FirstKaruta vs はじめての百人一首
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FirstKaruta
This app helps children memorize the Hyakunin Isshu by breaking down the 100 poems into smaller groups. It offers various menus, including practice modes, a cat character opponent, and a quick memorization tool, all with furigana and child-friendly explanations.
- Memorize poems in small groups
- Furigana for all text
- Child-friendly explanations of poem meanings
- Audio readings by a professional voice actor
- Practice modes and opponent battles
- Quick memorization tool for fixed phrases
- Includes 101 poems, including competitive karuta intro songs
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Begin your child's first steps into Hyakunin Isshu with Chamame the cat. This Japanese karuta learning app helps children from age 3 enjoy and memorize all 100 classic poems, gently and at their own pace. Every screen includes furigana, with clear narration by a trained vocalist. "100 poems is far too many." "The old words make no sense." These are the two walls that trip children up, and Hajimete Karuta was built to break down both. ◆ Learn alongside Chamame the cat With a charming companion by their side, children keep going. Winning and losing at karuta makes them naturally want to learn more. ◆ 100 poems, a little at a time The full set is split into small groups and practiced in a steady cycle — letters, meaning, sound, key syllables (kimariji), and a final challenge — so it sinks in without feeling overwhelming. ◆ Furigana on everything, so even young children can play alone From the reading cards to the poem explanations, every screen includes furigana. Any child who can read hiragana can focus and play on their own. ◆ When the meaning clicks, the poems stop being a mystery Even the love and quiet sadness in the poems are retold in short, gentle words, so each one feels close and familiar. ◆ Easy-to-hear narration by a real voice Recorded by a trained vocalist with the warm, gentle tone of a mother — clear, correctly pronounced Japanese. ◆ Learn the key syllables naturally The kimariji, the opening syllables that decide a card, make all the difference in karuta. Children pick them up through play. ◆ More to explore, a full set of modes - Kimariji speed memorization: sort the cards you know from the ones you don't, and repeat just the tricky ones - Recitation: 101 poems recorded, including the joka opening verse used in competitive karuta, so you can play real karuta with your own cards - Card sweep: check the key syllables from the second half of each poem, great for competitive karuta practice A great first step toward competitive karuta, too. For ages 3 to adult — your child's Hyakunin Isshu debut, right at home. - Recommended age: 3 and up - Save data: up to 3 players per device (great for siblings) - Universal app for iPhone and iPad
はじめての百人一首
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「はじめての百人一首」は、お子さまや、はじめて百人一首に触れる方に向けた、百人一首の入門アプリです。 楽しいかるたとりのゲームや、読み上げを聞くことで、効果的に百人一首を学ぶことができます。 「小倉百人一首」は、鎌倉時代に歌人の藤原定家によって撰ばれ、江戸時代から「かるた」として伝わる日本の伝統的な遊びです。 小学4年生の国語の教科書にも採用され、その後の中学・高校での「古典」の授業にも繋がる大切な教材です。 「小倉百人一首」から最初に覚えておきたい有名な歌や季節の歌30首を、歌人・天野慶が厳選しました。 57577の美しい言葉のリズムや、1000年前の人たちの思いを感じながら、家族・友人みんなで楽しく遊んでください。 従来の「百人一首」とはちがい、読札、取札ともにかわいいオリジナルのイラストを入れています。字が読めなくても、同じ人物を探す、という単純な絵あわせからはじめられます。 イラストは歌の内容を表しているので、より一層歌の理解を深めることができます。 わかりやすい解説や、歌の訳もあります。 かるた「はじめての百人一首」にも使える30首の読み上げは、百人一首の暗唱にも役立ちます。 また、かるたとりのゲームを通して、百人一首の歌を楽しく覚えることができます。 歌のフレーズを選ぶゲームでは、正しい歌はもちろん、オリジナルの歌を作って遊ぶこともできます。 札の文字は全てひらがな、現代仮名遣いでの表記なので、小さなお子さまでも分かりやすくなっています。
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: はじめての百人一首 at Free against FirstKaruta's $5.99. はじめての百人一首 also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
はじめての百人一首 is free to download; FirstKaruta costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FirstKaruta ships an update fortnightly, はじめての百人一首 monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FirstKaruta | はじめての百人一首 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | Free — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 149 MB | 169 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | polygondrill co.,Ltd. | Happymeal Inc. |
In-app purchases
FirstKaruta
No in-app purchases
はじめての百人一首
No in-app purchases









