Japanese Graded Readers Level 1 expands on the concepts learned in Level 0, incorporating new vocabulary, kanji and increasingly difficult grammar structures.
Level 1 is designed for a proficiency level equivalent to JLPT N4-N5. The boxed set of 5 stories covers about 350 vocabulary words, 400-1500 characters per story, and includes a CD audio companion with a full-text narration by native Japanese speakers to help you learn proper pronunciation and intonation.
Since itβs often difficult to find level-appropriate reading material, especially for language learners new to Japanese, JGR fills a long overdue gap. The stories are engaging and level up at a challenging yet appropriate pace. The vocabulary words have decent repetition and are reflected in the pictures. While we would like to see a vocabulary list for each story, JGR is an excellent reading supplement or even primary study material.
As with Level 0, we encourage you to forgo the dictionary. Try to skip words and phrases that you don't understand and simply keep on reading. Their meanings will become apparent from the context and illustrations, and your memory retention will be all the better for it. After completing Level 1, you'll be ready to the level up again for more interesting stories, cultural insights and intricacies of the Japanese language.