Blog
Field guides on learning Japanese: when to switch tools, what to look for, and where each app wins.
Anki Alternative for Japanese: When to Switch (and When to Stick With Anki)
Anki is powerful, but setup eats your study time. A field guide to when Anki is right for Japanese, when an alternative helps, and what to look for.
Best Japanese Learning App: How to Choose in 2026
There is no single 'best' Japanese app. There's the best set for your goal. A category-by-category breakdown: vocabulary, kanji, grammar, listening, JLPT.
Best Apps to Learn Japanese Offline: What 'Offline' Actually Means
'Offline' means different things in different apps: offline review, offline lookup, offline AI. A practical breakdown of which Japanese learning apps actually work without internet, and what you trade.
Japanese from Zero: A Realistic Self-Study Plan to Start
Where to start learning Japanese on your own: no fluff, no 'fluency in a month' promises. A realistic sequence from hiragana to N4, tools, and the mistakes almost every beginner makes.
JLPT N5: What It Takes and How to Prepare
What JLPT N5 actually requires: vocabulary and kanji scope, exam structure, passing scores, realistic prep time. A preparation plan and the mistakes that sink the listening section.
Japanese OCR Apps: What They're Good For (and Where They Fall Short)
OCR turns a photo into text, but learning Japanese from that text is a different problem. A practical comparison of general-purpose, manga-specific, and learning-integrated OCR apps.
JLPT 2026: Test Dates, Registration Windows, and the Road to December
JLPT 2026 runs on July 5 and December 6. Registration windows differ by country and most close in September — Korea's is open until September 20. Dates, fees, test-day format, and what to do with the weeks left.
JLPT N5 Kanji List, With a Printable PDF
The N5 kanji table from Origa's dictionary: character, on and kun readings, meaning, common words. Ordered by frequency. Free printable PDF in four languages, plus why some lists say 80 and others 103.
Is Kanji Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Kanji is not hard for the reason most people assume. What actually slows learners down: reading before vocabulary, learning characters outside words, and relying on re-reading instead of spaced review. A realistic first week.
How to Learn Japanese by Yourself: The First 30 Days and the Loop That Follows
Self-study fails without a feedback loop, not without talent. The working cycle — read, capture, review, use — a concrete first-month plan by week, and how to stay on track without a teacher's deadlines.
Hiragana and Katakana: Learning Both Scripts in Two Weeks
A realistic 14-day plan for both Japanese scripts without grinding tables. What works, what doesn't, and why you can't postpone katakana.
Japanese Textbooks for Beginners: Minna no Nihongo, Genki, and the Alternatives
Minna no Nihongo vs Genki vs Tae Kim vs Irodori: each has its own trade-off. Compared by intermediary language, structure, and price.
How Many Kanji Do You Actually Need: Honest Numbers
The 2,136 jōyō kanji are not your goal. Real thresholds per task: manga with furigana, web articles, newspapers. Why 'knowing kanji' is the wrong question and how to measure progress.
Learning Japanese Through Anime: What Works and What's a Myth
Anime gives you real listening practice and motivation, but character speech isn't everyday speech. An active-watching workflow, subtitle choices, and the SRS connection.
How to Learn Japanese from Manga (Without Giving Up on Page Three)
Reading manga in Japanese is motivating. Learning from it is a different skill. A field guide to a workflow that actually builds vocabulary: tools, friction, and what to skip.
Japanese AI Tutors: What They're Good At (and What They're Not)
AI tutors are good at explaining grammar and correcting sentences. They don't schedule your reviews or help you remember. A practical breakdown of where AI fits in Japanese learning.