# Tobira: Survival Japanese — Start Learning Japanese Today > Interactive Japanese language learning app based on university textbook series. (iPhone/iPad app by Shinichiro Iwamoto.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tobira-survival-japanese/id1521280797 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Shinichiro Iwamoto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1521280799) - Category: Education, Entertainment - Price: Free - Rating: 4.85/5 from 13 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 11.0 · 73 MB - Languages: English - Released: 2020-07-27 - Data updated: 2026-06-04 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tobira-survival-japanese/id1521280797/reviews.md ## What is Tobira? Based on the Tobira textbook series developed by instructors at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, this application is made for people who are planning to study at a university or other institution in Japan, but can help anyone looking to start studying Japanese.   Covering essential Japanese skills necessary for daily life, this app also provides students and others with useful information about living in Japan. ►Learn the basics of reading, writing, and listening through interactive exercises and native recordings. ►Practice words and phrases useful in a variety of everyday situations as Tobira's voice analysis feature helps you polish your pronunciation.   Whether you are studying on your own or are preparing for life at Ritsumeikan APU in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, Tobira is one of the best ways to start your journey in studying Japanese. ## Key features - Interactive reading, writing, and listening exercises - Native speaker audio recordings - Everyday vocabulary and phrases - Voice analysis for pronunciation practice - Information on living in Japan ## Recent user reviews (2 of 2) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tobira-survival-japanese/id1521280797/reviews.md ### 5/5 — On point! *2021-12-25* I’ve been using Drops and Clozemaster for about a month to learn Japanese. There’s a huge gap between the vocabulary building on Drops and the full fill-in-the-blank questions on Cloze. TOBIRA fills that gap with explanations of simple sentence grammar and how to use different expressions in conversation that’s useful. I’m impressed with the clarity of the various voices used for the audio and listening. Compared to other apps, it’s like hearing the word/phrase in HD. Very clear and easy to understand. Also, different people are used for the audio so you get to hear it from several different mouths which is handy for hearing different inflections. I’m honestly surprised this app is free! It’s that quality. Some suggestions for future versions… - on the quizzes: it would be nice to have the word repeated after answering instead of the ding tone - a gradual move to quizzing in Japanese instead of asking the questions in English. So maybe in a 20 question quiz, the first 5 questions are asked in English, the next 5 have both English and Japanese translations, and the last 10 are asked only in Japanese. Or an option to toggle between these choices. Thank you for making this app! Arigato! ### 5/5 — My Honest opinion *2021-05-29* I LOVE THIS APP!!! It’s easy to use and understand, it simple it helps me. Only thing I wish is that it would make a bigger screen for iPad because I mainly work on my iPad but I have to use my phone for to fit the screen. But it’s AWESOME! ## Frequently asked questions about Tobira ### What is Tobira's learning methodology? Tobira's learning methodology is based on the Tobira textbook series, developed by instructors at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. It focuses on interactive exercises for reading, writing, and listening, incorporating native recordings and practical vocabulary for daily life. ### How does Tobira track my progress? While specific progress tracking features are not detailed, the app offers interactive exercises and voice analysis to help users practice and improve their Japanese skills. Users can gauge their progress through their performance in these exercises. ### Does Tobira offer any certifications? The provided information does not mention any certifications offered by Tobira. The app is designed to build essential Japanese language skills for daily life and academic study in Japan. ### What devices is Tobira available on? Tobira is available on iPhone and iPod devices. It is designed for mobile learning on Apple's iOS platform. ### How often is Tobira updated? The latest version of Tobira was released on May 28, 2021. The app was initially released on July 27, 2020, indicating updates are not extremely frequent but have occurred. ### What do users like about Tobira? Users appreciate Tobira's focus on practical Japanese skills for daily life and study in Japan, as well as its interactive exercises and pronunciation practice features. The app has a high rating of 4.8 stars from 13 ratings. ### Does Tobira have ads? No, Tobira does not contain advertisements. The app is free to use and does not display any ads, providing an uninterrupted learning experience. ### Is Tobira suitable for beginners? Yes, Tobira is designed to help anyone start studying Japanese, covering the basics of reading, writing, and listening. It's particularly useful for those planning to study at a university or institution in Japan. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.0 — 2021-05-28 New content to PART 2! "Dialogues for Different Situations" We have also added other useful content such as "Index (Vocabulary List)" which can be used as a vocabulary book so please enjoy using it! If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know in your review! ### 2.0 — 2021-03-28 We have added Part 2 "Dialogues for Different Situations" Now containing more practical Japanese phrases for different situations! We have also included explanations of key phrases and exercises allowing you to simulate the role of the speaker. Please let us know in the review you have any comments or suggestions! ### 1.2 — 2020-12-22 Minor changes to correct wording, etc. ### 1.01 — 2020-08-28 Together with a few tweaks, we've updated our information to better tell you who we are and what this app does. Let us know what you think with your ratings and reviews! ### 1.0 — 2020-07-27 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Tobira | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Japanese!! 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Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-04.*