# NihonDojo.ai — Actually learn real Japanese > Intensive Japanese language learning app using spaced repetition and contextual learning. (iPhone/iPad app by D Everett Hinton.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nihondojoai/id6749792374 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [D Everett Hinton](https://appshunter.io/developer/1796270955) - Category: Education, Travel - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.10/5 from 9 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.0 · 298 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2025-10-06 - Data updated: 2026-06-11 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nihondojoai/id6749792374/reviews.md ## What is NihonDojo.ai? Stop wasting time on apps that treat you like a child. While other Japanese learning apps busy themselves with cartoon mascots and meaningless streaks, we built something that actually works. Nihon Dojo doesn't care about making you feel good about yourself. We care about making you fluent in one of the hardest possible languages imaginable in two years or LESS! Most Japanese learning apps are designed to keep you subscribed, not to make you fluent. They feed you bite-sized "lessons" that feel productive but teach you nothing useful. They celebrate your "progress" when you've learned to say "I like apples" for the 47th time. We're different. And you'll probably hate us for it. REAL SPACED REPETITION THAT HURTS Through our use of the tried-and-true FSRS algorithm, we will make you review words until you hate them, even if you do learn them a week later. No participation trophies. Here is the twist: we generate sentences using only words you've already learned (revolutionary concept, we know). No more example sentences filled with 20 different N1 words you've never seen before. By giving you context clues that are targeted in real-time at your knowledge, we not only reinforce language in a natural way, we allow you to learn the meanings of new words even when you are seeing them for the first time. Not only that, but our built in formality switching teaches you how Japanese people ACTUALLY talk— learn to be "hip" OR turn so textbook you be start saying させていただきます in your sleep. For the cherry on top, every time you review a word, we will guide you how to write it. If you can call that chicken scratch of yours "writing," that is. Don't worry, we smooth it out for you. GRAMMAR AND CULTURAL THAT MAKES SENSE In addition to shoving words down your throat until you are begging us to stop, we provide structured grammar and culture lessons that build on each other. We're not just here to teach you how to conjugate. We also teach you why Japanese people say what they say. We cover the social rules other apps pretend don't exist, and prepare you for real conversations. You can't learn a language without learning the culture, they are one and the same. KANA PRACTICE FOR VETERANS AND BEGINNERS ALIKE If you're new, there is no easy way to learn and memorize Japanese kana, nor is there a shortcut (except our app, hah). At the very least, we make it sort of less painful to do. With both a rapid-fire minigame and our guided writing practice, you could get kana down in a week or two if you're serious! It's not hard (just tedious), and it works. THE GUARANTEE THAT'LL SCARE YOU Use this app every day for two years. Follow the system. Do the reviews. If you're not (almost) fluent, we'll refund every penny. Most apps won't make this promise because they know their cute gamification doesn't work. We will, because we built tools that do. WHO THIS IS FOR You should use NihonDojo if you want to actually speak & read Japanese. If you're tired of apps that waste your time with pointless games. If you can handle being challenged instead of constantly praised. If you want personalized training that adapts to your actual progress. If you're willing to do work that might not be "fun" but gets results. Don't download this if you want an app that makes you feel good about doing nothing. If you think learning a language should be "effortless." If you need constant validation and cartoon characters cheering you on. If you're looking for a magic bullet that requires zero effort. FREE FIRST Believe it or not, making an app like this is a ton of work, and it only exists due to many long nights, fueled solely by a hate for Anki. While this app is free first (with no ads EVER because I HATE THEM), it costs money to generate sentences and continue to develop new features. Your support is everything to me! HERE'S THE DEAL No BS. Just the tools you need to actually learn Japanese. Download if you're serious. Skip if you want to play games. ## Key features - Spaced repetition system (FSRS) - Contextual sentence generation - Formality switching - Guided writing practice - Structured grammar lessons - Cultural context integration - Kana practice minigame ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | NihonDojo Pro Annual | $64.99 | per year | | NihonDojo Pro Monthly | $6.49 | per month | | NihonDojo Expert Monthly | $12.95 | per month | | NihonDojo Expert Annual | $129.99 | per year | ## Recent user reviews (3 of 3) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nihondojoai/id6749792374/reviews.md ### 2/5 — Waiting for update with bigger/adjustible fonts *2025-11-12, version 1.6.0* This app looks really promising, but currently, when using it on my 12.9 iPad, much of the text is too small for me to enjoy using it, and the contrast isn’t high enough with some instances of dark red Japanese characters against a dark background. The settings section indicates that a font-size update is coming, so I’m looking forward to that. ### 4/5 — Liking it a lot so far *2025-11-05, version 1.5.0* The FSRS model got me through engineering school, so I’m already liking in with this app. Seems to be a great tool so far. The UI is simple and intuitive. My only complaint is the lack of text to speech at the pro tier. I know all of my hiragana and katakana, but I’m struggling with the lack of pronunciation. The expert tier is just too expensive, in my opinion, for what it offers. I really with there was an in between tier at like $75-$85 that included the text to speech (or if it was just included in the Pro tier). ### 5/5 — Love this app. Makes learning fun! *2025-10-12, version 1.1.0* The best Japanese language learning app I've used. It makes learning vocabulary & grammar feel like a game instead of school work. The spaced repetition is great! It doesn't baby you with weird gamification nonsense, just hopes you get fluent. ## Frequently asked questions about NihonDojo.ai ### What is NihonDojo's learning methodology? NihonDojo utilizes a rigorous spaced repetition system (FSRS) to ensure words are memorized, even if it requires extensive review. It also generates sentences using only learned words, providing real-time context clues to aid in understanding new vocabulary. ### Does NihonDojo offer a free trial? The app is free to download and use, with in-app purchases available for advanced features and subscription plans. Specific trial periods for subscription tiers are not detailed in the provided information. ### How does NihonDojo handle Japanese formality? NihonDojo includes a built-in formality switching feature, teaching users how to speak in both casual ('hip') and formal ('textbook') Japanese, preparing them for diverse social interactions. ### What is the age rating for NihonDojo? NihonDojo has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users. The app's challenging methodology, however, is geared towards serious learners. ### How often is NihonDojo updated? The latest version of NihonDojo is 1.7.5, and it was last updated on December 19, 2025. This indicates a relatively active development cycle for the application. ### What devices support NihonDojo? NihonDojo is available on both iPhone and iPad, catering to users within the Apple ecosystem. The app is designed for these mobile platforms. ### What are the subscription options for NihonDojo? NihonDojo offers monthly and annual subscription plans for 'Pro' and 'Expert' tiers, priced at $6.49/month for Pro, $12.95/month for Expert, $64.99/year for Pro, and $129.99/year for Expert. ### Does NihonDojo have ads? No, NihonDojo does not contain advertisements. The app is free to download and use, with monetization coming from optional in-app purchases and subscriptions. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.7.5 — 2025-12-19 ### Added in 1.7.5 - Text size multiplier for vocab cards (x1-x4) - Roleplay practice chat: live conversation w/ feedback pills - 6 formality modes: single/dual sentence display - Now default to normal only - Swipe up or down on vocab card to cycle sentence formality - Numbers Game: Drill counters, days & number kanji with: - Random answer display modes (kanji/kana/mixed) - Persistent drill selections saved across sessions - Sliding reveal animations on answer selection - Dynamic grid: 2x2 for long kana, 2x3 for compact text ### Changed in 1.7.5 - Core 6000 hint text: visual centering around dots - Settings: Collapsible sections with smooth animations - New rating button ### Fixed in 1.7.5 - Offline indicator now sits above bottom navbar on home - Vocab card overflow at larger text sizes (dynamic padding) - Culture practice tab: inline Drill/Roleplay cards (matches grammar) - Session timer now fixed and is tick-based (only counts visible time) - Weighted accuracy scores: Again=0%, Hard=50%, Good=100%, Easy=125% ### 1.6.0 — 2025-11-12 ## [1.6.0] ### Added - Vocab Manager: Full vocab management with custom words - Offline Dictionary: JMdict search with 150,000+ words - Search with ENG or JPN, antonyms, related words, etymology & more - Roleplay scenarios page preview, this is coming soon - Enhanced 3D card flip, uses optical illusion to give depth perception - Placeholder image maintains 3D effect (toggle in Settings) - Added subtle haptic at end of card flip animation - New "After Flip" furigana mode (now default) - Locked card flip positions for smooth transitions ### Changed - Tutorial dialog: Smart scaling fits all screen sizes - Subscription popup now fully responsive with dynamic sizing - Made Restore button more compact to prevent overlap - Redesigned navigation bar and layout - Grammar, Culture, and Kana have been moved - Added "Study" page which now contains: - Grammar - Culture - Roleplay - Kana - Added "Tools" page which now contains - Vocab Manager - Dictionary - Scanner (Coming Soon) - Translator (Coming Soon) - Added springy blur reveal animation for nav bar on launch - Smoothed rating popup animation with slide+fade effect - Grammar popup now navigates directly to guided view - Improved vocab card flip alignment (front/back sync) for all content - Auto-scroll to furthest completed lesson in guided paths - Seamless scroll with navbar blur across all pages - Several animations to be more smooth and seamless ### Fixed - Several critical crashes during login/sign out - Mid-session upgrade now properly generates sentences - Backup state now persists correctly for free users - Fixed Kana game overflow - adapts to screen size - Weird card resize on flip in vocab training mode - Review interval dates flickering during card flip - Fixed splash screen animations retriggering during auth flow - Clarified backup status message for free users - Fixed Upgrade button overflow on narrow screens - Fixed a layout issue causing vocab card content to shift - Fixed "Your Progress" missing fade-in animation on home - Optimized session UI to prevent unnecessary repaints - Eliminated black flash when flipping vocab cards ## [1.5.1] ### Added - Colors! Kana study now has vibrant color-coded characters for enhanced visual learning and memorization ### Changed - Updated Kana game formatting and tutorial - Session days now reset at 4:00 AM, not midnight ### 1.5.0 — 2025-11-03 ## [1.5.0] ### Added - Automated backups for Pro & Expert users which includes: - Manual backups and restores, plus undo feature - Configurable auto-backup times - You can now move to a new device and restore content - Integrated images into flashcards for Expert users, with configurable options, such as: - Choose to show images on front, back, or both - Choose to blur images on Japanese side to prevent cheating - Show images as a BG to your Kanji drawing to reinforce learning - Access these features by going to settings and enabling the image pack - Color customization of study card theme ### Changed - Vocab cards now have drop shadows for enhanced readability - Text is now centered on vocab card container - Changed sentence container color scheme slightly - Changed session complete UI to show actually useful statistics ### Fixed - Issues with display zoom and kana game on some devices - End session statistics showing weird numbers, too long - Night owl pop up works properly now - Progress bar renders properly now ### 1.4.2 — 2025-10-30 ## [1.4.2] Hotfix ### Fixed - Issue with some Kanji and Furigana not rendering properly - Issue with midnight handler padding on certain devices - Issue with midnight reset messing up session ### 1.4.1 — 2025-10-29 ## [1.4.1] ### Added - **Historical Progress Page**: New stats dashboard with calendar heatmap - Heatmap shows daily activity, switch between reviews/accuracy/new cards - Four tabs: Overview (streak, totals), Performance (answer distribution, hourly patterns), Retention (card states, top difficult/stable cards), Forecast (30-day workload) - Tap days for detailed breakdown, filter by Day/Week/Month/Year - Access from home page below JLPT progress - **Auto Write Practice**: New setting in Writing section that automatically launches writing practice when you hit "Again" on a card, reinforcing muscle memory for challenging vocabulary - **Instant Return**: When Auto Write Practice is enabled, you can toggle "Instant Return" to instantly return to study after completing writing (enabled by default). When disabled, it respects the auto-return delay setting for a more relaxed practice flow ### Changed - Rearranged settings order slightly - Writing practice now includes a prominent restart button on the completion screen to quickly practice characters multiple times without returning to study - Swipe gestures for writing practice now intelligently show or hide hints (kana/English) based on which side of the flashcard you're viewing - All IPA phonemes are now done JIT and no longer stored in DB - Home menu now has collapsible elements to clean it up ### Fixed - Sped up loading to be more parallized - Fixed issue on some devices where tutorial pop up wasn't centered - Issue with furigana not centering sometimes - Word pronunciation weird ## [1.4.0] ### Added - Offline mode has been added, once onboarding is complete, you should be able to continue using the app even if you have no internet - Offline mode for new words will now include generic sentences that roughly match your knowledge, but not perfectly. - When switching from offline to online mode, it will replace the generic sentences with personalized ones in the background - Kanji completion delay is now fully configurable in Settings > Writing ### Changed - Phoeneme generation for text to speech now uses custom algorithm instead of AI, this should produce more accurate results overall - A note, this app update clears the TTS cache to regenerate audio correctly, so you may notice slower load times on first boot - TTS cache has been increased to 1000, which should be fine now given we use a smaller file format for the audio - The loading screen now has been shortened significantly, you can begin studying after 3 sentences have been received/rendered, and the rest will be received in the background ### Fixed - Home page statistics now update immediately when studying cards instead of requiring an app restart - Hitch on startup caused new ML tools trying to detect available providers synchronously - Lazy loading for TTS on card flip now works properly, so there is less of a delay if you flip quickly - TTS lazy loading now includes intelligent retry mechanism (up to 10 attempts) for first card to handle rendering delays - Render queue no longer pauses during audio playback for better performance and smoother experience --- *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 2026-06-11.*