HajimeNow vs Nihongo Master Kana Coach

HajimeNow is a focused, distraction-free Japanese study app designed around the JLPT curriculum — from your very first hiragana stroke to advanced N1 kanji. WHAT YOU'LL STUDY • Hiragana & Katakana — learn every kana with mnemonics, stroke order, and audio pronunciation • Kanji — N5 through N1 characters with meanings, readings, stroke order animations, and spaced repetition • Vocabulary — thousands of JLPT-graded words with example sentences and native audio • Grammar — structured grammar points for every JLPT level with clear explanations and examples • Reading — graded reading passages with comprehension questions • Listening & Dictation — train your ear with native Japanese text-to-speech • Writing Practice — trace and free-draw characters on a canvas with adjustable brush thickness and ink color; supports Apple Pencil HOW IT WORKS HajimeNow uses a built-in spaced repetition system (SRS) that surfaces the cards you need to review most — so your study time is always efficient. Your streak and progress are tracked automatically, and your data syncs seamlessly across all your Apple devices via iCloud. TRACK YOUR JLPT JOURNEY Choose your target JLPT level (N5–N1) and the app counts down to the next exam date. Every module shows your completion percentage so you always know where you stand. BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED Inspired by Japanese washi paper and traditional ink aesthetics. Supports dark mode, adjustable font size, furigana toggle, and TTS audio speed control. Designed for portrait use — clean, focused, and easy to navigate one-handed. NO SUBSCRIPTIONS. NO ACCOUNTS. Everything is included. No paywalls, no sign-in required. Your progress is yours.

Hiragana and katakana are the front door to Japanese - and Kana Coach gets you through it. Professor Toshiro teaches every character the way Japanese schoolchildren learn them: row by row, stroke by stroke, with your eyes, ears, hand, and voice all doing the work. LEARN, ROW BY ROW Each lesson introduces five kana that share a sound. Hear native-quality audio, watch each character draw itself in real stroke order, then trace it yourself with instant feedback. Pass the row quiz and the next row unlocks. REVIEWS THAT REMEMBER FOR YOU A spaced-repetition system brings each kana back at just the right moment - reading, writing, and listening. A few minutes a day keeps everything sharp, and gentle reminders (optional) tell you when reviews are ready. SAY REAL WORDS OUT LOUD Every row you master unlocks real Japanese words you can now read - あき (autumn), くるま (car). Hear them spoken by two native-quality voices, then say them aloud: on-device speech recognition checks your pronunciation and awards stars. Your Word Book grows with you. DRILL THE TRICKY PAIRS シ/ツ, ソ/ン, ね/れ/わ - the lookalikes every learner mixes up get their own targeted drills. PRACTICE ON PAPER Printable practice sheets for every kana - print or share straight from the app and practice handwriting the traditional way. WORKS COMPLETELY OFFLINE Lessons, audio, reviews, sheets: everything is on your device. Study on the train, on a plane, anywhere. FREE TO LEARN The full curriculum is free, supported by unobtrusive ads - never during writing or speaking practice. One small purchase removes ads forever. Kana Coach is made by Nihongo Master, the Japanese learning platform. When you've mastered kana, your journey continues with full lessons, grammar, kanji, and a community of learners at nihongomaster.com.