has grammar points broken down with examples and explanation. There also seems to be a lot more to the site but this is what I've found most helpful.
41. NIHONgo for it! BlogBlog by Akiko a native Japanese teacher in Japanese. She breaks down lots of cool idioms and also goes through kanji. Here I learnt nakoze means slump
42. Japanese Game Scripts This has Vagrant Story
43. How to read a Japanese MangaExtremely thorough guide to purchasing and reading a Japanese manga with limited Japanese knowledge. A lot more informationhere than the title would suggest.
44. Nico Nico DougaThe Japanese equivalent of YouTube – you have to manage to register to watch though!
45. Genki Self Study Room form the Japan TimesUseful for the very basics.
46. Spoken Online Picture BooksStories for children – that are read!
47. My Neighbour Totoro Japanese ScriptEveryone studying Japanese has probably been exposed to this movie. Learn it that must faster by using the script provided here.
48. NHK Japanese LessonsNHK is little like the BBC in the UK
49. Kuromomo's diaryKuromomo's blog of herself and her cat
50. FamitsuJapan's No1. Gaming Magazine website (good blogs too)
Picture supplied by Bethany L King, Bobby13 and
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