あ い う
ReadWrite Japanese Kana · Hiragana & Katakana
Read Japanese
One kana
at a time
Make yourself at home in hiragana and katakana. Learn the shapes, hear their sounds and practise writing them—then start reading words and short phrases.
5 free hiragana lessons + 5 free katakana lessons
One purchase for the full course · No subscription
35structured lessons
46 + 46basic hiragana & katakana
386audio recordings
5 + 5 freelessons to begin
Two scripts, one foundation
Start with the script
you want to learn
New to Japanese? Hiragana is a useful first step: you will see it throughout everyday Japanese, including grammar. Katakana is used mainly for borrowed words and foreign names.
ア イ ウ
Katakana
46 basic charactersEach script has its own lesson sequence. Choose which to learn first in the app, then bring both together in mixed reading.
Inside the app
See how the learning happens
A clear path from your first characters to reading and review. Select a screenshot to take a closer look.
A clear place to start
Pick up where you left off, with the next lesson and a manageable daily goal.
Follow your learning path
Work through each script in a clear sequence and see your progress as you go.
Follow every stroke
Watch how the character is written, then follow the numbered tracing paths.
Read the sounds
Connect a kana shape with its reading, without relying on an English meaning.
Keep a reference close by
Find a character or useful word, revisit its details and save a bookmark.
Make room for review
Return to familiar characters with spaced repetition and optional reminders.
Practise from every angle
See it, hear it
make it stick
Reading, listening and writing work together. Each activity gives you a different way to practise what you have learned.
Discover the characters
Learn each shape and sound, with examples that show how kana work in words.
Trace the strokes
Follow animated, numbered stroke guides and practise tracing with feedback.
Write from memory
Hide the model, write the character yourself, then reveal it to compare.
Listen and type
Enter what you hear using the built-in kana keyboard, with no keyboard setup needed.
Match sounds to kana
Connect the Japanese audio with the characters you are learning. Tap Slow when you need more time.
Read aloud
Record your voice and listen back alongside the example. Compare by ear at your own pace.
Read the sounds
Practise reading kana directly, without depending on English vocabulary meanings.
Keep it familiar
Use spaced repetition, daily goals, bookmarks and optional reminders to keep practising.
Listen at your pace, wherever you study
386 bundled recordings cover the course’s playable entries. Hear the original speed or tap Slow for more time. Lessons and course audio are available offline, without downloading a Japanese device voice.
The 35-lesson course
Your first characters
are just the beginning
Study the 46 basic characters in each script, then explore voiced sounds, small kana, combinations, long vowels and doubled consonants.
Lesson numbers below follow the hiragana-first order. The app also lets you start with katakana. The first five lessons of each script stay free whichever order you choose.
Hiragana
First 5 hiragana lessons free
- 01Free
Your first hiragana
あ · い · う · え · お
- 02Free
The K row
か · き · く · け · こ
- 03Free
The S row
さ · し · す · せ · そ
- 04Free
The T row
た · ち · つ · て · と
- 05Free
The N row
な · に · ぬ · ね · の
See all 17 hiragana lessons
- 06
The H row
は · ひ · ふ · へ · ほ
- 07
The M row
ま · み · む · め · も
- 08
The Y row
や · ゆ · よ
- 09
The R row
ら · り · る · れ · ろ
- 10
W and the nasal N
わ · を · ん
- 11
Voicing the K, S and T rows
Two small marks. A new sound
- 12
The B and P rows
Dots and a little circle
- 13
Small Y, one beat
きゃ is different from きや
- 14
Voiced combinations
Bring the two patterns together
- 15
Length changes meaning
Long vowels and small っ
- 16
Kana in everyday phrases
Read the spelling in context
- 17
Hiragana checkpoint
Fresh words using the patterns you know
Katakana
First 5 katakana lessons free
- 18Free
Your first katakana
ア · イ · ウ · エ · オ
- 19Free
Katakana · K row
カ · キ · ク · ケ · コ
- 20Free
Katakana · S row
サ · シ · ス · セ · ソ
- 21Free
Katakana · T row
タ · チ · ツ · テ · ト
- 22Free
Katakana · N row
ナ · ニ · ヌ · ネ · ノ
See all 16 katakana lessons
- 23
Katakana · H row
ハ · ヒ · フ · ヘ · ホ
- 24
Katakana · M row
マ · ミ · ム · メ · モ
- 25
Katakana · Y row
ヤ · ユ · ヨ
- 26
Katakana · R row
ラ · リ · ル · レ · ロ
- 27
Katakana · W and the nasal N
ワ · ヲ · ン
- 28
Katakana with dakuten
Recognise voiced forms
- 29
Katakana B and P
バ and パ are different sounds
- 30
Contracted katakana sounds
Small ャ, ュ and ョ
- 31
Katakana rhythm
A line, a pause, a different word
- 32
New sounds in borrowed words
Small vowels expand the chart
- 33
Look closely
Similar shapes, clear differences
Bring both scripts together: lessons 34–35
- 34
Read around you
Menus, signs and short requests
- 35
Your Kana checkpoint
Bring both scripts together
All 35 lesson titles are included here. Full guides and activities are in the app.
A comfortable place to start
Start with both scripts
keep going when you’re ready
| What’s included | Free to try | Full course |
|---|---|---|
| Lessons | First 5 hiragana + first 5 katakana | All 35 lessons, including mixed reading |
| Guides, audio and exercises | For your 10 free lessons | For the full course |
| Spaced review | Free-lesson material | All unlocked material |
| Offline lessons and audio | Included | Included |
| Payment | Free | One in-app purchase |
| Subscription, advertising or account | None | None |
Start with five complete lessons in each script. One purchase unlocks all remaining lessons in both scripts, mixed reading and the final checkpoint. No subscription. Your App Store shows the price in your currency.
Your pace, your place
Made to fit
your everyday
A few minutes at home, on your commute or between lessons. Pick up where you left off.
Ready when you are
Offline lessons and bundled course audio on iPhone and iPad. Your progress stays on your device.
Make it comfortable
Choose from two colour themes, with light and dark appearance. See kana in different print styles as you learn.
Keep useful things close
Browse the searchable kana library, bookmark entries and follow your progress and daily goals.
Before you begin
Small questions
clear answers
Do I need to know any Japanese?
No. Start with the five vowel sounds and your first kana. Clear explanations guide you through the sounds, shapes and strokes before you practise words and short phrases.
Should I learn hiragana or katakana first?
Hiragana is recommended for beginners because it appears throughout everyday Japanese, including grammar. You can choose katakana first if that suits your studies. Each script has its own lesson sequence, and you can change the order without losing progress.
What can I try for free?
The first 5 hiragana lessons and the first 5 katakana lessons are free—10 lessons in total. This includes their learning activities and review material. One purchase unlocks the remaining lessons in both scripts, mixed reading and the final checkpoint.
Is there a subscription?
No. A single in-app purchase unlocks the full 35-lesson course. Your App Store shows the price in your currency. Restore Purchases is available for the Apple Account used to buy the course.
Does it teach kanji?
This course focuses on hiragana and katakana, with 46 basic characters in each script and the patterns needed to read them in words. Kanji is a separate part of Japanese writing and is not the focus of this course.
Can I use it offline?
Yes. Lessons and all 386 included course recordings are available offline. You do not need to install a Japanese device voice for the included recordings. An internet connection is needed for App Store purchases and restoring access.
Does it score my spoken pronunciation?
You can record yourself and compare your voice with the example by listening. It is a self-comparison activity; the app does not automatically score your pronunciation.
Does the app have accounts, advertising or analytics?
No. The app has no account system, advertising or analytics. Your learning progress stays on your device. Voice recordings are temporary, stay on the device and are removed when you leave the practice card.
Which devices can I use?
ReadWrite Japanese Kana is designed for iPhone and iPad. The App Store listing shows the current device and operating-system requirements.
How does it fit with Japanese Grammar and Declan Words?
ReadWrite Japanese Kana builds your foundation in reading and writing hiragana and katakana. Bootstrap Japanese Grammar teaches sentence patterns, particles and verb forms. Declan Words helps you expand your vocabulary. Use the tools together as your studies grow.
ReadWrite Japanese Kana
Open the door
to reading Japanese
Try 5 hiragana lessons and 5 katakana lessons free.
One purchase unlocks the full course. No subscription.