Announcement of the publication of Minna no Nihongo Elementary Japanese Third Edition

Main Text revision points
Publication schedule
Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Main Text revision points
Publication schedule
Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Thank you for using our teaching materials. We are pleased to announce that we will be publishing the Third Edition of the Minna no Nihongo Elementary Japanese series - a series of books that is used by many people in Japan and around the world - from the autumn of 2025.
Even after the publication of the Third Edition, the current Second Edition will continue to be sold for the time being.

■Update history

Minna no Nihongo Series List

■ Main Text revision points

1) Review of conversation scenes, vocabulary, and expressions
The conversation scenes, vocabulary, and expressions are being reviewed to match current times. There will be no major changes to the grammar syllabus or the structure of each lesson.

2) The audio content will be distributed via our website and an app
The audio of the Conversation and Practice Questions found in each lesson of the book, as well as the Japanese Pronunciation, Classroom Language, Everyday Greetings and Expressions, and Numerals on the CD included with the Second Edition of the book will be available free of charge on our website (for download and streaming) and an audio app.
The Sentence Patterns, Example Sentences, Exercises A, B, and C, and the Vocabulary (new words) in each lesson of Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Translation and Grammar Notes can be listened to for a fee on our website (streaming only) and audio app. Please see the "Publication Schedule" for details.

■Specific changes

Conversations	★Changed lesson titles are shown in red, and changed conversation scenes are shown in yellow. 【Elementary I】第１課　初めまして第２課　これ、コーヒーです。どうぞ第３課　これをください第４課　何時から何時までですか　→ The scene has changed from "Asking for a store's phone number" to "Visiting a university cafeteria". 第５課　この電車は姫路へ行きますか第６課　いっしょに行きませんか第７課　いらっしゃい第８課　そろそろ失礼します第９課　金曜日はちょっと…… 第10課　ナンプラー、ありますか第11課　これ、お願いします第12課　祇園祭はどうでしたか第13課　別々にお願いします第14課　ヘルメットをかぶってください　→ The scene has changed from "Taking a taxi" to "Doing an evacuation drill". 第15課　ご家族は？第16課　教えてください　→ The scene has changed from from “Withdrawing money from an ATM” to “Using a swimming pool”. 　　(How to use an ATM remains in Lesson 16 of the Translation and Grammar Notes.) 第17課　無理をしないでください第18課　趣味は何ですか第19課　ダイエットはあしたからします第20課　いっしょに行かない？第21課　わたしもそう思います第22課　どんな部屋をお探しですか第23課　どうやって行きますか第24課　手伝いに行きましょうか第25課　いろいろお世話になりました
Vocabulary	・Changes from Elementary I Second Edition (Vocabulary and Expressions) (PDF file: approx. 704KB) [As of 3 September 2025]
Kanji notation	【Elementary I】 Only the following three words have been changed. [漢字→ひらがな] 兄弟 → きょうだい　君 → くん [ひらがな→漢字] 牛どん → 牛丼
Expressions	【Elementary I】 Lesson 5: The pronunciation of 「何」 in 「何で～へ行きますか」has been changed from「なん」 to「なに」. (「何＜なに＞」in Vocabulary has been moved from Lesson 6 to Lesson 5.)

Conversations

★Changed lesson titles are shown in red, and changed conversation scenes are shown in yellow.

【Elementary I】
第１課　初めまして
第２課　これ、コーヒーです。どうぞ
第３課　これをください
第４課　何時から何時までですか
→ The scene has changed from "Asking for a store's phone number" to "Visiting a university cafeteria".
第５課　この電車は姫路へ行きますか
第６課　いっしょに行きませんか
第７課　いらっしゃい
第８課　そろそろ失礼します
第９課　金曜日はちょっと……
第10課　ナンプラー、ありますか
第11課　これ、お願いします
第12課　祇園祭はどうでしたか
第13課　別々にお願いします
第14課　ヘルメットをかぶってください
→ The scene has changed from "Taking a taxi" to "Doing an evacuation drill".
第15課　ご家族は？
第16課　教えてください
→ The scene has changed from from “Withdrawing money from an ATM” to “Using a swimming pool”. (How to use an ATM remains in Lesson 16 of the Translation and Grammar Notes.)
第17課　無理をしないでください
第18課　趣味は何ですか
第19課　ダイエットはあしたからします
第20課　いっしょに行かない？
第21課　わたしもそう思います
第22課　どんな部屋をお探しですか
第23課　どうやって行きますか
第24課　手伝いに行きましょうか
第25課　いろいろお世話になりました

Vocabulary

Changes from Elementary I Second Edition (Vocabulary and Expressions)
(PDF file: approx. 704KB) [As of 3 September 2025]

Kanji notation

【Elementary I】
Only the following three words have been changed.
[漢字→ひらがな]
兄弟 → きょうだい　君 → くん
[ひらがな→漢字]
牛どん → 牛丼

Expressions

【Elementary I】
Lesson 5: The pronunciation of 「何」 in 「何で～へ行きますか」has been changed from「なん」 to「なに」. (「何＜なに＞」in Vocabulary has been moved from Lesson 6 to Lesson 5.)

■ Publication schedule

Elementary I

・Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Main Text　Scheduled to be published in October 2025
　B5 size, 248 pages, separate volume: 54 pages, two colors, 2,750 yen (including tax)
　[Free Supplementary Study Materials]
　Audio of Japanese Pronunciation, Classroom Language, Everyday Greetings and Expressions, Numerals, Conversation, and Practice Questions: Available via the company's website and audio app. 　
　
・Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Translation and Grammar Notes - English　Scheduled to be published in November 2025
・Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Translation and Grammar Notes - Chinese　Scheduled to be published in February 2026
・Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Translation and Grammar Notes - Vietnamese　Scheduled to be published in February 2026
・Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Translation and Grammar Notes - Nepalese　Scheduled to be published in February 2026
・Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Translation and Grammar Notes - Burmese　Scheduled to be published in February 2026
　B5 size, 181 pages (planned), 2,200 yen (including tax)　*Other languages will be published over time. 　
　
・Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Audio Web.ver *This data is only for sale on the company's website.
　Scheduled to be released in October 2025
　 All 25 lessons: 5,500 yen (tax included); individual lessons: 220 yen (tax included)　*This product is equivalent to the Second Edition's "5-CD set".
・Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Audio *On sale at app stores
　Scheduled to be released in October 2025
　Free app download, in-app purchases available (All 25 lessons: 5,500 yen (tax included); individual lessons: 220 yen (tax included)) 　

Elementary II

・Minna no Nihongo Elementary II Third Edition Main Text　Scheduled to be published in March 2026
　B5 size, 247 pages, separate volume: 57 pages (planned), two colors, 2,750 yen (including tax)

*The above information is current as of 3 September 2025.
Information such as future publication schedules and changes due to revisions will be announced on this page and on our official SNS (X, Facebook) pages. We apologize for the inconvenience, but if you have any questions, please take a look at this page.

■ Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Information on the Third Edition is summarized on this page and will be updated from time to time. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are unable to respond to individual enquiries. Thank you for your understanding.

Q1. I would like to know the languages in which the Translation and Grammar Notes will be published. (Will the languages available in the Second Edition also be available in the Third Edition?)
Q2. I would like to know the publication schedule for the supplementary study/teaching materials and any other materials (including those scheduled to be published, although the publication date has not been determined).
Q3. Can I use the supplementary materials from the Second Edition with the Third Edition Main Text?
(Examples: Translation and Grammar Notes, Listening Comprehension Tasks, Reading Comprehension Text, Kanji Workbook, Kanji - English Edition, Conversation DVD, Basic Workbook, Sentence Pattern Workbook, and Sentence Pattern Practice Illustrations)
Q4. Is Minna no Nihongo Elementary Japanese Third Edition Main Text produced in accordance with the Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education and CEFR?
Q5. Upon completion of Elementary I and Elementary II, at what level of the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) or the Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education is the learner?
Q6. I would like to know how much the vocabulary in the Main Text will change.
Q7. How can I listen to the audio content of the Third Edition Main Text?

Q1. I would like to know the languages in which the Translation and Grammar Notes will be published. (Will the languages available in the Second Edition also be available in the Third Edition?)

The languages available in the Second Edition will also be available in the Third Edition.

Q2. I would like to know the publication schedule for the supplementary study/teaching materials and any other materials (including those scheduled to be published, although the publication date has not been determined).

We will keep people informed on this page and official SNS (X, Facebook).

Q3. Can I use the supplementary materials from the Second Edition with the Third Edition Main Text?
(Examples: Translation and Grammar Notes, Listening Comprehension Tasks 25, Reading Comprehension Text 25, Kanji Workbook, Kanji - English Edition, Conversation DVD, Basic Workbook, Sentence Pattern Workbook, and Sentence Pattern Practice Illustrations)

The Third Edition has almost the same grammar syllabus as the Second Edition, but the new vocabulary in each lesson is different from the Second Edition. For the time being, we will continue to sell the Second Edition, so we recommend that people use the Second Edition's supplementary materials with the Second Edition Main Text.

Q4. Is Minna no Nihongo Elementary Japanese Third Edition Main Text produced in accordance with the Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education and CEFR?

The first edition of Minna no Nihongo Elementary Japanese was published in 1998. It provides language functions and situations that aid with communication, while at the same time developing the vocabulary skills required by beginners as they progress step-by-step with grammar learning, all of which are essential for language learning. Even after the first, second, and third editions, this concept has remained the same. Although the series was not created in accordance with the Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education or CEFR, it is possible for teachers to develop the skills in the five language activities (reading, listening, writing, speaking [interaction], and speaking [presentation]) required of language users by creating and teaching lessons that match the needs of the learners.

Q5. Upon completion of Elementary I and Elementary II, at what level of the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) or the Reference Framework for Japanese Language Education is the learner?

As a guide, please note that upon completion of Elementary I, the learner will be at the N5 level of the JLPT, and upon completion of Elementary II, he/she will be at the N4 level of the JLPT. With regards to the level in Japanese education, we hope that Indication of the CEFR Level for Reference | JLPT Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (Japanese Language Proficiency Test official website) will be helpful as it provides comparisons of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test and CEFR levels.

Q6. I would like to know how much the vocabulary in the Main Text will change.

Please see "Vocabulary" for specific changes.

Q7. How can I listen to the audio content of the Third Edition Main Text?

・To listen to the audio of Japanese Pronunciation, Classroom Language, Everyday Greetings and Expressions, Numerals, Conversation, and Practice Questions (free content)
You can listen in two ways:
①Supplementary Study Materials on the Third Edition Main Text web page:
Available for download and playback streaming. We will inform everyone here once the page becomes available.
②Third Edition Audio (audio app):
If you download the app, you can listen to the audio of Japanese Pronunciation, Classroom Language, Everyday Greetings and Expressions, Numerals, Conversation, and Practice Questions for free.

・To listen to the audio of the Sentence Patterns, Example Sentences, and Exercises A, B and C, as well as the Vocabulary (new words) for each lesson in Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Translation and Grammar Notes (paid content)
You can listen in two ways:
①Third Edition Audio Web.ver:
Playback streaming is available (downloading is not possible). You can purchase all 25 lessons at one time or purchase each lesson individually. By purchasing the content, you can listen to Japanese Pronunciation, Classroom Language, Everyday Greetings and Expressions, Numerals, and the Conversation and Practice Questions for the relevant lesson on the same page.
②Third Edition Audio (audio app):
You can listen by making an in-app purchase for each lesson. It is not possible to purchase the audio for all the lessons at once. If you download the app, you can listen to audio without an Internet connection (an Internet connection is necessary to download the app and purchase the content) .