Hey there! (•u•) Interested in learning Japanese but don't know where to start? You've come to the right place! MARU Japanese Kana, loved by over a million learners worldwide with an average rating of 4.9 (thank you so much!), is just what you need. As a lifelong learner of Japanese myself, I created this app to make Japanese alphabets less intimidating and more enjoyable. It's a simple app that focuses on one thing but does it very well: helping you start learning Japanese. I wish MARU had been around when I started learning Japanese. Lucky you!

Stop learning with those robotic voices and non-native pronunciations. That will impede your learning effectiveness. Dive in and experience authentic Japanese through exercises voiced by a professional voice actress. With 14 different practice varieties, learning Hiragana and Katakana becomes a breeze. Reading, writing, listening, typing, and even building your vocabulary – it's all here, making it the perfect start to your Japanese journey!

What's the catch? You’ll see an ad after every five mistakes. Since MARU's launch in 2017, it’s been downloaded over a million times, yet ad revenue has been modest. But that’s okay! My goal is to spread the joy of learning Japanese.

To fulfill that goal, I try to provide tremendous value for everyone and keep as little as possible behind the Pro Version.

Here’s what you’ll find in the default Free Version:

• All 105 Hiragana and Katakana characters, not just the basic ones.
• A short ad after 5 mistakes. No mistakes = No ads.
• Over 300 everyday words for practice, like "hello" and "thank you."
• Clear voice recordings for all words and characters.
• MARU-kun, our adorable mascot, greets and motivates you each time you practice.
• Date and Time that changes every minute to teach you Japanese words for numbers and calendar.
• A smart feature that identifies your weak spots and helps you improve.
• A fun way to practice Katakana using familiar Hiragana words.

My app is completely free with minimal ads, but if you choose to upgrade to the Pro Version (one-time purchase), you’ll enjoy:

• An ad-free experience.
• Offline practice, anytime, anywhere.
• Writing and typing exercises.
• Timed challenges to test yourself.
• Access to more words for time, date, and Katakana.

Don't just take my word for it. Here’s one of my favorite re