They Have about the same amount of example sentences. and they both teach you individual words. but the amount of individual words they teach should’t be a deciding factor, as they are nowhere near enough to have a meaning full conversation with someone. However wanikani should cover nearly all the words taught in both those guides and a bazillion more. Taekim and genki are grammar guides not vocabulary books. meaning any word you learn in wanikani or TV etc. you will be able to figure out who to use them properly by using what is learned in grammar guides.
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Okay thank you for taking the time to reply, I see. What would you reccomend for learning Vocabulary in a pretty interesting and fast way? Other than WaniKani that is. I live in Tokyo and I would really like to start getting ahead, but just unsure how! Genki has taught me almost all the Vocab and grammar I know some far, other than some JapanesePod101 and Bunpro, etc etc.
I really would like to understand more Vocab but I find WK to be too messy for me too remember the readings as viable vocabulary, though obviously a great tool.
If you live in Tokyo, then, without any question, my first recommendation for vocabulary would be…Tinder! (no joke) Even with a paid subscription, you’ll essentially never run out of people in Tokyo (I live only about 35 miles from the outside of Tokyo with match settings at 60) with a huge variety of people with whom to talk. Without question, conversation is the best way to acquire vocabulary, as you know without question every you learn is immediately usable.
I’ve found that Tinder is fantastic if you’re willing to use it without expectation of anything romantic (for friends, in other words). Typing in real time with people allows you utilize the reading ability and kanji memory while forcing you to recall and form grammatical sentences. As most people are incredibly slow at replying in Tinder, it gives ample opportunity to respond and translate their replies. If someone is patient enough, knows enough English, or feels comfortable enough with your level of Japanese, you’ll likely move to LINE where things speed up and then to actual meetups.
Aside from that, simply walk around and read things. Store signs, street signs, posters on telephone polls, etc. The number of times I’ve had random people walking past me stop and read a word I hadn’t seen before when they notice the random white guy staring at something for a clean half-minute is too high for me to guess. Context is your best friend when it comes to figuring out jukugo (especially if you know all the kanji included), and reading text in the wild provides much more context than essentially any form of studying (since vocabulary studying ultimately always comes down to rote memorization).
Of course, my recommendations come as someone with incredibly poor visual learning and incredibly strong audio learning, so other tactics may work better for you. A mentor of mine insisted that the only good way to learn to speak (physically speak) a language is to directly enter it, so if you’re in Japan, you’re way better off exposing yourself to vocabulary than simply consuming it through studying (though both is ideal, of course). That way you’re also naturally absorbing the pronunciation which sometimes is essentially to not creating misunderstandings. 
Edit: Sorry for the mini-text wall. My replies have an unfortunate tendency to get much longer than I anticipate. 
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haahagahahaha that is the best suggestion i’ve ever heard. If I could give you more than 1 like I would hahaha.
I think my conversation would be so terrible the girls would never ever want to meet up with me! hahahah, and I’m not really wanting to get into dating quite yet! Though i’m sure tons of people are looking for “friends” as well haha. I will deffo consider it but I am wary of tinder haha.
I really think my vocab is way too low to hold any conversation on Tinder! I would love to learn exclusively from my surroundings but my base knowledge is just far too low currently, I’m no where near N5 probably hahah. I can’t really read signs or even stop to google them, I wouldn’t know the readings haha.
I never self studied the basics, but I was taught using a mixture of Genki, Minna no Nihongo, and Erin ga Chousen. I don’t think Erin was particularly comprehensive, but it was cute and silly. I felt that the grammar was memorable because of the skits.
I would recommend not sticking too closely to just one book. Of course, you need to make sure you’ve covered all the grammar points. But using just one book can be monotonous, and sometimes you miss out on stuff because a certain chapter has terrible examples. More resources means more effort, but also more variety, and more practice. More reinforcement.
Tae Kim’s site is an amazing resource, but I feel like it’s more of a grammar dictionary. For me, at least. I forget things I’ve looked up on Tae Kim almost immediately.
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Well if you keep inputting alot through reading and watching TV shows you should be able to produce eventually. I’m just gonna say it. you might as well AJATT if you are looking to get fluent. but it’s not a part time deal. it’s like a full time job. Your not gonna get fluent doing Japanese part time. regardless of what you anyone thinks of this guy. I personally think he is a good guy… What he is saying is from experience… So you can’t say he is wrong… You can say there are other methods… but this is probably the most fun way to get fluent. but only if you do it full time. Matt's Japanese Journey (2017 Edition) - YouTube
I don’t follow exactly what he dos as I’m using Wanikani and not rembering the kanji as wanikani is more fun. than after a year to of memorized 7000 sentences it would be a lot easier to AJJATT as you won’t have to be looking up every single word. So I won’t be going in to the wiled butt ass naked with nothing but a a sharpened stick when you start sentence mining. Instead you will be going in there with a lot of tools to help you hunt them words/grammar. you will have like a heightened sense of awareness But most of all I find it more fun this way. although after reaching level 20 I have decided to begin AJATTing already as it’s fun. about 10 new words a day. but I have imported My wanikani Kanji into subs2srs so it only finds words I have learned, this allows me to focus more on grammar and new combination of words from kanji I already know, rather then on simply finding new kanji thus less brain fatigue as I’m doing Wanikani as well. but once I finish Ill probably focus a lot more on kanji I don’t know from wanikani. So far as of reaching level 20 of wankani and inputting it in to subs to srs I’m getting around 60 sentence to choose from per show I watch.
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Wah this is why learning Japanese is so difficult haha, I get started on so many things but never know which to stick to because Genki and Anki are equally as dry for me yet they are the most recommended resources. But every person uses a multitude of varying resources, the choice is unlimited and impossible! haha
Ideally I would like a routine to just follow, so even committing to one thing is hard because I can get distracted by the dryness of certain resources.
Thanks for the input, I will keep considering all the options 
I have been fascinated by AJATT! I would love to make the most of the world around me as i’m living in Japan = best context ever, smells sounds sights relationships etc etc and I feel studying and being bored by a super dry textbook is an injustice. I want to be able to enjoy and interact with my world in Tokyo while I’m living here.
I will watch the whole 3 hour video! Maybe some now and some later as I’m off out soonish.
How were you able to link WK and subs2srs like that?
Thanks!!
I wish things were that easy when you look kinda Asian and you blend in.
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I will Paste the Kanji file here as I’m not sure how to upload it? but copy it and paste it in to notepad.
cut known kanji from the text and paste that in to a new notepad file, and save both files. open subs to srs, click advance subtitle options, in the first ‘included text’ box open the kanji file With known Kanji. and then open the txt file with all unknown kanji, in the excluded txt box. This will make it so that any sentences it finds will show only kanji you know.
The kanji file is in Wanikani order so press ‘ctrl f’ and type the last kanji you learned in that box, when it finds it select it and everything above it and cut it and paste into known kanji txt file, and then save both files. do this when ever you level up.
一;七;三;上;下;九;二;人;入;八;力;十;口;大;女;山;川;工;々;丁;中;丸;了;五;六;円;出;刀;千;又;右;四;土;夕;天;子;小;左;手;才;文;日;月;木;本;正;水;火;犬;玉;王;田;白;目;石;立;万;久;今;元;兄;公;内;冬;分;切;北;午;半;友;古;台;外;太;少;市;広;引;心;戸;方;止;母;毛;父;牛;生;用;矢;不;世;主;仕;他;代;休;先;写;去;号;名;央;字;平;年;打;早;村;気;氷;申;男;町;百;皮;皿;礼;竹;糸;耳;花;虫;見;貝;赤;足;車;交;会;体;何;作;光;同;回;図;声;売;多;学;弟;当;形;来;林;毎;池;社;空;米;羽;考;肉;自;色;草;行;西;角;言;谷;走;近;里;金;雨;青;音;麦;両;亡;京;全;前;化;南;向;国;地;夜;妹;姉;安;室;州;店;後;思;明;星;曲;有;東;次;歩;死;活;海;点;画;直;知;科;羊;茶;血;長;食;首;付;以;夏;失;家;弱;強;必;教;時;未;末;札;校;欠;氏;民;理;由;紙;組;船;記;辺;通;週;雪;風;高;魚;鳥;黄;黒;住;助;医;反;合;君;場;対;局;役;所;投;支;数;朝;森;楽;決;番;研;究;答;絵;者;話;買;身;道;間;雲;電;馬;乗;予;事;仮;使;具;勝;受;和;始;定;実;客;屋;度;待;持;新;服;泳;物;界;発;相;県;美;苦;表;要;談;負;返;送;部;重;最;業;横;歌;漢;病;算;終;線;習;聞;落;葉;親;語;読;調;起;路;転;軽;農;速;進;運;配;酒;鉄;開;院;集;頭;顔;飲;鳴;争;令;仲;伝;位;低;便;働;共;初;別;利;功;努;労;味;命;好;岸;意;成;戦;拾;指;放;昔;波;注;洋;特;神;秒;競;級;老;育;良;追;倍;勉;動;員;商;寒;島;庭;息;悪;悲;旅;族;暑;期;根;植;歯;泉;流;消;深;温;港;湯;球;登;着;短;祭;章;童;第;都;野;陽;階;像;億;問;器;士;宿;情;想;感;整;料;映;暗;様;標;橋;殺;然;熱;疑;皆;福;緑;練;詩;課;謝;賞;輪;選;銀;鏡;題;願;養;館;駅;例;卒;協;参;周;囲;固;基;妥;季;完;希;念;性;技;折;望;材;束;松;格;残;求;的;私;約;能;芸;術;雰;頑;骨;丈;仏;信;列;勇;区;単;司;坂;変;夫;寺;岩;帰;建;式;春;昨;昼;晩;晴;毒;法;泣;浅;猫;秋;築;紀;英;計;軍;飯;係;保;典;冒;冗;危;取;品;喜;園;存;守;専;幸;府;弁;急;政;曜;書;治;浴;留;真;笑;箱;荷;証;辞;遠;門;関;阪;険;面;側;兵;原;因;堂;塩;官;察;席;常;干;幻;底;恋;愛;敗;是;果;栄;梅;渉;無;細;結;署;薬;虚;覚;説;識;警;非;鼻;借;僧;句;可;告;喫;報;座;弓;忘;枚;汽;洗;焼;煙;祈;禁;禅;種;等;胸;脳;訓;許;試;達;静;類;験;乱;冊;加;史;善;団;困;宇;宙;容;履;布;徒;得;忙;改;昆;易;暴;歴;比;混;減;笛;節;絡;続;舌;若;詞;財;連;閥;順;余;個;倒;厚;圧;在;夢;妨;妻;嫌;害;尻;尾;械;機;災;犯;率;産;確;穴;経;罪;臭;被;裕;論;議;防;難;震;飛;件;任;企;判;制;務;増;委;審;岡;批;挙;敵;断;条;査;検;権;派;済;省;税;素;総;義;解;設;評;認;責;資;際;価;値;副;勢;各;吸;営;坊;域;姿;宮;寝;応;態;提;援;案;状;示;策;統;置;罰;脱;藤;観;誕;費;賀;過;領;乳;俳;停;備;優;則;割;収;呼;城;宅;導;崎;師;幹;張;律;施;沢;準;演;現;看;秀;職;裁;規;護;贅;革;鬼;供;型;境;届;展;層;差;庁;担;株;武;燃;狭;環;祝;管;肩;腕;腰;製;視;触;象;販;質;載;輸;述;違;量;額;与;候;効;含;居;属;巻;影;慣;抜;捕;捜;掛;景;替;構;模;況;渡;満;票;絞;肥;補;訟;訴;豊;輩;逮;限;隠;響;鮮;再;刺;創;励;占;印;往;従;復;徴;怪;我;振;授;接;故;汗;河;激;独;獣;突;筆;菓;討;豚;貯;較;造;郵;針;鉛;障;健;就;屈;康;怒;悩;惑;招;昇;暇;極;段;濃;症;痛;眠;睡;端;給;締;織;胃;腹;訪;誘;貸;迫;迷;退;途;郎;靴;並;修;傘;児;冷;凍;処;券;博;奇;妙;婦;巨;幼;庫;微;憲;撃;攻;浜;清;潔;益;移;程;稚;精;絶;綺;衆;逆;録;隊;麗;乾;促;催;僚;壊;娘;宗;宴;寄;怖;恐;杯;板;欧;江;添;烈;猛;略;監;督;積;索;緊;臣;航;街;診;詰;請;閣;雄;韓;乏;婚;延;快;懐;押;撮;旗;更;枕;浮;渇;漏;照;版;盗;符;系;翌;背;覧;詳;貧;購;越;遊;適;預;飾;騒;魅;似;倉;偵;嘆;均;墓;孫;富;尋;巣;帯;幾;廊;径;徳;掃;探;救;散;既;普;棒;泥;粉;編;脈;菜;華;融;豪;貨;鑑;除;陸;離;驚;傷;党;卵;厳;密;序;志;恩;捨;採;暖;机;染;桜;欲;永;汚;液;眼;祖;秘;績;興;衛;複;訳;賛;込;迎;酸;銭;雑;飼;否;垂;宝;宣;尊;忠;拡;操;敬;暮;漠;灰;熟;異;皇;盛;砂;窓;筋;簡;糖;納;肺;著;蒸;蔵;装;裏;誌;諸;賃;閉;丼;刻;劇;勤;吐;奴;射;幕;承;拝;推;揮;損;枝;歓;沿;源;爪;磁;粋;紅;純;縦;縮;聖;腐;臓;芋;薦;誤;豆;貴;降;隷;亀;互;介;剣;厄;噌;寿;己;彫;彼;恥;払;杉;汁;油;測;湖;滞;炎;為;熊;獄;破;紹;舎;講;遅;酔;酢;醤;銅;鍋;伎;伸;依;債;及;奈;姓;将;幅;廃;換;摘;旧;核;沖;津;牙;献;甘;療;盟;継;維;縄;舞;般;諾;貿;超;踏;遺;頼;鹿;償;兆;刑;削;募;執;塁;契;崩;弾;恵;患;戻;抗;抱;抵;掲;旬;昭;湾;漁;爆;狙;聴;臨;葬;跡;跳;遣;闘;陣;香;伴;併;傾;刊;却;奏;奥;妊;娠;宜;慮;懸;房;扱;抑;択;描;盤;称;緒;緩;繰;致;託;賂;賄;贈;逃;避;還;需;齢;仙;充;免;勧;圏;埋;埼;壁;奪;岐;御;慎;拒;控;斐;枠;棋;渋;片;甲;祉;稲;群;謙;譲;躍;邦;鈴;銃;鋼;阜;隆;雇;項;俊;兼;剤;吹;唱;堀;孝;巡;戒;排;携;敏;敷;柱;殖;殿;犠;獲;繁;茂;薄;衝;褒;誉;透;鋭;隣;雅;頻;顧;駆;駐;仁;伺;侵;偽;儀;包;墟;徹;拠;拳;措;撤;棄;樹;潜;瀬;炭;畑;至;艦;虎;蛍;蜂;蜜;衣;誠;遜;郷;酎;鉱;克;到;双;哲;喪;堅;床;弧;括;挑;掘;揚;握;揺;斎;暫;析;枢;柄;泊;滑;潟;焦;範;糾;紛;綱;網;肝;芝;荒;袋;軸;刷;即;垣;威;封;岳;慰;懇;懲;摩;撲;擦;斉;旨;朗;柔;沈;沼;泰;滅;滋;潮;炉;牧;珍;琴;筒;籍;裂;襲;誰;貢;趣;距;露;丘;侍;俺;僕;刃;匹;叫;叱;吉;塔;姫;娯;寸;嵐;忍;斗;朱;桃;梨;棚;涙;砲;竜;笠;粒;縁;缶;翼;芽;謎;辛;釣;雷;髪;也;井;凶;卓;呪;塊;塾;嫁;嬢;暦;曇;湿;溝;滝;澄;狂;狩;疲;眺;矛;硬;磨;稼;翔;肌;脚;舟;菌;裸;賭;鐘;陰;霊;頃;魂;俵;吾;墨;孔;寧;寮;帝;幽;庄;斬;架;棟;椅;歳;泡;涼;猿;癖;盆;瞬;瞳;碁;租;穂;穏;綿;菊;誇;鈍;錬;鍛;鍵;阻;零;魔;鳩;黙;伊;佐;哀;唇;塀;墜;如;婆;尺;崖;巾;帽;幣;恨;憎;憩;扇;扉;挿;掌;柳;欺;滴;炊;爽;畳;瞭;砕;箸;粘;粧;胴;芯;虹;詐;霧;咲;培;塗;尽;帳;彩;悔;憶;斜;殴;溶;灯;班;畜;盾;穫;耐;脅;脇;蓄;蚊;蛇;貼;賢;踊;輝;辱;迅;遂;鉢;闇;隙;霜;飢;餓;騎;麻;俗;刈;剛;劣;勘;唯;壇;奨;妃;尼;征;悟;抽;拓;拘;桑;概;浸;淡;潤;煮;珠;礎;紫;衰;覆;誓;謀;陛;陶;隔;駒;鶴;亭;仰;伯;偶;后;唐;堤;堰;墳;壮;奮;峰;巧;廷;彰;把;搬;晶;洞;涯;淀;漂;漫;疫;簿;翻;蟹;訂;諮;軌;邪;銘;駄;鬱;鰐;亮;偉;召;喚;塚;媛;慈;挟;枯;沸;浦;渦;濯;燥;玄;瓶;耕;聡;肪;肯;脂;膚;苗;蓮;襟;貞;軒;軟;邸;郊;郡;釈;隅;隻;頂;乃;倫;偏;呂;唆;噴;孤;怠;恒;惰;慢;擁;殊;没;牲;猟;祥;秩;糧;綾;膨;芳;茨;覇;貫;賠;輔;遇;遭;鎖;陥;陳;隼;須;颯;丹;准;剰;啓;壌;寛;帥;徐;惨;戴;披;据;搭;曙;浄;瓜;稿;緋;緯;繊;胞;胡;舗;艇;莉;葵;蒙;虐;諒;諭;錦;随;駿;騰;鯉;且;傲;冠;勲;卸;叙;呆;呈;哺;尚;庶;悠;愚;拐;杏;栞;栽;欄;疎;疾;痴;粛;紋;茎;茜;荘;謡;践;逸;酬;酷;鎌;阿;顕;鯨;之;伏;佳;傍;凝;奉;尿;弥;循;悼;惜;愉;憂;憾;抹;旦;昌;朴;栃;栓;瑛;癒;粗;累;脊;虜;該;賓;赴;遼;那;郭;鎮;髄;龍;凛;凡;匠;呉;嘉;宰;寂;尉;庸;弊;弦;恭;悦;拍;搾;摂;智;柴;洪;猶;碑;穀;窒;窮;紳;縛;縫;舶;蝶;轄;遥;錯;陵;靖;飽;乙;伐;俸;凸;凹;哉;喝;坪;堕;峡;弔;敢;旋;楓;槽;款;漬;烏;瑠;盲;紺;羅;胎;腸;膜;萌;蒼;衡;賊;遍;遮;酵;醸;閲;鼓;享;傑;凌;剖;嘱;奔;媒;帆;忌;慨;憤;戯;扶;暁;朽;椎;殻;淑;漣;濁;瑞;璃;硫;窃;絹;肖;菅;藩;譜;赦;迭;酌;錠;陪;鶏;亜;侮;卑;叔;吟;堪;姻;屯;岬;峠;崇;慶;憧;拙;擬;曹;梓;汰;沙;浪;漆;甚;睦;礁;禍;篤;紡;胆;蔑;詠;遷;酪;鋳;閑;雌;倹;劾;匿;升;唄;囚;坑;妄;婿;寡;廉;慕;拷;某;桟;殉;泌;渓;湧;漸;煩;狐;畔;痢;矯;罷;藍;藻;蛮;謹;逝;醜;
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I’m working through Genki together with my iTalki teacher. Without her saying “next week is chapter 12” and assigning homework I would probably still be stuck at chapter 3.
I don’t enjoy this part of studying at all and am very happy that I found a way that works for me. My progress is not super fast but it is steady.
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Pretty sure it’s only like a full time job because it’s extremely inefficient.
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But it gets results so that means you can completely ignore all the work you have to put in.
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Thats good to hear, thanks! How much is your tutor?
Thank you!! dang theres a lot hahah, appreciated
The beginner stage being a whole year does feel a bit scary for me! I may only have a year in Japan, on this visa at least.
I will reply to this a year from now.
Lots of good suggestions have been going around, and @Tomuchan, you’re right to not be relying on Wanikani for vocabulary. Plenty–tons, really–of useful words to get taught through the site, but because it’s structured around its kanji, they don’t come out in an intuitive order. And a good background in vocab and grammar outside of WK will help you get through its kanji and vocab all the faster (since you can match them up to synonyms, real-world usage, etc.)
I’ll second chatting with people in Tokyo but would also suggest, since you’re in a big city, looking for community Japanese classes. There should be some around. Even if you have to pay for one, it’d be worth it.
I’m up in Nagano with slim pickings for community Japanese classes, but if I had ample selection around, I’d be on it in a heartbeat.
I always buy a package (10 lessons at a time) and one hour with my more formal grammar teacher is 15 USD (17,50 USD for a single lesson).
I also have an informal tutor with whom I just chat and discuss various kinds of content like YouTube videos that I watch before the lesson. For that I pay 9 USD per lesson.
My grammar teacher is definitely worth the higher price since she is a “real” teacher and very good at explaining all these concepts. But I would not want to miss the lessons with either of them. These lessons, WaniKani and my subs2srs Anki deck are currently what is driving most of my progress.
For comparison: the only classes I could take where I live would cost around 25$ per lesson and I would have to drive there on a Friday afternoon just to sit in a classroom together with other people who, like me, speak barely any Japanese…
After I finished the first Genki book I didn’t felt like reading another Mary / Takeshi dialogue ever… nor was I too fond of the whole drills and workbook routine.
My routine both with grammar and vocab uses this , which it’s a mix between Subs2SRS and Morphman.
For grammar I use an Anki deck that includes all the grammar structures from the Dictionary of Japanese Grammar series, all suspended cards in the beginning, and gradually I unsuspend them, and start getting sentences with those grammar points in actual sentences.
Giving you’re already familiar with Subs2SRS decks, I would strongly suggest to go this extra mile.
You could use Genki as a checker later to see you’re currently learning everything and reading the explanations too. The rest, I found it to be much more motivating with the sentences from the shows I use as susb2srs decks.
Besided that, reading it’s a terrific way to keep using grammar and vocab constantly. Graded readers series are a nice starting point, but there are other material as well.
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