Zero Japanese?
Perfect.
Start here.
Never studied a word of Japanese? ikuzo takes you from the very first sound to real conversations, one small step at a time. Try lesson one right here →
Tap each character to hear it
These five vowels are the building blocks of every Japanese word.
Three scripts. Sounds scary. It isn’t.
Japanese mixes three writing systems in one sentence. Tap around to see which does what, and why you only need the first one to get started.
“I like coffee.” One sentence, three scripts.
From your first sound to your first conversation.
You never have to wonder what to learn next. Five minutes a day is enough.
Your first sounds
Learn the five vowels あいうえお and read your first words. No prior knowledge needed.
You read あい (love)All of hiragana
The 46 core characters, one row at a time, with audio and memory tricks.
You read any hiragana wordWords & phrases
Greetings, numbers, food and everyday phrases, plus katakana for loanwords.
You order in a caféFirst sentences
Simple grammar and your first kanji. Build and understand real sentences.
You introduce yourselfYour first alphabet. All 46 sounds.
This is where every learner starts. Tap any character to hear it; the reading appears underneath. No account needed.
Answers to every “where do I start?”
Free, interactive guides written for people starting from zero.
Questions beginners ask
Can I learn Japanese if I know absolutely nothing?
Yes. ikuzo is built for complete beginners. You start with five simple sounds (あいうえお), read your first real words in the first lesson and build up one small step at a time. No textbook, teacher or prior language knowledge needed.
Is Japanese hard for beginners?
The start is easier than most people think. Pronunciation is simple and consistent, and hiragana can be learned in about two weeks. The long part is kanji, which you learn gradually once the basics feel comfortable.
How long does it take to learn Japanese?
The US Foreign Service Institute lists Japanese among the hardest languages for English speakers and estimates around 2,200 class hours to professional fluency. Reading hiragana and katakana takes most learners one to two weeks; reaching JLPT N5 with steady daily practice usually takes a few months.
Should I learn hiragana or katakana first?
Start with hiragana. It is used for grammar endings, particles and native words, so you will see it in every sentence. Katakana, used mostly for foreign loanwords, is easier once hiragana feels natural.
How many kanji do I need to know?
Japan’s official list of common-use kanji (jōyō kanji) has 2,136 characters. For everyday reading you can get far with the first 500 to 1,000, and the lower JLPT levels require far fewer.
Is ikuzo free?
The kana course, the kanji explorer and all grammar guides are free to use. An optional membership unlocks spaced-repetition reviews and full JLPT mock tests.
What is the JLPT?
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test is the standard certificate for non-native speakers. It has five levels from N5 (beginner) to N1 (advanced) and is held in many countries, usually in July and December.
Day one starts
with あ.
No experience, no textbook, no pressure. Five minutes today, and you can read your first Japanese word.
Start from zero →