# Kana Pop — Learn Kana Through Play > Game-based learning app for mastering Japanese hiragana and katakana. (iPhone/iPad app by WEIZHE ZHAO.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kana-pop/id6806635652 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [WEIZHE ZHAO](https://appshunter.io/developer/6801283476) - Category: Education, Games, Word - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 4 MB - Languages: American English, Chinese (Simplified, China), Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan) - Released: 2026-09-03 - Data updated: 2026-09-16 - Monetization: ad-supported - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kana-pop/id6806635652/reviews.md ## What is Kana Pop? Kana Pop turns hiragana and katakana practice into a game, not a flashcard deck. No lessons, no memorizing lists. Just a board full of kana and a clock ticking down. Every run is timed and scored against your personal best. You're not studying — you're playing to beat your last run, while getting faster at reading kana on sight. **Four modes. One goal: read the kana before the clock runs out.** **HIRAGANA** Match the romaji prompt to the right hiragana tile. 90 seconds. 3 lives. 1 hint. **KATAKANA** Same game, katakana edition. 90 seconds. 3 lives. 1 hint. **MIXED** No romaji this time. Find the hiragana and katakana that share the same sound. 90 seconds. 3 lives. 1 hint. **CLEAR THE BOARD** 36 tiles. 18 pairs. 60 seconds. 3 lives. 3 hints. Nothing refills. Clear them all to win — the only mode you can actually beat. **WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT** • **Your score is yours to beat.** Every mode tracks a personal best. The clock is the same every run, so there's always a number to chase. • **The wrong answers aren't random.** You'll see kana that are easy to confuse, like シ/ツ, ぬ/め, or か/が. Every board is a reading test, not just a shape-matching exercise. • **No rounds, no memory grid.** The board keeps refilling in every mode except Clear the Board. There's always one more kana to read, and one more chance to beat your score. • **Your mistakes become your practice.** Every kana you miss is tracked. Stats shows your weakest kana first, while Chart shows which kana you've missed most often. The darker the kana, the more you've missed it. • **Pronunciation is built in.** Every correct answer can be spoken aloud in Japanese. Turn it off anytime in Settings. **ALL 102 KANA** Hiragana, katakana, gojūon, dakuten, handakuten, and yōon are all available from the start. No levels to unlock. No cards to collect. Just play. No account required. No analytics. Optional ads can give you an extra hint or a revive when you need one. Available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. ## Key features - Timed kana matching games - Personal best tracking - Focus on difficult kana - Mistake tracking and stats - Optional pronunciation audio - All kana available from start ## Recent user reviews (2 of 2) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kana-pop/id6806635652/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Fun game to learn the basics *2026-09-07* I’m just getting started to learn the language and found this app. Loved the design when I saw it so I decided to give it a try. It’s fun to spend a few minutes on it every day and I feel like I’m getting better! 😃 ### 5/5 — really fun little game *2026-09-04* I especially like the clear the board mode ## Frequently asked questions about Kana Pop ### Does Kana Pop have ads? Yes, Kana Pop contains advertisements. Optional ads can provide benefits like an extra hint or a revive during gameplay. ### What is the learning methodology of Kana Pop? Kana Pop uses a game-based approach with timed challenges and personal bests. It focuses on improving reading speed and accuracy by presenting kana in interactive scenarios rather than traditional flashcards or lists. ### How does Kana Pop track user progress? Kana Pop tracks your personal best score for each mode and identifies kana you frequently miss. This data is presented in stats and charts to highlight your weakest characters, guiding your practice. ### Is Kana Pop suitable for beginners in Japanese? Yes, Kana Pop is designed for beginners. All 102 kana, including hiragana, katakana, dakuten, and yōon, are available from the start without needing to unlock them. ### What devices is Kana Pop available on? Kana Pop is currently supported on iPhone devices. ### Can I turn off the pronunciation feature in Kana Pop? Yes, the pronunciation feature in Kana Pop can be turned off at any time in the app's Settings menu. ### Does Kana Pop require an account to use? No, Kana Pop does not require an account to use. It also does not collect analytics, ensuring user privacy. ### What is the age rating for Kana Pop? Kana Pop has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young learners and children. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.1.1 — 2026-09-08 - Minor fixes and improvements. ### 1.1 — 2026-09-04 • Watch an optional ad to earn an extra life or an extra hint when you run out. • Fixed: quitting a finished run early (tapping back after time or lives ran out) no longer silently drops that run's misses. • Fixed: a kana missed in one script no longer wrongly tints its twin in the other script on the Chart tab. ### 1.0 — 2026-09-03 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Kana Pop | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Memory Kanji](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/memory-kanji/id6744639906) | — | $3.99 | Education | | [My Nihongo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-nihongo/id6761957251) | 5.0 (2) | $2.99 | Education | | [Learn Japanese Alphabet Shizen](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/learn-japanese-alphabet-shizen/id6760613184) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Education | | [Yukimoji: Learn Japanese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yukimoji-learn-japanese/id6782001567) | — | Free | Education | | [Kana Challenge: Learn Hiragana](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kana-challenge-learn-hiragana/id6789488278) | — | Free | Education | | [Yokoso: Learn Japanese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yokoso-learn-japanese/id6789856724) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Education | ## More apps by WEIZHE ZHAO - [Hanzi Crush](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanzi-crush/id6805753627) All apps by WEIZHE ZHAO: https://appshunter.io/developer/6801283476 --- *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 2026-09-16.*