The Armory (Tools & Strategy)
道場 dōjō · the place of the way
Choose your training path
Pick the room that fits your level. You can move between them any time.
- 習
Beginner · 31 posts
The Training Hall
Master the basics, build your core
Start from zero with 30 short grammar steps that follow GENKI I & II. Each step has clear notes in simple English, example sentences, flashcards and a quiz.
Open the Training Hall - 技
Intermediate · 8 posts
The Sparring Zone
Sharpen your reflexes, bridge the gap
Read real Japanese at JLPT N4 level. Short stories and travel diaries with audio, furigana help and grammar notes, so you can react, not translate.
- Japanese Reading Practice (JLPT N4): The Mysterious Café (ふしぎなカフェ)
- Why "The Moon is Beautiful" Means "I Love You" in Japanese-日本語のロマンチックな表現「月がきれいですね」
- Ohaguro - The Surprising History of Japan’s Black Teeth Culture：お歯黒（おはぐろ）の歴史
- 策
Tips & Tools · 10 posts
The Armory
Prepare your tools, refine your strategy
Study methods, the best apps, kanji tricks and the small words that make Japanese sound natural — explained by a certified teacher.
- Japanese Sentence-Ending Particles: Add Flavor to Your Sentences!
- Is “Anata” Rude? How to Say “You” in Japanese Politely
- Best Apps and Websites to Learn Japanese in 2026: A Teacher’s Picks by Skill
New to Japanese? Start here
稽古 keiko · practice
Japanese grammar in 30 steps
A free course that follows the GENKI textbooks. Go in order, one step at a time — like earning your belts.
白帯
White belt shiro-obi
Steps 1–10 · GENKI I · Lessons 1–9
茶帯
Brown belt cha-obi
Steps 11–20 · GENKI I & II · Lessons 10–16
黒帯
Black belt kuro-obi
Steps 21–30 · GENKI II · Lessons 17–23
✈️ Heading to Japan soon?
Travel Japanese Pack
Go from lost to confident with the phrases you will really use — on trains, in restaurants and with the people you meet.
- 10 lessons for getting around, eating well and making friends
- Illustrated PDFs with native audio
- Bonus lesson: Osaka dialect
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