* More than 50,000 entries, including the most common meanings
* Two sections, Japanese-English and English-Japanese
* All entries, from A to Z, in a single alphabetical listing
* Japanese terms shown in romanized Japanese and standard Japanese characters
* Hundreds of new words, including eizu (AIDS) and nyuryoku (computer input)
* Thousands of idioms, phrases, and common expressions illustrate typical usage
* Includes Japanese cultural items, such as yobiko (cram school), and gives source of foreign borrowings, such as nyusu (news)
* American English spelling and vocabulary
* Extensive use of explanatory glosses to specify precise meaning and assure appropriate translation