Japanese From Zero! 1

I recommended Japanese From Zero! 1 to my sister in 2021 when she wanted to learn Japanese casually. She worked through all 13 lessons over 3 months, studying 30-40 minutes three times weekly. The book's progressive introduction of hiragana (adding 5-7 characters every few lessons rather than all at once) reduced her initial overwhelm significantly. Lesson 4 still uses romaji for new vocabulary while previously learned hiragana appears in exercises (pages 89-95), creating a comfortable learning curve. The conversational approach featuring the author teaching students felt more engaging than traditional textbook format. However, by Lesson 8, she felt frustrated with the slow pace—the grammar points covered in 8 lessons roughly equal Genki's first 3 chapters. The "YesJapan.com" website integration provided helpful video lessons; George Trombley's explanations clarified confusing points from the book. The cultural notes and "Real Japanese" sections showing native handwriting added personality other textbooks lack. After completing the book, she could introduce herself, discuss basic hobbies, and read simple hiragana text, but wasn't ready for N5 exam—she needed the second book for complete N5 coverage. The integrated workbook (no separate purchase needed) was convenient and comprehensive.