What is "Irodori"?

Features of this textbook

Irodori increases what you can do in your daily life in Japan

“Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan” is a Japanese textbook for people who are living in Japan, or who will be living in Japan in the future. It teaches Japanese for different daily situations in Japan, including working, shopping, having fun, eating, and interacting with other people.

The objective of this textbook is to increase what you can do using Japanese in real-life situations in Japan. These are called “Can-dos.” The textbook aims to build communication skills for everyday life in Japan through “Can-do” based learning.

Irodori allows you to learn A1–B1 level Japanese

Irodori is made up of four parts: Starter (A1) , Elementary 1 (A2) , Elementary 2 (A2) , and Pre-Intermediate (A2/B1) . Starter corresponds to the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education (※) A1 level, and Elementary 1 and Elementary 2 correspond to the A2 level, and Pre-Intermediate corresponds to the A2 and B1 levels . At A1 level, you can make greetings and communicate in a very simple way by using expressions that you have learned. At A2 level, you can hold short, basic everyday conversations on familiar topics. At B1 level, you can hold a coherent conversation and give explanations in some detail, on familiar topics or things you are interested in. Through all four Irodori books, people learning Japanese for the first time can reach a level where they won’t have any difficulties living in Japan.

※　The JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education represents levels of Japanese in six stages, from A1 to C2. These are the same as the CEFR.

A2 level

• Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
• Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
• Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

B1 level

• Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
• Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
• Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

A1 level

• Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
• Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has.
• Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

Irodori is based on the “JF Can-do for Life in Japan” and other materials

The Japan Foundation’s “JF Can-do for Life in Japan” were announced in 2019. These “Can-dos” (A1–A2) describe fundamental Japanese communication skills that non-native Japanese speakers who come to Japan as “Specified Skilled Workers” will need in everyday situations in Japan. Irodori has established objectives based on these Can-dos, so by using this textbook, you can learn communication skills for daily life in Japan. Irodori can also be used for studying before coming to Japan or for preparing for the Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic), which measures these communication abilities.

Irodori builds practical Japanese skills with plenty of audio and authentic materials

Irodori emphasizes listening input. It is important for you to listen to a lot of Japanese so that you can use it in real-life situations. Therefore, Irodori provides plenty of audio files. In addition, reading and writing activities are based on authentic or quasi-authentic materials that are actually used in daily life in Japan, so you can practice your Japanese in close-to-real-life situations. With these audio files and materials, you can learn practical Japanese that you can use immediately.

Irodori covers a variety of topics closely connected to everyday life

Irodori is organized by topic. Each lesson deals with a different topic connected to everyday life in Japan. You won’t just study the Japanese language—you will also experience Japanese life and culture through many different subjects linked to everyday life in Japan and the Japanese context. There is also a section of useful information for daily life in Japan.

Irodori offers enough support to learn language knowledge, such as grammar and kanji

The objective of this textbook is for you to be able to use Japanese when communicating in real life, so the aim is not to study grammar, words, or kanji. However, you will need these elements for the Can-dos, so Irodori offers enough knowledge about them in the context of communication. Irodori covers a lot of the grammar, words, and kanji handled by general elementary level Japanese learning materials.

You can download Irodori online

Irodori is available online, so you can download it from wherever you are in the world. It is provided as a PDF file, so you can print it out, or view it on a tablet or smartphone. The audio can be downloaded or streamed.

Irodori is loosely connected to Marugoto

The topics and grammar points in each lesson of Irodori are loosely connected to “Marugoto: Japanese Language and Culture” a Japanese coursebook for overseas learners created by the Japan Foundation. You can use Irodori and Marugoto together, use part of Marugoto as a supplement when you study Irodori, or use Marugoto-related websites to study Irodori.

Irodori offers a wide range of language editions

You can download editions in which the activity Can-dos, instructions, and vocabulary have been translated into other languages. Translated versions of explanations of the Grammar Notes and the Tips for Life in Japan are also available. As of March 2026, translations are provided in 20 languages.

Irodori aims for mutual understanding between people through communication and an understanding of culture

The overall aim of learning with Irodori is mutual understanding between people, which is the fundamental philosophy of the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education. Irodori contributes to developing communication skills in Japanese and cross-cultural skills. Through these skills, people starting life or already living in Japan can express themselves, get to know each other well, and interact, which will lead to mutual understanding.

How this textbook is organized

Irodori is made up of four parts: Starter (A1), Elementary 1 (A2),Elementary 2 (A2) and Pre-Intermediate (A2/B1). Each of these learning materials have the following:

Main book (PDF)

Cover

A message to the reader (Japanese, English)

How to use this textbook (Japanese, English)

Table of Contents (Japanese, English)

Lessons 1 to 18

Can-do Check

Publication information

Audio files (MP3)

Lessons 1 to 18

Other resources

Answers, word lists, and grammar worksheets
*Other resources for the “Pre-Intermediate (A2/B1)” will be released sequentially.