# SimplyKatakana Read Japanese — Kana Flashcards & Loanwords > Learn Japanese katakana using active recall and spaced repetition. (iPhone/iPad app by Christian Brodin.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplykatakana-read-japanese/id6760268482 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Christian Brodin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1854237574) - Category: Education - Price: Free - Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 1 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-03-12 - Data updated: 2026-08-23 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplykatakana-read-japanese/id6760268482/reviews.md ## What is SimplyKatakana Read Japanese? Learn katakana -- the script that unlocks every foreign word in Japanese. SimplyKatakana covers all 46 katakana characters, each paired with a real loanword example -- words you may already know Five minutes a day is enough. No accounts. No login. Tap Start and study. --- WHY KATAKANA MATTERS Katakana is used for foreign words, loanwords, brand names, and emphasis in Japanese. If you travel to Japan, katakana is everywhere -- menus, signs, product labels. Ice cream. Coffee. Camera. Robot. Television. You already know the words. You just need the script. And it's only 46 characters. Most people learn them all in under two weeks. The common problem isn't learning the characters. It's telling the similar ones apart -- and keeping them all straight overnight. Katakana has several pairs that look almost identical: ソ and ン, シ and ツ, ワ and ウ. You study for an hour, feel confident, and the next morning the confusable pairs blur together again. That's usually not a memory problem. Passive study methods -- re-reading a chart, copying characters, staring at a table -- create short-term recognition without durable recall. The format is the issue, not the effort. SimplyKatakana fixes this by changing how you study, not how much. --- THE SCIENCE Most study apps show you a character and ask you to re-read it. Re-reading feels productive, but it creates shallow memory -- you recognize the answer while it's in front of you and forget it an hour later. SimplyKatakana works differently in two ways. First, every card is a retrieval attempt. You see a prompt and pull the answer from memory before revealing it. That act of retrieving -- even when you get it wrong -- builds stronger, longer-lasting memory than passive review. Researchers have been demonstrating this since 1967. It's called the testing effect, and it's one of the most consistent findings in learning science. Second, the app tracks which characters give you trouble and brings them back at calculated intervals. Characters you know well fade into the background. Characters you keep forgetting -- including the confusable pairs like ソ/ン and シ/ツ -- come back sooner. Your practice time goes where it matters instead of cycling through things you already know. --- HOW IT WORKS 1. Open. Tap Start. 2. Choose your character group, or let the app decide what you need most. 3. Recall. Tap to reveal. Rate how well you knew it. --- WHAT'S INSIDE - All 46 katakana characters and their readings - Real loanword examples for every character -- words you already know in English - Active recall on every card -- you retrieve, not re-read - Spaced repetition that adapts to your memory - Six study modes: Sequential, Random, Group, Weak Points, Review, Learning - Mnemonic hints for every character - Daily goals and streaks - Works offline -- no internet required - No tracking. No data collection. Your progress stays on your device. --- THE 10 CHARACTER GROUPS Vowels: a, i, u, e, o K-row: ka, ki, ku, ke, ko S-row: sa, shi, su, se, so T-row: ta, chi, tsu, te, to N-row: na, ni, nu, ne, no H-row: ha, hi, fu, he, ho M-row: ma, mi, mu, me, mo Y-row: ya, yu, yo R-row: ra, ri, ru, re, ro W-row: wa, wo, n --- WHY I BUILT THIS Years ago, I was living in Japan and commuting by train. I found a flashcard app -- nothing fancy, just characters organized by level -- and started reviewing on the ride to work. Five minutes out, five minutes back. Then the app disappeared from the App Store. The replacements I tried were either buried in features I didn't need or missing the simplicity that made the original work. So I built SimplyKanji -- the app I wished still existed. SimplyHiragana and SimplyKatakana came next -- because katakana was the script that first made Japan feel readable to me, and most beginners need both kana before they're ready for kanji. Now on iPhone and iPad.. --- Five minutes a day. Start reading Japanese today. ## Key features - Learn all 46 katakana characters - Real loanword examples - Active recall study method - Adaptive spaced repetition - Six study modes - Mnemonic hints - Works offline ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplykatakana-read-japanese/id6760268482/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Fun to learn *2026-03-16* This simplyKatana app and the simplyHiragana app have our younger students completely hooked. They’re simple and fun, which makes learning really engaging. Also The Simply Kanji app is a lifesaver for students aiming for all level of the JLPT. **Developer response:** We are thrilled that the apps are making a positive impact on your students’ learning. ## Frequently asked questions about SimplyKatakana Read Japanese ### How does SimplyKatakana help me learn katakana? SimplyKatakana uses active recall, where you retrieve answers from memory, and spaced repetition, which reintroduces characters at calculated intervals based on your performance. This method is scientifically proven to build stronger, longer-lasting memory than passive review. ### What is the learning methodology behind SimplyKatakana? The app employs the 'testing effect,' a learning science principle demonstrating that retrieval attempts build stronger memory. It also uses adaptive spaced repetition to focus practice on characters you find difficult, including confusable pairs. ### Does SimplyKatakana offer progress tracking? Yes, SimplyKatakana tracks which characters give you trouble and brings them back at calculated intervals. Your progress stays on your device, as there is no tracking or data collection. ### Can I use SimplyKatakana offline? Yes, SimplyKatakana works offline, meaning no internet connection is required to study. This makes it convenient for learning on the go. ### What are the different study modes in SimplyKatakana? SimplyKatakana offers six study modes: Sequential, Random, Group, Weak Points, Review, and Learning. This variety allows users to tailor their study experience to their needs. ### Is SimplyKatakana suitable for beginners? Absolutely. SimplyKatakana covers all 46 katakana characters with real loanword examples, making it easy for beginners to start. The app is designed for quick, daily study sessions. ### Does SimplyKatakana have ads? No, SimplyKatakana does not contain advertisements. The app is completely free and ad-free, allowing for an uninterrupted learning experience. ### What devices is SimplyKatakana available on? SimplyKatakana is available on iPhone and iPad devices, supporting the iOS platform. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 6.8 — 2026-08-21 Improvements to ratings and feedback, plus small fixes. ### 6.7 — 2026-05-21 Small polish under the hood — the review prompt is smoother, the reset flow is cleaner, and a few rough edges are gone. Keep studying! ### 6.6 — 2026-05-14 iPad improvements: Study cards and swipe indicators are now larger and easier to read on iPad. ### 6.5 — 2026-05-03 Smoother flashcard swiping with softer visual feedback. Updated onboarding. Improved review prompt — now you can share feedback without leaving the app. Fixed version number display in Settings. ### 5.5 — 2026-04-05 Now with full iPad support. SimplyKatakana runs natively on iPad with a layout designed for the larger screen. Learn all 46 katakana characters with spaced repetition — on iPhone or iPad. ## More apps by Christian Brodin - [SimplyKanji Read Japanese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplykanji-read-japanese/id6755498208) - [SimplyHiragana Learn Japanese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplyhiragana-learn-japanese/id6759581789) All apps by Christian Brodin: https://appshunter.io/developer/1854237574 --- *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 2026-08-23.*