This is the first in a series of four books focused on high-school students. The series differs from everything else on the market thanks to an engaging storyline unfolding while the learners progress in their study, keeping things interesting and adding motivation to master new material. The narrative story underlying the textbook follows the life of Kiara, who has just moved to Tokyo as an exchange student. Kiara, Ben, and Kenichi get caught in a storm and end up in Tomo's time machine, through which they visit firsthand various historical and other famous events, places and people. The focus is very visual. The book's narrative is told with manga-style story pages, and the CD-ROM uses colourful video. Kanji is taught beginning with lesson 1, and together with current vocabulary rather than separately.
Michael L. Kluemper served as a board member for the National Council of Japanese Language Teachers from 2001—08, and has worked on national task forces for the implementation of a Japanese AP course. He lives in Louisville, KY.
Lisa Berkson was honored by the Association of Indiana Teachers of Japanese as the language teacher of the year in 2007. She currently teaches Japanese and Chinese language classes at Dobson High School in Mesa, AZ.
Nathan Patton teaches Japanese language at Scott County High School in Georgetown, KY where he serves as Chair of the World Language Department.
Nobuko Patton has taught Japanese at the University of Kentucky, Georgetown College and Jessie Clark Middle School in Lexington, KY. She lives in Kentucky.