Perfect for desktop or classroom reference, MARTIN'S CONCISE JAPANESE DICTIONARY is the most up-to-date and comprehensive dictionary of its size on the market.
Useful features of the dictionary include the following:
over 18,000 entries
both English-Japanese and Japanese-English sections
entries written in romanized Japanese and Kanji and Kana
precise definitions
sample phrases and sentences
compact size with easy-to-read type.
Indeed, 18,000 words doesn't seem so much, seeing that even Langenscheidt has more, but it seems well-done, even with the downstep accent marked for every word it applies to. Entries are well-transcribed and written in romanization as well as Kanji/Kana, which is great. Somehow it even includes negations and imperatives. Interesting... In the beginning there's also a section on pronunciation and a tiny bit about grammar.
Another decent pocket sized Japanese-English dictionary. Not quite as many words as others, but a bit more easy to read and a few interesting word choices as well.