Kanji
668
Across JLPT N5, N4 and N3, taught the same handwriting-first way as the kana.
RoboKana
Learn Japanese Writing
Learn to write Japanese by hand.
RoboKana helps you build real confidence in Japanese writing: hiragana, katakana and kanji, all through handwriting. You see the stroke order, write the character yourself, and a friendly robot checks your work. Readings, meanings and example words are built in.
What learners say
Loved by people learning to write Japanese.
I have been almost failing my Japanese class and now I have an A! Best app ever for learning Japanese, very beginner friendly.
The detection is incredibly accurate without being too stingy. You can make quick and ugly strokes and it will still register as correct.
I'm an N5 learner and I successfully covered the N5 kanji list with this app. I love how it's still being updated regularly.
See it in action
Watch a character come together, stroke by stroke.
Words
2,200+
Compound words with readings and native audio to put characters in context.
Kana
All
Hiragana and katakana, including the dakuten and handakuten sets.
Handwriting-first practice
Write each character with your finger or Apple Pencil and a natural brush feel. The robot checks your strokes, order and direction.
Learn in small steps
New information arrives gradually: the character and its reading, then stroke order, then writing and example words.
Native-recorded audio
Readings and words are voiced by a native Japanese speaker to support accurate pronunciation.
Under the hood
What makes RoboKana different
The robot checks how you write
Stroke order and direction matter in Japanese, so RoboKana looks at how you write, not just the final shape. Quick, loose strokes still count, but the order and direction you use are what it rewards, building the right habits as you go.
Both forms of every kana
Some kana look different in print than by hand, such as hiragana ki, sa, ne, fu, ri, re, and wa. RoboKana lets you practice both the handwritten form and the typographic (printed) form, so the characters you write match the ones you read.
Kana, kanji and words together
Hiragana and katakana with dakuten and handakuten, 668 kanji across JLPT N5–N3, and 2,200+ words with readings, in one app for the whole early journey.
More than writing
RoboKana is writing-first, but it doesn't stop there. Reading and matching tasks reinforce what you've learned, so recognition keeps pace with your hand.
Study what you want
Build your own sets, choose which question types to include, and decide how much to practice. Drill a single tricky character or run a long review.
How RoboKana helps
- Teaches stroke order and direction through guided handwriting
- Covers hiragana, katakana (with dakuten and handakuten), and kanji
- Reinforces readings, meanings, and compound words
- Adds reading and matching tasks alongside writing
- Lets you build custom sets and learn at your own pace
Built for focused practice
RoboKana is made for learners who want a calm, structured way to practice writing. It supports iPhone and iPad, syncs progress with iCloud, and keeps the experience simple. It comes from the same studio as HanziDragon, our Chinese character app, and shares the same handwriting engine.
RoboKana is actively developed, with regular updates. We're currently working on JLPT N2 kanji for more advanced learners.