Start learning, not navigating
Open the app. Tap Start. You're studying. No setup screens, no tutorials, no figuring out where things are.
SimplyKanji
SimplyKanji. Read Japanese.
Years ago in Japan, I found an app that changed everything. Simple flashcards. Just kanji. Fast. Efficient. On train rides and coffee breaks, I went from struggling to read to fully proficient. Then it disappeared—never updated, gone from the App Store forever. I searched everywhere. Everything was too complicated, too many features I didn't need. I just wanted to review kanji quickly. So I built SimplyKanji. The app I wish I'd had when that first one vanished.
This is what that transformation looks like: Imagine reading manga in Japanese. Or ordering from a menu without pointing. Or walking through Tokyo and actually understanding the signs. That's what five minutes a day gets you. Science-backed spaced repetition means kanji stick when they're supposed to—right before you forget them. No classes. No textbooks. Just you, your iPhone, and real progress.
- Choose your JLPT level once—N5 through N1. Every session picks up exactly where you left off.
- Study your way: sequential order, random shuffle, by category, or focus on what's challenging you. The choice is yours.
- Science-backed spaced repetition means kanji stick when they're supposed to. No cramming. Just steady progress.
This is what you see when you open the app. One card. One button. You're already learning.
Experience
Simplicity that gets out of your way.
Most kanji apps overwhelm you with features you'll never use. SimplyKanji does one thing beautifully: helps you read Japanese. Every design decision serves that single purpose.
Your level, remembered
Pick N5 through N1 once. Every day after, you open to exactly where you need to be. No choosing, no searching.
Five minutes that add up
A quick session on the train. Another while waiting for coffee. Before you know it, you're reading signs, menus, books.
Trust
Designed with care.
- Privacy-first. Your streaks and stats live locally on device—no trackers, no accounts.
- Accessible. Built for everyone. VoiceOver, Dynamic Type, and motion preferences work exactly as they should.
- Honest. No marketing speak. No promises we can't keep. Just clear, direct language about what you'll get.
"I finally found an app that respects my time. Five minutes on the train, and I'm actually making progress."
"No menus to navigate. No features I'll never use. Just kanji, when I need them. This is how learning apps should be."
Ready when you are
Start reading Japanese today.
Join the SimplyKanji beta test. Tap the link below on your iPhone to get started. Open the app. Tap Start. In five minutes, you'll have taken the first step toward reading Japanese. Tomorrow, you'll take another.
Start on iOS