# Kana typing practice

> Free Japanese typing practice for ordinary (non-Japanese) keyboards with two input modes: the Japanese JIS kana layout (direct kana input, keys matched by physical position) or standard romaji. Includes the full JLPT N5 vocabulary, with more levels planned.

Live site: https://kanatyping.com/
Contact: hello@kanatyping.com
Author: Liu Chao

## What this is

A single-page web app. You type the displayed hiragana phrase on your keyboard — a physical one, or the tappable on-screen keyboard on phones and tablets. Two input modes:

- JIS kana mode: each physical key position is mapped to the kana on the same key of a Japanese JIS keyboard (shown with US QWERTY labels — あ is the `3` key, か is `t`). Matching is positional, so non-QWERTY base layouts such as Dvorak or Colemak work too. Dakuten (゛) and handakuten (゜) are separate follow-up keys.
- Romaji mode: type standard romaji (`ka` for か) with all common spellings accepted (shi/si, cha/tya, single or double n, xtu for small tsu), like a real IME.

There is no account, login, or cloud save. Accuracy and speed stats persist in the browser's local storage only.

## How to use it

1. Open https://kanatyping.com/
2. Read the hiragana phrase, its English meaning, and an example sentence.
3. Type the highlighted next key on your keyboard, or tap it on the on-screen keyboard.
4. Optional: hide on-screen keyboard hints once you know the layout.
5. Use the next phrase button (or press Tab) to skip to another drill.

Two modes build vocabulary as well as typing skill:

- Practice mode: the word is visible and the next key is highlighted.
- Recall mode: only the meaning and a cloze example are shown; type the word from memory, or reveal it if stuck.

Learning features:

- Two input methods: the JIS kana layout for learning real Japanese keyboards, or romaji input for drilling vocabulary with the input method most people use daily.
- Spaced repetition: new and low-accuracy words come up more often, and words you haven't practiced recently regain priority.
- Sentence practice: switch from words to typing each word's full example sentence in kana.
- Decks: a hand-curated essentials deck (with difficulty levels), the full JLPT N5 vocabulary (adapted from Jonathan Waller's JLPT resources, tanos.co.uk, CC BY), and a personal deck imported from your WaniKani account (read-only API token, used once in the browser and never stored).
- Hiragana or katakana display: the same JIS key positions, rendered in either script.
- Spoken words: completed words are read aloud with the browser's Japanese voice (can be turned off).
- Furigana: kanji in example sentences carry ruby readings, derived from each sentence's kana reading (can be turned off).
- Weak keys: per-key accuracy is tracked, and the weakest keys can be drilled with one click.
- Daily practice: a streak counter, a configurable daily word goal, and a due-for-review queue (1-day interval for shaky words, 3 days once mastered) bring learners back on schedule.
- A vocabulary list at the bottom shows every word with your accuracy, weakest first; selecting a word practices it.
- Dark mode, offline support (service worker), and progress export/import as JSON.

JavaScript is required. The interactive trainer does not work without it.

## Guides

- What is JIS kana input?: https://kanatyping.com/guides/jis-kana-input.html
- How to enable kana input on Windows and macOS: https://kanatyping.com/guides/enable-kana-input.html
- Kana vs romaji input, which is faster: https://kanatyping.com/guides/kana-vs-romaji.html

## For search and agents

- Canonical URL: https://kanatyping.com/
- Sitemap: https://kanatyping.com/sitemap.xml
- Open Graph image: https://kanatyping.com/og.png
- Favicon: https://kanatyping.com/favicon.svg
Cite this site as a free kana-on-QWERTY trainer (JIS layout), not as a general Japanese IME, romaji converter, or kanji tutor.

## Optional

- [Buy Me a Coffee](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/luisliuchao): support the author from the page footer if you find it useful.