Reddit reviews Kanji in Context Reference Book [Revised 2nd Edition]

I'm going to guess beginner books like Genki and Minnanonihongo will be super boring and slow for you. And I'm going to guess you already have an intuitive feel for grammar, and you mostly need to learn kanji and get lots of level appropriate reading.

Here is a great overview of basic grammar (if you need it for reference), they also have intermediate and advanced (that cover different, harder topics) - this one will cover way more than the same $$ value in beginner textbooks:
https://bookclub.japantimes.co.jp/en/book/b309630.html

for level appropriate reading, since you already have vocab, and need to learn kanji, perhaps start from graded readers level 1 and work your way up:
https://verasia.eu/reading/919-naze-doushite-preguntas-sobre-ciencia-lecturas-1-primaria-en-japn-9784052031458.html
For example:

• Naze? Doushite? series
  
• 10-Bu de yomeru series
  
• I guess there are lots more that you can find in Japan. The idea is each level removes the kanji learned in the level below. So you gradually wean yourself off of the furigana above the kanji.
  
  For systematic Kanji learning, I've seen this Kanji course highly recommended by advanced learners who already have vocab knowledge (so might be better than the usual RTK/KKLC/Wanikani recommendations for beginners with little to no vocab experience):
  https://www.amazon.co.jp/Kanji-Context-Reference-Book-Rivesed/dp/4789015297
  
  Hopefully that helps a bit!

Buy Graph paper or Japanese style notebook, and Kanji in Context Reference Book

I don't have much input on your techniques, sorry, but, there IS a book that I thought might fit your situation.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/Kanji-Context-Reference-Book-Rivesed/dp/4789015297/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452780771&sr=8-1&keywords=kanji+in+context

I was sort of in a situation like you (studied in college, had a 5 year gap with no studying at all, and picked up studying again) and I needed to do a lot of review but also move forward. The book linked above, "Kanji in Context" (and the accompanying 2 text books) are great for that. Good luck!

I would recommend the book "Kanji in Context". I am curious as to where this goal/requirement has come from.

I have an anki deck for the first 3 chapters (1200 kanji). Only includes the red words (the ones the authors of the book decided were important). 2369 cards, so approximately 2 words per kanji.

I was not a fan for that reason. I do occasionally have little stories with some similar kanji to tell them apart or cause they just pop into my head, so I can see how it may be useful. But it's more like you describe for し, I found I was putting more in to remembering their special way of doing it than learning kanji (to be fair I checked them out when I knew about 300 - 400 kanji and not being able to skip was annoying). I think it works for some people, just like RTK works for some. Personally I mainly study kanji as vocab (the core 6k and stuff I run across reading). I do look up readings & meanings when I run across one I am not familiar with, I may even write it out a few times, just to get the stroke order if it's a more complicated one or I keep getting 2 mixed up. But I don't review that info often, I mainly use it to help get the reading and meaning. I do like Kanji Context Text and the workbook. (& should stop slacking and do more of their exercises)

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disclaimer: I am not sure if my way would be good for anyone wanting to write kanji or take the jplt, but it works for reading and typing so for me it does the trick. I also don't have much free time, so kanji get's the short end of my study.

For books or series we should all know about, I have some personal recommendations although as said before it depends heavily on your needs as a learner.
These are:

Dictionaries

• Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary
  Excellent bilingual dictionary with furigana throughout.
  
  
• Kodansha's Communicative English-Japanese Dictionary
  Likely one of the best En-Jp dictionaries that's also very easy to carry and use.
  
  Grammar
  
  
• どんなときどう使う 日本語表現文型辞典
  Essential Japanese Expression Dictionary: A Guide to Correct Usage of Key Sentence Patterns
  Contains various fundamental and common grammar patterns from N5 to N1. Translations in English, Chinese and Korean also.
  
  
• Kodansha's (formerly named) Power Japanese series
  Various useful supplimentary volumes such as All about particles, Basic Connections, Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication, Common Japanese Collocations etc.
  Mainly aimed at beginner/intermediate but contains gems that can be used well into advanced study.
  
  
• Japanese A Comprehensive Grammar
  
  Kanji
  
  
• Kanji in Context
  Textbook that contains all the Jōyō (common use) Kanji, in natural sentences and commonly used vocab, not isolated. Aimed at intermediate level upwards although does start from basic Kanji.
  
  
• Basic Kanji Book
  Kanji book series that takes you from absolute beginner. Memorable kanji illustrations and etymology.
  
  
• The Complete Guide to Japanese Kanji
  A much more 'academic' kanji guide with detailed etymologies, kanji history as well as coherent pneumonics to remember them.
  
  Textbooks
  
  
• みんなの日本語 Minna no Nihongo
  
  
• Japanese for Everyone
  
  
• Genki
  
  
• Japanese for Busy People
  
  
• 学ぼう！にほんご Manabo Nihongo
  
  
• ニューアプローチ 日本語 New Approach Japanese
  
  
• An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
  
  In terms of buying textbooks, I've had good luck with http://www.gettextbooks.com/ which pools many sites to find the cheapest deal.

Nit sure if it is progressive or not, but:
http://www.amazon.com/Kanji-Context-Reference-Rivesed-Edition/dp/4789015297/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1C8A9TG2REJCSZ8FWA80