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" on the CD included with the Second Edition will be distributed free of charge on our website and an audio app. There will not be a CD.

■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
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
第15課　ご家族は？
第16課　教えてください
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

A list of changes from Elementary I Second Edition will be released (scheduled for around September).

Conversations

Vocabulary

A list of changes from Elementary I Second Edition will be released (scheduled for around September).

■ Publication schedule

Elementary I

・Minna no Nihongo Elementary I Third Edition Main Text　Scheduled to be published in October 2025
　B5 size, 249 pages, separate volume: 55 pages (planned), two colors, 2,750 yen (including tax) 　
　
・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.

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 1 July 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.

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 our website 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.