THE indespensible guides.
Friendlier appearance and less comprehensive than the above two but well written and still useful at intermediate level.
Subtitled 'A Concise Dictionary of Frequently Used Japanese Words and Phrases'. Ecellent content and well laid out and edited, just as expected of any decent language guide.
Clear, logical and entetaining approach to grammar points (to translate the title). Section on wa and ga very useful putting them in the correct perspective, not the perspective that is easiest to teach.
This is the good value and useful guide (with tape) on the market but there are others on the market which may be worth checking out.
As (or more) extensive as the others on the market. Well presented with useful example sentances.
Larger format but similar layout to the above. Less verbs and importantly no example sentances. New edition this year!
Need these two be mentioned, one of which is essential for reading Japanese. New kanji learning book to be published this year by Mark Spahn.
Can be used as a smaller version of one of the above. Also includes stroke order for all of its aprroxiamately 2000 kanji, kana tables and good introduction to Japanese writing. A beginner couldn't start off with a better book. Also available
I found volume 1 (readings of 2000 kanji) most useful. This book is also recommended by many other people. If you are going to use it follow the guidelines in the introduction and throughout to the letter or the method won't be effective. Volume 2 teaches reading (2000 kanji) and volume 3 teaches reading and writing for another 1000.
Alternative to the above. Depends on your learning style. Try both and choose for yourself. Between them they are the best two available.
Probably the best of the rote learning course books. If you use BKB 1 check out this link for my English index of ALL the E-J vocab in the book!
Link to be added later
If these are as useful as the kanji guides by the same author (which they look to be), then they are a worthwhile investment for anyone starting to learn Japanese writing.
I don't know of any other book which specifically sets out to teach this very important aspect of writing in Japanese. Long lists of example sentances and descriptions of letter structure. Arranged by purpose of letter (e.g. employment).
As I've not found any one book format dictionary that is sufficiently concise AND up-to-date I (and many others) use this. Very worthwhile for content as well as the physical size advantage. Also includes extensive kanji dictionary but lookup is slow. As with any dictionary, you won't get the best out of it unless you know how to use it properly!
Fills an important niche in dictionaries. Easy to locate the right word to use for specialist subjects from sports to botany to hairdressing.
You may need an English dictionary to explain some of the 15,000 terms found in here. Also has J-E index.
I haven't used the following titles but they are included here as reference for anyone who might want them.
With a list of 2000, this is a comprehensive, well presented guide.
As far as I can see, the content of this is the same as the previous title but with and English-Japanese index, well worth paying that little bit extra for.
A guide to 'Japanese Sound and Action Words'.
One idiom per page with large cartoon. Useful to copy and stick up on your bedroom wall.
Three more contributions from the useful Power Japanese series. Plenty of example sentances.
Yet another idiom book worth the reasonable price. Includes a picture and English explanation for each item. Also available with tapes.
Dictionaries
Idioms, Onomatopoeia and Mimesis