J Hop Evolve

Overview: There's So Much!

This app is packed with:

• kana and kanji study

• 9 bite-sized mini games and study activities 

•  beginner-friendly kana and kanji reference charts!

• simplified kanji lookup (includes all Jōyō kanji)

• select any unit; units each contain 50 kanji

• for kanji, focus on onyomi, kunyomi, or read whole kanji words - jukugo

• 1000s of vocabulary items

• easy to pick up, and easy to put down. Play at your own pace

• evolve into various animals as you progress 

1.  J Hop Evolve 

Hop onto the matching block! This is the best way to get familiar with a new unit at your own pace. 

For hiragana and katakana, the readings are shown with alphabet characters, called "romaji" in Japanese. Simply tap the matching block and your slime will hop!

The friendly Sun will guide you to the top where you'll experience your first evolution! 

An evolution is a sign that you're making progress — you're really starting to grow.

2. Target Shooter

This retro drag-and-shoot will test your aim, timing, technique, and speed while teaching you Japanese!

The inspiration for this mini game is a combination of a carnival shooting attraction and the classic Duck Hunt. 

This is the first mini game that tests your dexterity and skill while challenging you to answer as many questions as possible before time runs out. But it's still not that hard, once you get the hang of it.

3. Block Basher! 

Swipe your slime across the grid to collect all the roses, but the clock is running!

 Of course, by getting fast enough to finish in time, you'll start to see impressive improvement for sure!

And if you finish really fast, you'll earn your first crown! Crowns are bestowed on evolutions that are especially auspicious. 

And just like the previous mini game, this one will require you to use dexterity and agility while trying to answer the questions in a short time frame.

4. Word Builder

Examine the pieces, select the right parts, and put them together in the right order.

You're the builder. This time, you're required to drag individual syllables to their correct positions. No more passive response, in this activity, think of yourself as a builder. To do this, you'll have to know how all the parts of Japanese words work together. 

Now you're becoming a more focused expert on the Japanese writing system.

5. Memory Zapper

Get ready to become a speed reader. Watch the flashing sequence of words, remember them all, and repeat in the correct order.

Now you can really challenge yourself. Increase the speed and word count to give your brain a hardcore workout, ultimately developing reflexive recognition and a memory like a steel trap.

When you tap "Go," a sequence of Japnese words will flash one after the other. It may leave you confounded at first, but when you get the hang of this, you'll surprise yourself (and others) by how fast you can read Japanese!

4. Typing Practice

Take a break from drilling all those Japanese characters. Now, learn how to type in Japanese, with hints if you want. 

Japanese uses hiragana and katakana as a base, which are syllabary systems. So, to type a character, you just type the consonant and vowell combination, the same way you type in Enlgish (the characters are positioned the same on the keyboard) in order to create a syllable. 

There are a few exceptions (vowels, of course), but if you practice a little each day, you'll get the hang of it in no time!

7. Flashcard Evolution

A classic flashcard exercise - it is simple, but time-tested and highly effective.

 This version has you repeating any mistakes you make at a higher rate of repetition. So, with regular exercise, it works out your weak points, polishing your ability, forcing you to get sharper more quickly. 

The number of kanji flashcards is limited to a maximum of 50 per unit, which is an easy number to do in just a short time, without being too short. This is the kind of exercise you can — and should — do again and again every day.

After all, it's always important to review as well.

8. Midnight Mountain 

Tap tap pop pop! Tap a word block and then pop its matching kanji bubble before it floats away!

It's only natural that, after you learn something, it soon starts floating out of your memory, like a dream you can't remember after waking up. 

In this mini game, it's a race to grasp as many kanji as you can before they drift off into the night. Again, this combines kinesthetic input, dexterity and agility, along with the pressure to finish in a limited time.

And since the play time passes in such a short flurry of activity, after you finish take some time to review the content.

9. Spin n Flip 

After the wheel finishes spinning, the cards will quickly flip over in random order. Your mission is to find the right match.

This may look simple, but once you give it a spin, your true ability will be tested. 

Understanding the definition, reading all the options, and picking out the correct choice is a true test. If you can do it, you've gained native-level reflexive recognition — although, even  natives might stumble here!

Play around with your slime, flick through a variety of color palettes, spin the wheel and have a good time. Just because it's hard doesn't mean that you can have fun!

Kana Chart

Click the あ button (top left) to review the free hiragana and katakana charts. This is designed to allow you to easily click from hiragana to katakana and back again, so you can compare them at a glance.

 When you select 'Vocabulary' under Kana Play, there are hundreds of word items to learn. It may feel like too much for fresh beginners (a common phenomenon that all Japanese language learners remember well), but with daily repetition you will surely build up a solid knowledge base.

Note: you should feel comfortable reading hiragana and katakana BEFORE you dive into learning kanji.

Kanji Lookup

This app includes all the jōyō kanji and then some. Tap the 漢 button (top right) to search. There's no need to purchase - all is searchable for free!!! 

This, however, is just a simple kanji lookup designed for learners - NOT a full-fledged dictionary. It's focused on kanji inputs only, and the definitions and readings are simplified, so you can focus on recognizing shapes, reading real words, and memorizing the most basic meanings first. 

To play with the kanji in the mini games, playable units of 50 can be purchased any time you want (blocks of 3 at a time). I find that 50 items is really the perfect number to study at one time. There are 43 kanji units in all, but units 1, 2, and 3 are unlocked for free, right from the start!  

Organized according to the Japanese education ministry's Kanji flow for school students, you'll get the most essential kanji first.

Play a little every day and you'll soon find yourself reading real words on websites, in books, menus, and even store products!