There are three types of Japanese script--katakana, hiragana, and kanji. It is possible to read Japanese knowing only a limited number of kanji. Still, it is impossible with only a limited number of katakana or hiragana--one must know all of them. Let's Learn Hiragana and its companion volume,
 
Let's Learn Katakana, is a textbook that introduces the learner to the basics of one of these fundamental Japanese scripts. Being a workbook, it contains all the exercises that allow the student to master hiragana by the time the book has been finished. 
 
Let's Learn Hiragana is a classic in the field, and the huge number of students who have used it successfully is a sign of its preeminence as a self-study guide.