Hey everyone! With Vocaloid being quite the drive for people to learn Japanese, as well as other things such as anime, I thought I'd make this thread (partly as there was also one back on VO). It can be hard to find Japanese resources on your own if you aren't serious about looking, so I will provide the ones I use and anyone can add on what they use and I'll add it to this post. I'll update this post as I find more resources or as they are suggested.
Join the Japanese Study Group!
Our Discord server for learning Japanese is a friendly server where you can interact and practice with other learners from the community. From general chatting, Japanese only, practice games like shiritori, and kanji/word of the day!
List of Japanese Resources Online
This is a great master list of some resources you can find to learn Japanese, with a few of them being a part of this list as well. Great list to go through.
Once again, if you have any more suggestions, please let me know! I will update this with more resources and even add categories as I find them and have time, this is just a simple start. If you have a suggestion for a category, feel free to suggest that too!
Join the Japanese Study Group!
Our Discord server for learning Japanese is a friendly server where you can interact and practice with other learners from the community. From general chatting, Japanese only, practice games like shiritori, and kanji/word of the day!
List of Japanese Resources Online
This is a great master list of some resources you can find to learn Japanese, with a few of them being a part of this list as well. Great list to go through.
Free:
Hiragana - Learn Japanese
Katakana - Learn Japanese
Android apps for learning kana, plays sound to help connect sound/pronunciation with characters
Paid:
Hiragana Pixel Party
Steam page Nintendo Switch
A game that teaches Hiragana and Katakana by essentially a rhythm game. Very affordable and very fun.
Hiragana - Learn Japanese
Katakana - Learn Japanese
Android apps for learning kana, plays sound to help connect sound/pronunciation with characters
Paid:
Hiragana Pixel Party
Steam page Nintendo Switch
A game that teaches Hiragana and Katakana by essentially a rhythm game. Very affordable and very fun.
Free:
Kanji Tree
Androiid app with quiz format and also includes a dictionary
Kanji Alive
Website that helps read and write Kanji for all levels
Paid:
Wanikani
An SRS for learning Kanji, The first few stages are free to do. Also teaches radicals.
Kanji Study
A mobile SRS for learning Kanji, separated by JLPT. N5 is free. More features available on Android
Kanji Tree
Androiid app with quiz format and also includes a dictionary
Kanji Alive
Website that helps read and write Kanji for all levels
Paid:
Wanikani
An SRS for learning Kanji, The first few stages are free to do. Also teaches radicals.
Kanji Study
A mobile SRS for learning Kanji, separated by JLPT. N5 is free. More features available on Android
Free:
Tae Kim's Guide
An extensive well known guide on Japanese grammar.
Imabi
A website essentially like a free textbook, with lessons on grammar for all levels.
Japanese School Amino
Found on the Amino app (like Vocaloid Amino),, Japanese School Amino is a community of Japanese learners. Lessons are taught by the leaders of the Amino and there are various helpful posts. This community is geared more towards complete beginners.
Paid:
Genki
A series of textbooks and workbooks for learning Japanese
Human Japanese
A digital textbook duo (Beginner/Intermediate) for learning Japanese, does not cover as much as Genki but does have quizzes
Japanese from Zero!
A textbook series written at a slower pace than the above but still covers about the same grammar
Tae Kim's Guide
An extensive well known guide on Japanese grammar.
Imabi
A website essentially like a free textbook, with lessons on grammar for all levels.
Japanese School Amino
Found on the Amino app (like Vocaloid Amino),, Japanese School Amino is a community of Japanese learners. Lessons are taught by the leaders of the Amino and there are various helpful posts. This community is geared more towards complete beginners.
Paid:
Genki
A series of textbooks and workbooks for learning Japanese
Human Japanese
A digital textbook duo (Beginner/Intermediate) for learning Japanese, does not cover as much as Genki but does have quizzes
Japanese from Zero!
A textbook series written at a slower pace than the above but still covers about the same grammar
Japanese Ammo
Grammar lessons for learning Japanese taught by a native speaker
Japanese from Zero! Video course
Same content as textbooks, used mainly as a companion to textbooks but can also be used on their own
日本語の森
For more advanced learners, teaches Japanese for JLPT in Japanese
Grammar lessons for learning Japanese taught by a native speaker
Japanese from Zero! Video course
Same content as textbooks, used mainly as a companion to textbooks but can also be used on their own
日本語の森
For more advanced learners, teaches Japanese for JLPT in Japanese
Italki
Has a tutoring service and other feautres
HelloTalk
Language exchange app where you can communicate with anyone learning/fluent in Japanese and practice your skills in every day conversation
HiNative
Ask questions or look for corrections and get replies from native or fluent speakers
Has a tutoring service and other feautres
HelloTalk
Language exchange app where you can communicate with anyone learning/fluent in Japanese and practice your skills in every day conversation
HiNative
Ask questions or look for corrections and get replies from native or fluent speakers
Duolingo
Has a Japanese course available, but does not teach grammar. Best for practicing, can also create clubs and interact a bit. Consists of writing, speaking, and listening exercises.
Busuu
Has a Japanese course with grammar notes included. If you go for the paid options, you can do speaking and writing exercise every few lessons to have corrected by natives. I believe this is also available to some extent on the free version.
Memrise
Basically flashcard decks created by users, Great companion to a textbook like Genki or HUman Japanese. Has many different exercise for flashcards, including typing and listening
Anki
An SRS where you can download and make your own flashcards for Japanese
Has a Japanese course available, but does not teach grammar. Best for practicing, can also create clubs and interact a bit. Consists of writing, speaking, and listening exercises.
Busuu
Has a Japanese course with grammar notes included. If you go for the paid options, you can do speaking and writing exercise every few lessons to have corrected by natives. I believe this is also available to some extent on the free version.
Memrise
Basically flashcard decks created by users, Great companion to a textbook like Genki or HUman Japanese. Has many different exercise for flashcards, including typing and listening
Anki
An SRS where you can download and make your own flashcards for Japanese
Jisho
Jikaikun plug-in
Web plug-in for Firefox and Google Chrome that you can highlight words you don't know
Jikaikun plug-in
Web plug-in for Firefox and Google Chrome that you can highlight words you don't know
NHK News Web Easy
Once you are at a good enough level of Japanese, you can go here to read news in Japanese
Japanese Fairy Tales
Beginner level reading. Includes a listening of the stories, translation, vocabulary, and furigana.
Once you are at a good enough level of Japanese, you can go here to read news in Japanese
Japanese Fairy Tales
Beginner level reading. Includes a listening of the stories, translation, vocabulary, and furigana.
Japanese From Zero! Online Course
Can be used with the video course; contains all content from the physical textbook series
Japanese 30 Day Challenge by Manga Sensei
Each day has 20 vocabulary words and one grammar point and is made to teach beginner Japanese
Can be used with the video course; contains all content from the physical textbook series
Japanese 30 Day Challenge by Manga Sensei
Each day has 20 vocabulary words and one grammar point and is made to teach beginner Japanese
Once again, if you have any more suggestions, please let me know! I will update this with more resources and even add categories as I find them and have time, this is just a simple start. If you have a suggestion for a category, feel free to suggest that too!
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