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MyKana, a Japanese learning app I built for my own study

MyKana, a Japanese learning app I built for my own study

by zerratar·Apr 20, 2026·2 points·0 comments

AI Analysis

●●SolidCozySlickSolve My Problem

SRS flashcards plus AI chat practice, but Wanikani and Bunpro already dominate this space.

Strengths
  • Integrates AI chat directly into the SRS review workflow for context.
  • Clean onboarding flow with clear progress tracking and streaks.
  • Covers full stack: kana, kanji, vocab, grammar, and conversation practice.
Weaknesses
  • Requires Google sign-in for AI features, adding friction for casual learners.
  • Entering a saturated market without a clear unique pedagogical differentiator.
Category
Target Audience

Self-taught Japanese learners, especially those restarting their studies

Similar To

Wanikani · Duolingo · Bunpro

Post Description

I built this for myself while trying to get serious about learning Japanese again:

https://mykana.app/

I studied a little Japanese more than 10 years ago, but only for a short time, so most of it didn't stick. Since then, I've been to Japan many times because my girlfriend is Japanese and my older brother lives there. More recently, with me and my girlfriend traveling back and forth to Japan quite a lot and both of us having family in Tokyo, I wanted a better way to rebuild my foundation and keep practicing consistently.

The app started around kana practice, but grew into something larger:

hiragana / katakana practice kanji and vocabulary study review-based learning AI chat for more natural practice some light gamification

The AI chat is free, but requires Google sign-in. That is mostly to prevent bot abuse, since it costs me money to run, and secondarily because it allows progress syncing across devices.

I'd appreciate honest feedback, especially on what would make this more genuinely useful for learning rather than just more feature-rich.

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