Martin's Concise Japanese Dictionary: English-Japanese Japanese-English : Fully Romanized With Complete Kanji & Kana (Tuttle Language Library)

Rating:
Summary: Good for true beginners
Review: I bought this dictionary before going to Japan, but I now find it to be too basic. There are lots of entries on different verb forms, so if you don't know the plain form it can be very helpful. But as you get better, you'll probably find that there aren't enough sophisticated words. Good for looking up colloquial words, but not a good choice for anyone but beginner level.

Rating:
Summary: Good dictionary for beginners
Review: I'm a Japanese language teacher, and I really recommend this dictionary to beginning students. In this dictionary verbs are listed in their "masu forms," so you don't need to know dictionary forms to look up verbs.

Rating:
Summary: Limited
Review: This book is wholeheartedly recommended for beginners and short-term travellers. Beyond that, however, this book just isn't enough. I brought this book with me to Japan, and while I never left home without it until it was replaced, it proved all too limited. The word selection is eclectic but restricted (e.g. it has "subactue myelo-optico neuropathy", but neither "oak" nor "saxophone"). Additionally, the book itself is not suited for the long term: after two months of everyday use, the binding fell apart and the cover began to peel. All the entries are in roman characters, which further restricts its usage to native English speakers who have not learned their hiragana and katakana (so forget about handing this book to your new, inebriated Japanese friends). Nonetheless, the size is just about right for portability, and you won't ruin your eyes by trying to read a small font or your back by carrying a thirty pound hardcover. All in all, think about what it is you need before you buy this book. It could fit the bill, but it might not.