# nekomimi: learn japanese — watch anime, play gacha games

> Learn Japanese using anime content with SRS and gamified rewards. (iPhone/iPad app by nekomimi japanese llc.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nekomimi-learn-japanese/id6627333398 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [nekomimi japanese llc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1889952589)
- Category: Education, Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 425 App Store ratings · 66 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 18.5 · 183 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2024-08-12
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nekomimi-learn-japanese/id6627333398/reviews.md

## What is nekomimi?

make learning japanese effortless~~

wherever you're starting from, total zero, or somewhere further along, our powerful srs flashcard system that integrates with real media has your back.

learn from real anime, video games, manga, songs, books (the stuff you actually care about).

it's like jpdb meets immersion kit. every card includes real native media. no more making anki cards by hand, tap into a library of over 10k+ words (and growing) instantly

collect coins, pull cards, build your deck. take on the gauntlet. climb the ranks. fight bosses with the words you've learned. earn the holos worth showing off.

every word you learn pulls you closer to the real thing. the scene without subtitles. the line that finally clicks. the song you understand.

see you inside!
~ mimi

*FEATURES*
- learn from real media: anime, games, manga, music, books
- works for all levels: from hiragana to advanced vocab
- FSRS-powered spaced repetition, the algorithm serious learners trust
- 1000+ collectible cards across rarities and sets
- hundreds of curated decks
- JRPG-style battles where your vocabulary is your spell list
- read manga with tap-to-translate
- track progress, climb leagues, earn ranks

Terms of Use: https://www.nekomimi.co/terms
Privacy Policy: https://www.nekomimi.co/privacy

## Key features

- Anime-based Japanese learning
- Advanced FSRS spaced repetition
- Gamified learning with coins and experience
- Collectible trading cards
- Vocabulary and grammar through anime scenes

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Elite Class | $174.99 | per year |
| Elite Class | $32.49 | per 3 months |
| Elite Class | $32.49 | per 3 months |
| Elite Class | $32.49 | per 3 months |
| Elite Class | $32.49 | per 3 months |
| Elite Class | $19.99 | per month |


## What do users think of nekomimi?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Fun and easy to use
- 🎉 Gamified learning experience
- 🎨 Cute and visually appealing
- 🔊 High-quality audio and video
- 🆓 Free with no ads or purchases

**Cons**

- 🔊 Pronunciation issues with some particles
- 🤔 Concerns about learning inappropriate language

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Occasional mismatch between text and audio pronunciation

**Most requested features**

- Ability to skip ahead for intermediate learners
- Option to customize learning path
- Larger text size for better visibility

## Recent user reviews (10 of 66)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nekomimi-learn-japanese/id6627333398/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Removed features

*2026-07-17, version 3.3*

This app used to be a nice way to practice some Japanese once in a while. It had a lot of free features and study material. After the rework, it seems like only the hiragana lesson is free now? Pretty much everything else is locked behind a monthly subscription. I just think it’s a little silly to reduce the free tier so much with such a largely AI generated app. Overall the rework does look nice and I enjoyed the opening, but literally everything is behind a premium sub now which wasn’t originally the case. I don’t really see an intuitive way to even access the interesting UI modes like the ipod interface after completing the intro. If I hadn’t updated the app, I would have more free content which feels disingenuous.

### 4/5 — Good app but one thing,

*2026-06-25, version 3.2*

I cannot use my apple account to log in and I tried using my Gmail but it only allows existing nekomimi accounts, what do I do?

### 1/5 — Cant get access to paid features despite being paid.

*2026-05-31*

I really hate trying to communicate this way (through a public review) but the support email does not work and all attempts to send to it bounce. I have been a paid member for nearly a year (since before the current iteration of the app). After taking a multi-month break from it I came back and found everything has been revamped and is different. However the app sees me as a free user and keeps prompting me to sign up for everything I try doing. I tried restoring my purchase. I tried canceling my subscription and then signing up again with the 3 month elite class package but no mater what I do it still says I am a free user and I don’t have access to very much. I have exhausted all the cards in the one sphere I have and cant progress.  I went through the multi hour long intro twice since I thought signing out and back in again was a good idea (it was not).

**Developer response:** this is inexcusable and i'm terribly sorry that you had to go through this. 

for some context, the entire app was re-written from the ground up to support our new sphere system that lets you pick exactly what you want to learn instead of locking you on a linear path. as part of these changes, some things broke and despite my best efforts to be very careful, it's obvious that i messed up. 

a new update has been submitted that hopefully goes out soon that fixes this issue of supporting our legacy plans (version 3.3). 

if you havent already, you can reach out to apple regarding a refund (they handle all payments) since you clearly did not get what you paid for.

i'd love to make this up to you if you are still interested in using the app. please email me at support@nekomimi.co (should be working again) and i'll get you hooked up with a promo code for a free plan as a small token of appreciation for your helpful feedback.

### 4/5 — Almost amazing

*2026-05-14*

I am really excited about this app! One thing is that it takes FOREVER to finally get to the main app dashboard. I stuck through opening games and narration just to see at what point we would see the app. You cannot skip any content and it literally took over an hour!  
I added a sphere and finished the set. It says I can resize the spheres but when I change the size nothing changes. I am still stuck with repeating the same 10 words. Is that  premium feature? Because all
Premium features send you to the subscription page, this doesn’t but also doesn’t change anything. Is there an online forum for this app. I am very likely to subscribe but I want to make sure the app will work and be useful to me.

**Developer response:** i really appreciate your kind comments~

the start sequence is definitely long! i got a little carried away with trying to tell a fun story that also teaches some japanese. i'm working on making it skippable for those who want to jump straight into studying.

regarding the sphere size changes, that's not a premium feature and should be working for everyone. i've dug through the code and it should be functioning properly. in case it wasn't clear, you'll need to complete all overdue reviews before new words are taught.

if that's not the issue you're facing please email me at support@nekomimi.co and we'll get it sorted out together. apologies for any rough edges, a lot of things could be explained better in the app.

there's no online forum at the moment but you can always reach me directly through that email if you have questions or feedback.

### 5/5 — Wow!

*2026-05-07, version 3.2*

The app is pretty good! The tracks though… OFF THE HOOK!!! Great music!!!!!!!

### 1/5 — Japanese language not available anymore to learn

*2026-03-24, version 3.0*

When I first downloaded it prior to the update a week ago, it was perfect for me learning and remembering hiragana. I noticed the update and it erased everything and asked me what language I wanted to learn and says Japanese is not available. I uninstalled it

### 4/5 — Um it’s good

*2025-11-16, version 2.0*

When saying words it gets tricky

### 2/5 — Must start at beginning hiragana

*2025-09-26, version 2.0*

There’s no way to skip if you already know hiragana

### 5/5 — Learning Japanese

*2025-09-20, version 2.0*

Good app to learn Japanese effectively I recommend it especially if you watch anime it helps

### 5/5 — very nice app!

*2025-07-02, version 2.0*

good!!

## Frequently asked questions about nekomimi

### What is Japanese by Anime?

Japanese by Anime is an educational app designed to help users learn the Japanese language. It utilizes anime content as a primary learning resource, incorporating vocabulary, grammar, and cultural nuances directly from popular animated series.

### How does the app help with learning Japanese?

The app employs an anime-based learning approach, allowing users to learn Hiragana, Katakana, and vocabulary through scenes and phrases from anime. It also features an advanced FSRS (Fast Spaced Repetition System) to optimize memory retention and recall.

### What are the in-app purchases?

The app offers in-app purchases where users can earn coins to unlock card packs, collect unique trading cards, and discover rare holographic finds. These purchases enhance the gamified aspect of the learning experience.

### Is this app suitable for beginners?

Yes, the app is designed for both beginners starting their Japanese language journey and more experienced learners looking to deepen their understanding. The anime-based approach makes it engaging for all levels.

### What is FSRS technology?

FSRS stands for Fast Spaced Repetition System. It is a machine-learning-driven system that optimizes study sessions by intelligently scheduling reviews of learned material, helping users retain information longer and recall it faster with less study time.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.5 — 2026-07-29

thank you so much to everyone who reached out with feedback~

bug fixes:
- fixed strange interactions with SRS in kotodama + the main clip feed. this resulted in reviews not showing up even though the badge/tab count said there were overdue reviews.
- sometimes you couldnt go to the next item in the feed without restarting the app. this should be fixed now
- katakana sphere was accidentally locked previously, it should be available to everyone now

new:
- you can now suspend + unsuspend words by heading over to "My Cards"
- added "Anki Mode", for those who want grading more similar to Anki, now the answer choices are hidden initially giving you a chance to try to recall the answer first

### 3.4 — 2026-07-18

hey all, here's what's new~

bug fixes:
- spheres no longer pause randomly
- fix some weird ui stuff in the sphere browser with popups

new changes:
- you can now see how many overdue reviews you have in the tab + app badge
- you can now see all of your cards that are in SRS + their due dates
- you can see your current retention rate + adjust your target retention rate
- you can toggle on/off the extra immersion clip that is shown after every review card
- this is only relevant to new users but onboarding has been significantly shortened and streamlined

### 3.3 — 2026-06-29

some crucial bug fixes,
that's all!

### 3.2 — 2026-05-05

hello my lovelies~

- 50+ new spheres have been added covering new movies, anime, and video games

enjoy~

- mimi

### 3.1 — 2026-05-02

hello my lovelies~

- 50+ new spheres have been added covering new movies, anime, and video games

enjoy~

- mimi

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## Related topics

[nekomimi](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nekomimi) · [japanese anime](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/japanese-anime)

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*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 2026-08-24.*