FirstKaruta vs 百人一首 読み上げ!
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
百人一首 読み上げ!
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百人一首の読み上げアプリです。 競技やトレーニングに、ご利用ください。 音声( VOICEVOX: ずんだもん )
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: 百人一首 読み上げ! at Free against FirstKaruta's $3.99. 百人一首 読み上げ! also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). FirstKaruta's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 14 months). On 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
百人一首 読み上げ! is free to download; FirstKaruta costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FirstKaruta ships an update fortnightly, 百人一首 読み上げ! every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FirstKaruta | 百人一首 読み上げ! |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 14 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 149 MB | 114 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | polygondrill co.,Ltd. | Ohmori Takeru |
In-app purchases
FirstKaruta
No in-app purchases
百人一首 読み上げ!
No in-app purchases









