Great user experience
The app is super easy to use, and the tabs are clean and understandable. The overall vibe is very calm, and the user experience is fantastic.
Mokichi Okada’s Tanka Poems
I love this app, so easy to find all poems and prayers.
Free
In-App Purchases
About
Experience a serene space for sacred Japanese tanka poetry and prayer. Read and listen to a curated collection with synchronized narration and adjustable text. Enjoy a private, ad-free experience with offline audio and customizable reading settings.
✓84 tanka poems in English and Japanese
✓Four distinct spoken reading options
✓Synchronized word highlighting
✓Offline audio playback
✓Adjustable text size and font
✓Light, Dark, and System appearance modes
✓Search and save poems
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What's New in Tanka Poems
1.0.55
September 7, 2026
Bilingual readings now play all the way through. English-then-Japanese and Portuguese-then-Japanese continue into their Japanese second half instead of stopping partway. Cleaner spoken titles on the Makoto and Seichi poems. The title announced at the start of pages 25, 26 and 37 through 40 was garbled or preceded by a stray sound. Each narrator's affected readings have been corrected. A much smaller download. Narration and full-resolution photography now arrive on request instead of travelling inside the app, bringing the download from about 557 MB to under 100 MB. Narration Downloads. Open Reading Settings > Narration Downloads to keep the voices you use on this device. Downloaded narration then plays with no connection. The Sacred Grounds Gallery now presents its photographs at full resolution, with an optional slideshow you can turn on in Reading Settings.
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Subscriptions & In-App Purchases
$6.99
Tanka Poems — Full Collection
Unlock every poem, photo, and narration.
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FAQ
What content does Tanka Poems offer?
Tanka Poems features 84 tanka poems in English and romanized Japanese, alongside a source-faithful prayer collection. The content is presented with careful typography and serene photography.
Can I listen to the poems and prayers in Tanka Poems?
Yes, Tanka Poems offers four distinct spoken readings for poems and two delivery styles for prayers. The audio is bundled for offline listening and synchronized with word highlighting.
How can I customize my reading experience in Tanka Poems?
You can adjust text size and reading font, choose between Light, Dark, or System appearance modes, and turn pages with graceful book motion. The app also allows you to search the collection and save poems.
Is Tanka Poems free to use?
Tanka Poems offers a free selection of content, including Amatsu Norito, The Lord’s Prayer, and three selected poems. The complete collection can be unlocked with a single, restorable in-app purchase.
Does Tanka Poems have ads?
No, Tanka Poems contains no advertising. It is designed to be a private reading and listening space, with no cross-app tracking or behavioral analytics.
What devices is Tanka Poems available on?
Tanka Poems is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for a portable and personal reading experience.
How often is Tanka Poems updated?
The latest version is 1.0.46, last updated on August 24, 2026. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, this indicates recent activity and ongoing support.
Is my data safe with Tanka Poems?
Yes, Tanka Poems is private by design. No account or sign-in is required, and your reading position, saved poems, and preferences remain on your device.