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Learn to Read and Write Japanese Kana: Hiragana and Katakana
323 students
Learn to Read and Write Japanese Kana: Hiragana and Katakana
A gentle, beginner‑friendly course with clear English explanations and simple practice
Created byTomoko Yamashita
Last updated 5/2026
English
What you'll learn
- Read and write the 46 basic Hiragana characters
- Read and write the 46 basic Katakana characters
- Understand voiced sounds (が, ぱ, etc.) and small kana (ゃ, ゅ, ょ)
- Learn long vowels and the small っ used in double consonants
- Practice using romaji support to help you get started
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Course content
12 sections • 28 lectures • 1h 21m total length
Requirements
- An internet connection
- No prior knowledge of Japanese is needed
- You just need motivation and an interest in Japanese language
- （Optional) A notebook or printout of the PDF to practice writing
Description
This course is designed for complete beginners who want to learn Japanese Hiragana and Katakana in a gentle and simple way.
You will learn all 46 Hiragana characters and all 46 Katakana characters step by step.
Each stroke order is shown clearly using a pointer animation, so you can see exactly how each character is written.
While the pointer traces the strokes, you will hear the natural pronunciation such as “a, a, a” or “sa, sa, sa,” which helps you connect writing and reading at the same time.
The Hiragana section is divided into three short videos, and each section is followed by a practice video.
In the practice videos, you will review the characters you have learned by reading simple combinations such as “ai,” “ue,” and other short words.
After that, you will move on to the “It’s your turn to practice” section, where you can repeat after the audio at your own pace.
The Katakana section follows the same gentle structure.
The course also includes extra lessons on long vowels, combined sounds, and the small つ.
Each extra lesson comes with its own practice video, so you can build confidence step by step.
PDF practice sheets are included, such as Hiragana writing sheets and Hiragana practice notebooks, so you can continue practicing offline.
This course can also be used by Japanese language teachers as a classroom resource.
Students can watch the videos and practice the characters on their own, while teachers focus on checking progress or giving short tests.
(Each learner needs their own course access.)
This course is perfect for anyone who wants to start reading and writing Japanese from zero in a relaxed and beginner‑friendly way.
Let’s begin your first steps in Japanese together.
Who this course is for:
- Absolute beginners who are starting to learn Japanese
- Students preparing for JLPT N5 or beginner classes
- Teachers who need Japanese alphabet materials for their students