Jack Seward is a Japan area-and-language specialist whose intimate involvement with Japanese extends over half a century. He has taught college-level courses in Japanese and is the author of many books on the people and country where he lived for 25 years.

1. The Importance of Good Pronunciation 2. A. Word Order B. Particles Wa, Ga, Mo, Ka, Ne, and Yo C. Singulars and Plurals D. Desu and Arimasu E. Yes and No 3. A. Nouns B. Negatives of Desu and Arimasu C. The ko, so, a, and do words D. The uses of no 4. A. Names of nations, languages, and peoples B. The two classes of adjectives 5. Kana 6. A. Conjugation of A Verbs B. --masu C. Periods of Time 7. A. Basic numbers B. Desiderative -tai C. Gerund + hoshii D. "and" E. Conjugation B verbs 8. A. Pronouns B. Time 9. A. Irregular verbs B. Adverbs C. -nagara (while, although) D. Tsumori (intention) E. Kara, node, and naze ka to iu to (because) 10. A. Noni, tame ni--In order to b. Noni--Even though C. Tokoro--Place, time, et al D. Dokoro ka--Quite the contrary... E. -tari (-dari) suru--to do this and that F. Ho ga ii...It is better to... G. Numators H. Passive Voice I. The Causative and the Passive Causative 11. Kanji (the written characters) 12. A. Particles B. Conjunctions C. To--meaning if or when or with D. Phrases of location E. Interjections 13. A. bakari B. -kata C. yo D. oku E. miru, -te (-de) miru F. -yasui and -nikui G. -so desu 14. A. Koto B. (conditional verb) to suru or to omou C. kamo shiremasen D. -shidai 15. A. Must B. Should C. Commands, Instructions, and Requests D. Permission E. -ra suffixed to the plain past 16. A. The Comparative Degree B. The Superlative Degree C. The same as... D. Nara