Learn Japanese
Free self-study tools: dictionary, handwriting practice, and personalized spaced repetition.
Learn Hiragana
Most learners begin here. Hiragana is the 46-character phonetic script that forms the foundation of Japanese writing. Practice recognition and handwriting, row by row.
Learn Katakana
The second phonetic script — used for foreign words, onomatopoeia, and emphasis. Same structure as hiragana, different shapes.
Your First Kanji
Kanji aren't random shapes — they're built from components that combine into meaning. Learn the approach that makes thousands of kanji manageable.
Watch your knowledge grow
Every review moves the line up. Kakuso tracks your progress across characters and vocabulary — writing and recognition — so you can see exactly how far you've come.
We know what you're forgetting — before you do
FSRS-6 tracks which items peaked and are now fading. When something you once knew starts slipping, Kakuso surfaces it immediately — so you review it before it's gone.
Try it — write すし (sushi)
Draw each character from left to right on the canvas. Click hint if you need help. This is what every review feels like on Kakuso — real handwriting, validated in real time.
Practice Writing
How Kakuso works
Kakuso is a free Japanese learning toolkit built around three ideas: look things up in the dictionary, practice writing them by hand, and let a smart algorithm schedule your reviews.
Lightning-fast dictionary
Look up any kanji or word instantly — readings, meanings, stroke order, components, and example words load in a blink. Built for the flow of learning: search, understand, move on. Free for everyone, forever.
Personalized FSRS-6 scheduling
Kakuso uses FSRS-6, a state-of-the-art spaced repetition algorithm that learns your individual memory patterns. It builds a custom review schedule so you spend less time on what you already know.
Handwriting with stroke validation
Draw each character on the canvas — finger, mouse, or stylus. Kakuso validates every stroke in real time. Research shows handwriting builds deeper memory than recognition alone.
Understand kanji, don't just memorize
Every dictionary page shows a kanji's components — the building blocks that give it structure and meaning. Over time, you'll naturally build a mental map of how characters fit together. That's the Kakuso way: understanding over drilling.
Take it with you
Kakuso is built mobile-first. Do your reviews on the train, in a waiting room, or on a plane — your progress saves locally and syncs back when you're online again. Just open the site before takeoff and you're set.
Start learning Japanese online for free. Kakuso offers a complete self-study toolkit for beginners and intermediate learners: a comprehensive Japanese dictionary, hiragana and katakana practice, kanji study with component analysis, handwriting practice with stroke validation, and personalized spaced repetition reviews powered by FSRS-6. No signup required to start practicing.