ジャパンタイムズ出版 Genki Plus: Kanji Look and Learn (Workbook)

Very good for self study. I haven't used it for very long though so I don't have any deductions really, One thing I think they should change is the fact that the stroke order isn't there so you kind of have to wing it unless you have a dictionary :V

One of the best books ever to learn Japanese.

I know 200+ kanji and have a hard time using them in sentences sometimes, together with reading them despite me already memorizing many. What I like about this workbook is that as soon as the kanji is introduced you get a decent amount of excercises to use them. In those exercises I had to look at the lesson and the exercise many times, and by the time I'm done with the exercise the kanji stays in my head! It sounds like its a very stupid thing I know, but I have been trying kanji memorizing apps like kanji study and as good as that app is, I think its not too good memorizing wise. On the app you can write and pretty much answer what kanji is what, but in the book you have to write, and process what they really mean in sentences which in my opinion is something that sticks to your head much more than apps can offer.

I recommend mnemonics like RTK for learning kanji, but this book is excellent for practice reading and writing kanji and compounds. It will also reinforce writing hiragana and general reading skills. Difficulty really ramps up during part two. Interesting and fun exercises from the very start and has an answer key. I'm about halfway through after a month of pretty focused study, following years of self-study w/o kanji. I recommend at least a year of grammar, listening, speaking, and kana to the point where you are feeling comfortable with the language before even starting on kanji -- otherwise they will just slow down your studies. Cons are minor: - no index, so it's hard to locate kanji from previous chapters - no stroke order

Bought this for class, but it would be great even on your own