A research guide for advanced Japanese studies researchers detailing Japan studies resources in English and Japanese.
Tadoku (多読): Extensive reading in Japanese
What is Tadoku?
Tadoku recommends everyone to start with extremely easy books that are both enjoyable and informative. They come with many pictures and audio recording so you don’t have to have Japanese at all at the start. You will enjoy them so much that you will want to read more. By and by, reading texts becomes fun and your Japanese gets better and better both in reading and speaking. (tadoku.org)
Tadoku Levels
| Tadoku Level | JLPT Level | Vocabulary | Length | Grammar Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | N5 | 350 | ~400 | Present form, past form, interrogative, ～たい, etc. ※です and ます endings in the main. |
| 1 | N5 | 350 | 400-1,500 | Present form, past form, interrogative, ～たい, etc. ※です and ます endings. |
| 2 | N4 | 500 | 1,500-3,000 | Dictionary form, て-form, ない-form, nominal modification, ～と(conditional), ～から(cause), ～なる, ～のだ, etc. |
| 3 | N3 | 800 | 2,500-6,000 |
Potential form, imperative form, ～とき, ～たら・ば・なら, ～そう(appearance), ～よう(conjecture, metaphor), compound verb, etc. |
| 4 | N3 & N2 | 1,300 | 5,000-15,000 |
Causative form, causative passive form, ～そう(information), ～らしい, ～はず, ～もの, ～ようにする/なる, ～ことにする/なる, etc. |
| 5 | N2 & N1 | 2,000 | 8,000-25,000 | Function words, compound words, idiomatic expressions, honorific expressions such as ～わけにはいかない/～につれて/切り開く/召し上がる/伺う。 |
Tadoku Books @ UMN
Free Tadoku Resources
- Aozora Bunko 青空文庫Aozora Bunko (青空文庫) is a digital archive of Japanese literature in the public domain. In addition to its web presence, the corpus is also available on GitHub where it can be downloaded in its entirety. The books here can be used for level 5 readings.
- Extensive Reading in Japanese @ Notre Dame: Stories (Re)told by Students ND大学日本語多読クラスの学生たちが語る話)The project showcases a selection of the final projects students submitted in Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 for Professor Noriko Hanabusa's Extensive Reading in Japanese course. It covers from level 0 to 5.
- Nihongo tokuhon 日本語学習読本Includes free tadoku eBooks from level 0 to 4.
- NPO Tadoku Supporters: Free Tadoku E-BooksA collection of free eBooks offered by NPO Tadoku Supporters, including books from level 0 to 5.
- Smith College Tadoku Project: Tadoku Books by StudentsThe books in this website were written by Japanese learners who intriguingly express their unique experiences, thoughts, and ideas by incorporating multiple languages and cultures. Students work as individuals or in groups and write original stories or rewrite copyright-free materials for Japanese graded readers. It covers from level 0 to 4.
- University of Iowa Tadoku ClubYou can find some Tadoku resources and reading materials from level 0-5.
- USC Tadoku BooksSC Tadoku Books are Japanese graded readers for Tadoku specifically prepared for learners of Japanese. The reading levels of SC Tadoku Books conform to the standards set by NPO Tadoku Supporters. SC Tadoku Books are created by the Japanese instructors in Southern California. This project is sponsored by USC Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and USC East Asian Studies Center. It covers from level 1 to 2.
- Yomimono Ippai Free Tadoku E-Books 読み物いっぱいYomimono Ippai (Heaps of Stories) strives to offer copyright-free stories that elementary- or intermediate-level students can read easily. This is a website for those who want to improve their Japanese through reading interesting Japanese graded readers, as well as for those who want to teach learners of Japanese in an effective and enjoyable way. It covers from level 1 to 3.
Selected Level 5 Readings
Level 5 Free Books from Aozora Bunko 青空文庫
Last Updated: Mar 1, 2024 3:30 PM
URL: https://libguides.umn.edu/japan_advanced