# The Hentaigana App

> Interactive app for learning Japanese variant kana (hentaigana) and their kanji origins. (iPhone/iPad app by University of California, Los Angeles.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-hentaigana-app/id1055832912 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [University of California, Los Angeles](https://appshunter.io/developer/498096168)
- Category: Education, Games
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.20/5 from 11 App Store ratings · 6 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 106 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-11-16
- Data updated: 2026-06-01
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-hentaigana-app/id1055832912/reviews.md

## What is The Hentaigana App?

A gorgeous, user-friendly introduction to Japanese “variant kana” calligraphy.

Today, each syllable in Japanese is represented by a single hiragana. But this wasn't always the case: for more than a millennium, individual syllables were written using a variety of hiragana, each based on the cursive form of a different kanji. In modern times, these traditional kana came to be known as hentaigana, or "variant kana.” The kanji from which hentaigana were derived are called jibo, "parent characters."

Teaching yourself to read hentaigana has always had a reputation for being tedious and difficult, because it involved a lot of poring over charts and dictionaries. But the truth is that with the right app to help you out, it isn’t difficult at all—far from being tedious, it's addictive. All you have to do is learn to recognize which kanji each kana is based on, and how that kanji is read. This app will help you do that.

Basically, it’s a sort of Matrix-style riff on a stack of flashcards. The app presents you with a kana. If you nudge it a bit with your finger, it will flip over and turn into the kanji from which the kana was derived. You will also see the modern kana that tells you how to read the kanji. You can throw a kana out of the stack or toss it back in so it will keep appearing. Then, once you have learned it, you throw it out, too.

The app has a function that lets you track your progress and select particular sets of syllables to practice, and an interactive dictionary that shows all the hentaigana and jibo the app contains. You can choose how many kana to display, and how often to have the readings appear. We have even included a tab where you can read about the precious manuscripts, all housed in the special collections of Waseda University Library, from which the kana were taken. And soon we will be switching on a bonus feature that lets you practice reading a string of syllables forming words and phrases, rather than just individual kana.

Developed as a collaboration between UCLA and Waseda University as a project of the Tadashi Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities, this pioneering app—the first of its kind!—is expected to be the first in a series of similar apps, so keep an eye out for future releases!

In the meantime, have fun with this one!

## Key features

- Interactive flashcard-style learning
- Reveal kanji origins of variant kana
- Progress tracking
- Interactive dictionary
- Selectable practice sets
- Manuscript information

## Recent user reviews (6 of 6)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-hentaigana-app/id1055832912/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Functionality

*2020-06-30, version 1.0.19*

Does the app still work?

### 3/5 — Only one of its kind but could use some work

*2016-01-30, version 1.0.3*

This app was so hyped up in certain circles when it came out that I think a lot of people imagined more. It clearly involved a lot of work, so I think it will remain foundational for the field, which will hopefully continue to release apps and other 21st century learning assistants. 

That aside, though, as a flashcard app, it's kind of... disappointing? The card flipping and sliding method is frankly annoying and finicky. It's cool to use touch screen functions, I guess, but it means it's never visually clear how to operate the flashcards outside of the tutorial. I'd rather have something like the usual flashcard app interface where it's just tapping to flip and then tapping how right I was. 

I'm also unclear on how this app works in terms of showing the cards? Is it SRS or just following what we say when we swipe to the left (or is it to the right? Are the cards I've finished Tinder guys I like or Tinder guys I don't?) There's no data on how "learned" a character is unlike most Japanese flashcard apps and I'm not quite sure what is being "reset" when you reset the app in the settings. 

It also doesn't allow customization of card sets to the degree I would like, like certain jibo rather than the full set for one syllable. 

I think there were serious efforts to make the app look good that are great but some parts were misfires. The opening screen needed a graphic designer and the background "papers" are pretty but a little distracting.

### 5/5 — Fantastic tool for students of Classical Japanese

*2015-12-18, version 1.0.3*

This app essentially serves as a set of "smart" flash cards for cursive hentaigana characters, the various kanji characters used as kana, or phonetic characters. In a way this teaches a very obscure skill, since many students read classical texts in printed versions. But reading hentaigana is essential for anyone who wants to read original sources. The app is also beautiful, with the characters appearing on decorative paper grounds of the type that the original texts would have been written upon. Many thanks to all the creators of this wonderful tool!

### 5/5 — Brilliant

*2015-12-17, version 1.0.3*

Fantastic app designed by scholars for reading the cursive Japanese letters as seen on beautiful Japanese artworks. Simple, well-designed, and fun. After a few hours of this I feel I can already recognise half the alphabet.

### 5/5 — Great app! Useful and stylish too

*2015-12-02, version 1.0.3*

Highly recommend

### 5/5 — Review

*2015-11-17, version 1.0*

So excited the English version is finally here!

## Frequently asked questions about The Hentaigana App

### What is Hentaigana?

Hentaigana refers to traditional Japanese kana, which were historically written using various hiragana based on the cursive forms of different kanji. This app provides a user-friendly way to learn these variant kana and their origins.

### How does Hentaigana App teach variant kana?

The app uses a flashcard-style interface where you can interact with kana to reveal the kanji from which they are derived, along with the modern kana for pronunciation. You can manage which kana appear in your practice sessions.

### Can I track my learning progress with Hentaigana App?

Yes, the app includes a function to track your progress. You can also select specific sets of syllables to practice, helping you focus on areas you find more challenging.

### Does Hentaigana App have ads?

No, Hentaigana App is ad-free, allowing for an uninterrupted learning experience.

### What devices is Hentaigana App available on?

Hentaigana App is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod, making it accessible on various Apple devices.

### Is Hentaigana App suitable for beginners in Japanese?

While the app focuses on variant kana, its interactive nature and clear explanations can be beneficial for those with some foundational knowledge of Japanese or a strong interest in its historical writing systems.

### When was Hentaigana App last updated?

The latest version of Hentaigana App was released on July 22, 2020. The app was initially released on November 16, 2015.

### What is the age rating for Hentaigana App?

Hentaigana App has an age rating of 4+, indicating it is suitable for users of all ages.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.0.26 — 2020-07-22

Bug fixes and updates.

### 1.0.19 — 2018-06-17

* New "Tsudzukigaki Mode" for practicing contextualized hentaigana. 
* Enabled offline use for airplanes off-grid environments. 
* Quicker loading of assets.
* Smoother transitions.

### 1.0.3 — 2015-11-25

Addresses issue with splash image

### 1.0 — 2015-11-16

No release notes.

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## Related topics

[the hentaigana app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-hentaigana-app)

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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 2026-06-01.*