Why Hiragana First?

Japanese uses three writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Every beginner should start with hiragana — and the good news is it's far more learnable than it first appears. Unlike kanji, which numbers in the thousands, hiragana has just 46 base characters, each representing a syllable sound. Once you know them, you can phonetically read any Japanese word.

Learning hiragana also unlocks better pronunciation, real reading practice, and the ability to use Japanese learning resources that aren't transliterated into romaji (Roman alphabet).

Understanding the Hiragana System

Hiragana characters follow a logical grid structure based on vowel sounds:

  • The five vowels: a (あ), i (い), u (う), e (え), o (お)
  • Consonant + vowel combinations: ka, ki, ku, ke, ko — sa, si, su, se, so — and so on
  • One standalone consonant: n (ん)

This grid structure means you're not memorizing 46 random symbols — you're learning a system. Once the vowel sounds are fixed in your memory, each new row is just a new consonant applied to those same five vowels.

A Practical 7-Day Learning Plan

Day 1 — The Vowels

Learn and practice: あ い う え お (a, i, u, e, o). These five sounds are the backbone of the entire system. Write each one 20 times, and practice reading them in random order before bed.

Day 2 — K and S Rows

Add: か き く け こ (ka, ki, ku, ke, ko) and さ し す せ そ (sa, shi, su, se, so). Note that "si" is pronounced "shi" — one of the few irregular sounds.

Day 3 — T and N Rows

Add: た ち つ て と (ta, chi, tsu, te, to) — note the irregulars "chi" and "tsu" — and な に ぬ ね の (na, ni, nu, ne, no).

Day 4 — H and M Rows

Add: は ひ ふ へ ほ (ha, hi, fu, he, ho) — "hu" is pronounced "fu" — and ま み む め も (ma, mi, mu, me, mo).

Day 5 — Y, R, and W Rows

Add: や ゆ よ (ya, yu, yo), ら り る れ ろ (ra, ri, ru, re, ro), and わ を (wa, wo). Also learn the standalone: ん (n).

Day 6 — Review and Reinforcement

Do a full review of all 46 characters. Use a hiragana quiz app (apps like Kana Mind or websites like Tofugu's kana quiz are excellent for this). Focus on the characters you hesitate on.

Day 7 — Real Reading Practice

Try reading simple Japanese words written in hiragana: menus, children's books, flashcard apps. When you can read a word — even slowly — the characters start to feel like a language rather than a memory exercise.

Tools That Accelerate Learning

  • Anki: A spaced-repetition flashcard app — free and highly effective for character memorization.
  • Tofugu's Hiragana Guide: Uses mnemonics (memory pictures) for each character, which dramatically speeds up recall.
  • WaniKani: Better for kanji, but excellent for building on your hiragana foundation.
  • Writing by hand: Don't skip physical writing — the motor memory reinforces visual recognition.

What Comes After Hiragana?

Once you're comfortable with hiragana, move to katakana (another 46 characters, used primarily for foreign loanwords) — most learners pick it up in three to five days after hiragana. From there, you're ready to begin basic grammar and start accumulating kanji, one by one.

The path to Japanese literacy is long, but the first step is satisfying and very achievable. One week, 46 characters, and a door opens.