I am using Elementary Japanese Volume One, written by Yoko Hasegawa- a professor at University of California at Berkeley. It has been working out well for a self study guide.
http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Japane ... 0804835047I have also heard good things about the Genki series:
http://www.amazon.com/GENKI-Integrated- ... ds=genki+1However, my favorite "textbook" to date is Human Japanese, the computer/ ipad/ mobile phone based text book. It is great because at the end of every chapter there is a built in vocabulary flash card tool, every word and most sentences have audio attached that can be played by simply tapping the text (and read by a native speaker)-- where as with text books you have to put the cd in, find the track, etc... What it covers is very basic, for more advanced beginner things there is Human Japanese Intermediate. I have been making my way through the text and am currently on Chapter 20. For me, it is much better than a standard text book as I can take it with me (as it is on my iPhone.) The negative is that it's dictionary stinks, there isn't much listening comprehension for things longer than a sentence, and there aren't any reading exercises for reading comprehension. My Elementary Japanese Text book is better for that. As far as material, it covers about 75% of what the textbook does, but the explanations are wonderful. If you are thinking of getting a textbook for self study, Human Japanese is great for that.
http://www.humanjapanese.com/home.htmlHowever: if you are looking for the full package- listening comprehension, grammar, vocab, kanji, reading comprehension, study ideas (like look at the picture and state what you see and where it is... type exercises). Then Elementary Japanese is great! I just like the convenience of Human Japanese and what HJ lacks (listening comprehension, Kanji and reading comprehension) I am getting from other sources. Like this site for listening comprehension.
