Nihongo Kazoku · Japanese for English-speaking kids

Japanese Family

Nihongo Kazoku is a step-by-step program that helps children around age 8 start speaking Japanese, through everyday conversations and fun activities, with hiragana and katakana added little by little.

英語で育つ子どものための、「話す」から始める日本語プログラム。

See the 40-lesson curriculum See the Workbooks
学生・大人の方へ Learning Japanese yourself? Katakana workbook for teens, adults & self-learners →
The Nihongo Kazoku Program

Children start by talking about everyday things, long before they write. Each lesson builds on the one before, with romaji and English on every line, so parents can join in even if they don't speak Japanese.

教科書『はじめての にほんごかぞく』全4冊・40レッスン。会話から始めて、ひらがな・カタカナを少しずつ。

Speak はなす

Short, natural conversations about everyday life: greetings, family, food, colors, likes and more.

Play あそぶ

Fun activities that let children use the new words right away, so Japanese feels like play, not homework.

Read & write よむ・かく

Hiragana in Books 1 and 2, then katakana in Books 3 and 4, a few letters at a time.

  1. Hajimete no Nihongo Kazoku 1 cover Book 1 · Lessons 1–10

    Greetings, numbers, names, colors and animals in short conversations, plus the first hiragana.

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  2. Hajimete no Nihongo Kazoku 2 cover Book 2 · Lessons 11–20

    More everyday conversations to say out loud, while hiragana reading and writing keeps growing.

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  3. Hajimete no Nihongo Kazoku 3 cover Book 3 · Lessons 21–30

    Mine and yours, likes and things you're good at, and the first 28 katakana.

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  4. Hajimete no Nihongo Kazoku 4 cover Book 4 · Lessons 31–40

    Directions, days of the week, shopping and a self-introduction, and the last 18 katakana.

    View on Amazon →

See all books →
Extra practice

Three workbooks that go alongside the lessons. Start with hiragana, then move on to katakana and counting.

ひらがな → カタカナ → かぞえかた。順番に進められる練習帳シリーズです。

  1. Step 1

    The first Japanese letters every child learns. Letters are grouped by similar shapes, with picture words for each one.

    Video edition · Writing-only edition

  2. Step 2

    The letters used for words from other languages. Practice katakana words and short sentences mixed with hiragana.

    Writing-only edition

  3. Step 3

    Numbers, Japanese counters, money, time and dates — written in hiragana, so reading and counting grow together.

    Video edition · Writing-only edition

Compare all workbooks →

Even if you don't speak Japanese

In the video editions, QR codes open short videos showing how to write each letter and how it sounds.

Written by a Japanese teacher

Created by a Japanese-language teacher and mom raising bilingual kids overseas.

Pictures and English on every page

Illustrated words with romaji and English translations, so children connect letters to real words.

Japanese Culture

Coloring pages that bring Japanese culture and seasons into your home, a relaxed way to enjoy Japanese together. Every book pairs the pictures with hiragana or katakana words to practice, so while children enjoy coloring, they naturally begin to notice and recognize the letters.

着物や季節の行事を、ぬりえで楽しく。色ぬりを楽しみながら、ひらがな・カタカナに自然と気づき、読めるようになっていきます。

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Learn Japanese

Textbooks and workbooks for children who are starting to learn Japanese — and the families learning with them.

All workbooks → Hajimete no Nihongo Kazoku 1 — textbook, Lessons 1–10 → Hajimete no Nihongo Kazoku 2 — textbook, Lessons 11–20 → Hajimete no Nihongo Kazoku 3 — textbook, Lessons 21–30 → Hajimete no Nihongo Kazoku 4 — textbook, Lessons 31–40 → Nihongo Kazoku — Spanish edition (Edición en español) → YouTube — Japanese lessons →
日本語で読む · In Japanese

海外在住のママたちに向けた、バイリンガル育児と絵本読み聞かせ。声にした日本語が、そのまま子どもの記憶に残っていきます。

YouTube — 読み聞かせチャンネル → Kindle — バイリンガル育児のはなし →

We'll only write when a new book or coloring activity is ready. No frequent emails.

新しい教材や絵本ができたときだけ、そっとお知らせします。

Free printable: Katakana starter set (chart, stroke order & a practice page) →

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