# HelloStory: Japanese Stories — Read Japanese graded stories > Free graded Japanese reading app with translations, audio, and vocabulary tools. (iPhone/iPad app by Chong Li.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellostory-japanese-stories/id6746239421 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Chong Li](https://appshunter.io/developer/933612154) - Category: Education, Reference - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 7 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 14.1 · 49 MB - Languages: Korean, Vietnamese, American English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified, China) - Released: 2025-05-28 - Data updated: 2026-08-12 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellostory-japanese-stories/id6746239421/reviews.md ## What is HelloStory? HelloStory helps you truly use the Japanese you've learned by reading stories at your level—and it's completely free. As a graded reading app, HelloStory offers a wide variety of stories tailored to different JLPT levels, helping you apply Japanese effectively while mastering natural expressions. Our features help you not only read but truly understand each story: - Dive into Stories of Your Level Enjoy engaging tales across a wide range of topics, crafted by experienced native authors to reflect real, natural Japanese. - Instant Understanding Made Easy Access professional, bilingual translations for every word and sentence—no more guessing, just clear meaning in real time. - Listen and Learn Naturally Immerse yourself in audio recordings by native speakers. Sharpen your listening skills and perfect your pronunciation effortlessly. - Multiple Display Modes Toggle between Kanji, Hiragana, or Romaji to help you recognize and read Japanese characters with confidence. - Save and Master Challenging Words Add tricky vocabulary to your personalized wordlist. Our AI-powered flashcards prioritize what you need most, ensuring focused review and long-term retention. - Completely Free All stories and features are available at no cost—no hidden fees, no clickbait. Start reading to boost your Japanese skills today with HelloStory! ------------------------------------------------ Have any questions? Feel free to contact us at hellostory@yuspeak.com Privacy Policy: https://www.yuspeak.com/hellostory/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.yuspeak.com/hellostory/terms.html ## Key features - Graded Japanese stories by JLPT level - Bilingual translations for words and sentences - Native speaker audio recordings - Multiple display modes (Kanji, Hiragana, Romaji) - Personalized vocabulary list with AI flashcards ## Recent user reviews (7 of 7) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hellostory-japanese-stories/id6746239421/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Best way to start reading *2026-05-15* I’ve been looking for any material that would help me read fast and discover words and meanings on a fun way, this is it! I would say 100% this is the best way for a beginner to start reading Japanese sentences. I really hope that this app continues growing because I love it. ### 5/5 — Awesome app *2026-01-27* This app is amazing for practicing reading comprehension and learning grammar structures. The stories use real Japanese, have translations for each word as well as Kanji/Kana/Romaji. There is also audio too which is a great touch. Lots of vocab and stores for different levels. Such a quality app for free. **Developer response:** We are happy to hear that you’re enjoying the reading comprehension practice and grammar structures in the app! Our goal is to provide authentic and high-quality language content at every level for every users, and it's great to know that our content is helping you! We really appreciate your support, and we’ll keep working hard to maintain this quality and continue offering valuable resources :) ### 5/5 — Excellent user experience *2025-12-22* The user experience is minimalistic in the best sense, very few features that are essential, no more and no less; the flow for reading is basically uninterrupted because you can check the translations by word or by sentence with tap or hold. In terms of content This is the first app that gives me precisely labeled readings for n5 not too hard nor too easy, just right. **Developer response:** Thank you for the support! We’re really glad to hear you’re enjoying the app. Our design focuses on simplicity and being user-friendly, with content specially created for beginners of all ages. If you have any suggestions, feel free to reach out to us at support@yuspeak.com! ### 5/5 — Great Japanese App *2025-10-29* Easy to use, has kanji and hiragana. Interesting stores with polite and causal forms as well. There’s audio included which is also helpful! Can’t wait for the addition of more complex stories **Developer response:** Your feedback has given us a boost! We're excited to keep improving this app. ### 5/5 — I like the challenge *2025-09-17* Reading the text in kanji/hiragana/romanji mode first and trying to interpret the meaning all by myself has been such a great motivation to learn new words. I feel a great satisfaction (and also a humbling) after I compare my assumptions to the english translation. It’s been great fun to read at the recommended level. Challenging, yet a fun way to learn immersively. **Developer response:** We are pleased to hear that you found our app helpful. We will keep improving this app to make your in-app experience better! ### 5/5 — Amazing *2025-08-11* I love this app. It's very simple to use and provides an excellent source of reading practice! **Developer response:** Your words have inspired us! We're committed to making this app the best it can be. ### 5/5 — Nifty, FREE app *2025-07-23* The app is pretty cool. It has short stories that are pretty easy to get through, but have unfamiliar words. The grammar is also not too bad and a mix of casual and polite depending on the story. The flashcard system is alright, but the app is 100% as of now so I'm not complaining. As long as the app stays free, this is a 5 star from me! **Developer response:** We are pleased to hear that you found our app helpful. We will keep improving this app to make your in-app experience better! ## Frequently asked questions about HelloStory ### What is HelloStory? HelloStory is a completely free app designed to help you improve your Japanese language skills by reading graded stories. It offers features like instant translations, native speaker audio, and customizable display modes to enhance your learning experience. ### Is HelloStory free to use? Yes, HelloStory is completely free. All stories and features are available at no cost, with no hidden fees or clickbait. ### What JLPT levels does HelloStory cover? HelloStory offers a wide variety of stories tailored to different JLPT levels, allowing learners to apply their Japanese knowledge effectively and master natural expressions. ### How does HelloStory help with vocabulary? You can save challenging words to a personalized wordlist within HelloStory. The app uses AI-powered flashcards to prioritize your review, ensuring focused learning and long-term retention of new vocabulary. ### Can I listen to the stories in HelloStory? Yes, HelloStory provides audio recordings by native speakers for its stories. This feature helps you immerse yourself in natural Japanese pronunciation and sharpen your listening skills. ### What display modes are available in HelloStory? HelloStory offers multiple display modes, allowing you to toggle between Kanji, Hiragana, or Romaji. This flexibility helps you recognize and read Japanese characters with greater confidence. ### What devices is HelloStory available on? HelloStory is currently available on iPhone and iPod devices. It is designed for iOS users looking to enhance their Japanese language studies. ### How often is HelloStory updated? The latest version of HelloStory is 1.0.3, and it was last updated on December 2, 2025. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support for the application. ## Version history (last 4 releases) ### 1.0.3 — 2025-12-02 Bug fixes and performance improvements. ### 1.0.2 — 2025-08-26 Bug fixes and performance improvements. ### 1.0.1 — 2025-06-30 Bug fixes and performance improvements. ### 1.0 — 2025-05-29 No release notes. ## Apps similar to HelloStory | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Learn Japanese Phrases Premium](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-phrases-premium/id6743860905) | — | $0.99 | Education | | [iago - Learn Japanese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iago-learn-japanese/id6471793412) | 4.8 (1,731) | Free | Education | | [Yomu Yomu: Read&Learn Japanese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yomu-yomu-read-and-learn-japanese/id1636640840) | 4.9 (176) | Free | Education | | [Mr. Takahashi: Learn Japanese!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mr-takahashi-learn-japanese/id6503203584) | 4.9 (15) | Free | Education | | [Yomoyo: Japanese Reader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yomoyo-japanese-reader/id6744860737) | 5.0 (3) | Free | Education | | [Bunpro Japanese SRS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bunpro-japanese-srs/id1615337616) | 4.9 (555) | Free | Education | ## More apps by Chong Li - [YuSpeak: Learn Japanese/Korean](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yuspeak-learn-japanesekorean/id1600612202) All apps by Chong Li: https://appshunter.io/developer/933612154 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-12.*