How to study Japanese?

I'll try to keep this short.

I want to start learning Japanese, but since I don't have Pimsleur money I need a method to hit it.  Right now I have 'A Guide to Writing Kanji And Kana' Book 1 and 2, by Wolfgang Hadamitzky and Mark Spahn, and Living Language's 'Ultimate Japanese' (which is supposedly a VERY shitty book, but it was free and I'm using it for grammar/conjugation only.)  I'm debating making flash cards as well.

So, how should I go about learning it?  I'm sure just reading it won't be enough...

>>96
Except of course books are still right to left for the most part, and many pure novels are written top to bottom. The words themselves are always left to right, however.

For you, op, I'd recommend genki or japanese for everyone. The tapes for japanese for everyone are available on the pirate bay.

Kanji is harder to focus on. Both of the aforementioned textbooks include some kanji, but of course not the full amount in any particular order.

If you feel you have a grasp of the Japanese language, I'd recommend using actual Japanese kanji learning books for schoolchildren. They progressively teach meanings and readings instead of bombarding you with everything at once. Only a basic grasp is required, as short example sentences are given. You write the kanji ten times, then do the prewritten test at the end of every unit. The order is structured by grade and difficulty by the education ministry or whatever, but it does not teach by radical only, like kanjidamage does.
Kanjidamage is your second option. It teaches kanji by radical so, in theory, the kanji you learn can all stick in your mind longer due to the similarities. However, you are bombarded with ass-tons of information. Your choice. It's not easy.
Also do not do heisig's remembering the kanji. It's very roundabout, in my opinion.