Stop Forgetting Kanji. Write Them.

Kibikaku is a kanji writing practice app for Japanese learners. You write each kanji from memory on your screen, check it against the answer, and a Spaced Repetition System (SRS) schedules your next review. It includes JLPT N5–N1 decks, runs in any browser, installs on iPhone, Android and desktop, and works offline.

Standard SRS tools like Anki are general-purpose platforms, which are great for passive reading but can create an illusion of fluency. Kibikaku, however, is a specialized tool purpose-built exclusively for Japanese kanji study and memorization. We force you to build genuine muscle memory through active handwriting on your screen. Instead of just clicking a button, you physically write the character and self-assess, locking the kanji into your long-term memory.

Yes, that’s exactly the gap Kibikaku was built for. Recognition-based study, like WaniKani, multiple-choice apps or Anki reading cards, trains you to recognize kanji, not to produce them. Kibikaku shows you the meaning and reading, and you write the kanji from memory. It works well alongside the tools you already use.

It’s an algorithm-driven study method. Instead of cramming, the system schedules reviews at increasing intervals. You’ll see difficult kanji more often and easy ones less frequently. It’s like having a personal tutor who knows exactly what you’re about to forget.

Kibikaku is a reinforcement tool. It works best if you’ve already encountered the kanji in your studies. Our goal is to use handwriting as a memory trigger, helping you move characters from short-term to permanent memory.

Yes! Kibikaku includes ready-made kanji decks for every JLPT level, from N5 to N1 (2,211 kanji), ordered from the most common kanji. The Free plan comes with the JLPT N5 deck (79 kanji), ready to study right after you sign up. With Pro you unlock N4 to N1 and can also build your own custom decks, with anything from a single kanji to words up to 12 characters.

Absolutely, on the Pro plan. You can add vocabulary manually one by one, or speed up the process using our bulk upload feature. We provide a downloadable .xlsx template right inside the app. Just fill it out and upload it to instantly generate custom flashcards for any textbook, course, or personal study goal.

No, and that’s by design! Kibikaku is built on active recall: you write the kanji from memory, reveal the answer, and judge your own writing. Retrieval practice is one of the best-supported techniques in learning research, and comparing your writing with the correct character trains you to spot missing radicals and wrong proportions yourself.

We’ve made it easy! Every card includes a direct link to Jisho.org, the world’s most trusted Japanese dictionary. You can verify stroke orders, radicals, and example sentences to ensure your practice is always accurate.

Yes! While our app works on any device, we recommend using a screen large enough for comfortable handwriting. Whether using a stylus or your finger, a larger surface ensures the best experience for your practice sessions.

Kibikaku is a web app, but you can install it on your phone or computer! For Android and desktop Chrome, tap the "Install" button in the app or use your browser's install option. On iOS, use Safari's "Add to Home Screen." Once installed, it opens like a native app, and you can keep studying your due cards even without an internet connection. Your progress syncs automatically when you're back online.

Yes! We hate subscription fatigue as much as you do. Alongside our monthly and annual options, we offer a Kibikaku Pro Lifetime plan. A single one-time payment gives you unlimited decks, infinite cards, all JLPT decks (N5 to N1), and advanced statistics forever, no recurring fees.