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Rating: 
Summary: Useful Companion to Mizutani Textbook
Review: I have been using Simon's Notes as intended: to clarify the key vocabulary and grammatical points in each chapter of the popular textbook by the Mizutanis. I find it to be well-organized, salient, and lucidly and concisely written. The Notes can also serve as a standalone textbook, as it typically provides several examples for each teaching point. Early lessons use the kana script and romanization, while the kanji script is only introduced later on. Unlike the textbook proper, it does not provide exercises.All vocabulary items are conveniently listed in an index and glossary at the end. In short, a worthy companion to the Osamu text.
Rating: 
Summary: better than the textbook
Review: I used this workbook while I was taking Japanese and found it extremely helpful. It laid out grammatical features in a helpful, organized manner by explaining what they mean and then giving a variety of examples. Along with grammer, it gives information on common phrases, particles (including a very handy cheat section in the back), and counters. I used this more than the textbook. For me, the textbook was confusing and too advanced for a beginner at times, but the suppliment helped bring everything together. I gave the book 4 stars because there were some errors in the introduction of grammatical features that should be fixed, but they are minor errors and can be figured out by looking at the examples. I am studying abroad this spring and this book, along with the second suppliment, are deffinately getting packed! I highly recommend this book!
Rating: 
Summary: A Few Steps Short of Great
Review: This text tries to clarify a relatively complicated text, and its faults lay not in its shortcomings but in the shortcomings of the original text.
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