Beginning Japanese
These books will get you started on your path to learning Japanese. There is a phrasebook, for those of you going on a trip or wishing to learn a few sentences. Also I have added the excellent book by Lafcadio Hearn, which was a great motivation for me.

I also purchased the Death Note series on DVD and watched it in Japanese with English subtitles. I'm now watching it again in Japanese only. Watching anime is just one of many ways to help improve your listening ability.
Remembering the Kanji, Vol. 1: A Complete Course on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese CharactersRemembering the Kana: A Guide to Reading and Writing the Japanese Syllabaries in 3 Hours Each (Manoa) (Japanese Edition) (part 1)Berlitz Japanese Phrase Book & Dictionary (Berlitz Phrase Book)
Remembering the Kanji, Vol. 1: A Complete C...
by James W. Heisig
$23.77
Remembering the Kana: A Guide to Reading an...
by James W. Heisig
$14.45
Berlitz Japanese Phrase Book & Dictiona...
$8.95
Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, Second Series (Dodo Press)Death Note Box Set 1
Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan, Second Series...
by Lafcadio Hearn
$20.99
Death Note Box Set 1
$27.99