If you've ever felt frustrated learning random vocabulary like "the turtle eats bread" when you really wanted to understand anime, business conversations, or Japanese technology content, you've discovered exactly why Kann exists.

Kann (named after the kanji 間 (かん - kan) from 時間 (じかん - jikan), meaning "time interval") is a Japanese learning app built around a simple philosophy: you should learn vocabulary actually care about, not random words chosen by algorithm or curriculum.

So what makes Kann different from other Japanese apps

Topic-Specific learning that works

Unlike other language apps that force everyone through the same random vocabulary, Kann organises Japanese learning around curated topic dictionaries:

• Business: Essential workplace vocabulary for professional Japanese

• Anime: Words and phrases you'll actually hear in Japanese media

• Technology: Modern terms for developers and tech enthusiasts

• Culinary: Perfect for food lovers exploring Japanese cuisine

• Nightlife: Real conversational Japanese for social situations

• Design: Creative industry terminology

• Slangs: Contemporary Japanese expressions for authentic communication

• Fashion: Perfect for fashion lovers creators and stylist

• Sports: All thing sports related

• Music: Industry terminology

• Medical: In case of emergency (I kinda hope you don't need it)

Each dictionary contains around 100 carefully selected words, enough to make a real difference in that specific context without overwhelming you.

Frequency-Based Progression

Kann also includes systematic frequency-based dictionaries covering the most statistically useful Japanese words:

• 1K Dictionary: The 1000 most common words (free with Kann)

• 2K, 3K, 4K, 5K, 6K: Progressive expansion to 6000 words total

We used Dmitry Shpika (aka scriptin) research on Kanji frequency along side other resources like the kanji heat map in order to create these dictionary.

Research shows that the first 1000 most common Japanese words can help you understand up to 75% of everyday conversations. Kann makes sure you learn these essential building blocks first by including them in the app for free from the start.

JLPT-Organised Kanji System

Every kanji in Kann is organised by actual JLPT levels (N5-N1), giving you clear progression towards recognised proficiency milestones:

• N5: Around 100 essential characters for basic communication

• N4: Around 200 characters for elementary conversations

• N3: Around 700 characters for intermediate reading

• N2: Around 1,100 characters for advanced communication

• N1: Around 7,000+ characters for near-native proficiency

Technically N1 is a combination N1 and N0 so there is more obscure Kanji in there but if you reached that level, they are content you kinda want to know.

No more learning random kanji like 矢 (arrow) when you haven't mastered essential daily characters like 忙 (busy).

How Kann's learning method works

Multiple question types for deep understanding

Kann tests your knowledge from multiple angles to build robust comprehension:

• "What's the word for..." (English to Japanese)

• "How do you read..." (Kanji to Reading)

• "What does this mean..." (Japanese to English)

• "What's the onyomi/kunyomi of..." (for kanji specifically)

When you encounter verbs, Kann automatically includes conjugation practice, helping you internalise grammar patterns naturally.

Recognition-First philosophy

Unlike apps that focus on stroke order practice, Kann prioritises recognition and reading skills. These are the abilities that directly transfer to understanding real Japanese content. You'll master identifying and comprehending Japanese before worrying about perfect handwriting.

Since Kann is primarily text-based, it works best for intermediate to advanced learners who already have solid pronunciation foundations. If you're still learning pitch accent or basic pronunciation, you might want to establish those fundamentals first to avoid forming incorrect mental pronunciations.

Smart Spaced Repetition System (SRS)

Kann uses an optimised spaced repetition system that schedules reviews based on your performance. Words and characters are marked as mastered after 6 correct answers, ensuring efficient progression without unnecessary repetition.

Each word or character starts with a progress value of 0 and increases by 1 with every correct answer during quizzes. You have complete flexibility to study multiple dictionaries simultaneously, though it's sensible to master foundational content (like the 1K most common words) before jumping to advanced topics.

Generous Free Access

Kann offers one of the most generous free tiers in Japanese learning:

Free Content Includes:

• All hiragana and katakana

• All 210 Radicals

• Complete JLPT kanji (N5-N1)

• The 1000 most common Japanese words

• Design dictionary (I'm a designer so these where needed)

• That's approximately 8 months of daily learning material

The Heart and Coins System: Start with 100 coins plus 4 coins per daily practice. One life cost 2 coins to refill and 5 coins to refill them all at once. Some questions are harder so I introduced jokers (which eliminate half of the wrong answers) they cost 2 coins each and are limited to 3 jokers per quiz regardless of quiz length. Daily challenges reward additional coins, making it possible to remain free indefinitely.

Pricing options that make sense

Monthly Subscription: £7/month for unlimited practice and iCloud sync

Annual Subscription: £70/year (10-month pricing)

Lifetime Access: £200 removes all limitations and unlocks every current and future dictionary

DLC Model: Purchase individual dictionaries as needed instead of paying for everything at once

Fair Pricing: Kann uses parity pricing for users in South America and Asia, adjusting costs to match local purchasing power. This ensures the app remains accessible regardless of where you're learning Japanese.

Who Kann works best for

Intermediate and Advanced learners

Kann shines for learners who have moved beyond basic conversation and want to master specialised vocabulary for their specific interests or professional goals.

Learners with Specific goals

Whether you want to understand anime without subtitles, conduct business in Japanese, or follow Japanese tech content, Kann's topic-specific approach provides immediate practical value.

Efficiency-Focused students

If you prefer focused, purposeful learning over gamified entertainment, Kann's clean interface and systematic progression help you make real progress without distraction.

Mobile-First learners

Designed specifically for mobile learning during commutes, breaks, or focused study sessions. Available on both iOS and Android.

The science behind Kann's approach

Interest-Driven learning

Research shows that when learning is accompanied by personal interest, retention increases dramatically. By letting you choose vocabulary that matches your actual interests and goals, Kann harnesses your natural motivation for faster acquisition.

Frequency-Based effectiveness

Academic studies consistently show that learning high-frequency vocabulary first provides exponential returns. The Pareto Principle applies to language learning: roughly 20% of words make up 80% of daily communication.

Recognition vs Production

For adult learners with limited time, building recognition skills (reading and understanding) provides better practical returns than production practice (writing and speaking). Recognition skills transfer immediately to consuming Japanese content.

Technical features

Offline-First design

Kann works completely offline. You only need an internet connection for purchasing content and iCloud sync (which requires a premium subscription anyway). Once downloaded, all your learning happens on-device, making it perfect for commutes or areas with poor connectivity.

Mobile-Optimised design

Clean, distraction-free interface designed specifically for mobile learning. No overwhelming options or complex setup. Just thoughtful design that lets you focus on learning Japanese.

System Requirements: iOS 17+ or Android 9+

Visual progress tracking

Clear visual progress through each dictionary chunk and character card. The app tracks your mastery level and provides easy to grasp visual feedback on your advancement.

Audio integration

Currently uses system text-to-speech to give you an idea of pronunciation, though this isn't perfect. We'd love to get native speaker audio in future updates, but implementing this properly is both expensive and technically challenging due to app size constraints.

Privacy and Data

All your learning data stays on your device unless you enable iCloud sync. If you do use iCloud sync (premium feature), everything is stored securely in your own private iCloud database.

Platform differences

The iOS version is currently more feature-complete. Android users don't yet have conjugation questions or iCloud sync, as Android doesn't provide equivalent database features to Apple's CloudKit.

iCloud Sync

Premium subscribers can sync progress across multiple devices, ensuring your learning continues seamlessly between phone, tablet, and other platforms.

How to use Kann effectively

Daily practice approach

There's no rigid curriculum in Kann. Simply open whichever section you want to practice (kana, radicals, kanji, or dictionaries) and complete as many quizzes as feels right for your schedule. Some users do 4 sessions of 25 questions daily, others prefer shorter but more frequent practice.

Choosing your path

You can study multiple dictionaries simultaneously, but use common sense about progression. Starting with the 6K dictionary when you haven't mastered the 1K probably isn't wise, but Kann trusts your judgement to practice at levels that feel appropriate.

Topic dictionary balance

Each topic dictionary mixes entry-level and advanced vocabulary to balance overall difficulty. Don't worry if some words feel challenging at first, that's intentional design to help you grow.

Integration with other tools

Kann works best as a supplement to your broader Japanese learning routine. It's excellent for targeted vocabulary building around your interests, but it doesn't replace grammar study, conversation practice, or immersion. Think of it as a more focused, curated alternative to making your own Anki decks.

Getting started with Kann

You can start by completing the free content. That is including kana and N5 kanji to build your foundation before expanding to specialised vocabulary.

Then frequency-based learning (1K most common words still free) or a topic-specific dictionary that matches your immediate interests.

Add topic dictionaries or advance through frequency levels based on your evolving needs and interests.

Future Updates

New dictionaries are added based on developer needs or user requests, but there's no fixed timeline. The focus remains on quality curation rather than rapid content expansion.

Kann vs other Japanese learning apps

Compared to Duolingo

While Duolingo focuses on generic sentences and gamification, Kann prioritises practical vocabulary for real-world application. No more "the turtle eats bread". Every word serves a purpose.

Compared to Anki

Kann provides curated content and optimised settings out of the box, eliminating the hours of setup and configuration that Anki requires. Focus on learning Japanese, not learning your study tool.

Compared to WaniKani

While WaniKani follows a rigid progression path, Kann lets you focus on vocabulary that's immediately relevant to your interests while still providing systematic kanji advancement.

The bottom line

Kann represents a different philosophy in Japanese learning: efficiency over entertainment, relevance over randomness, and practical application over academic theory.

If you're an intermediate learner tired of generic content, a professional needing specialised vocabulary, or someone who wants to understand specific Japanese content (anime, business, technology), Kann provides the focused tools you need.

The generous free tier means you can thoroughly evaluate whether Kann's approach works for your learning style before committing to paid content.

Download Kann and discover why learning Japanese vocabulary that actually matters makes all the difference.

Available on iOS and Android. Start with 8 months of free content including all JLPT kanji and the 1000 most common Japanese words. Because your time is valuable, and your Japanese learning should reflect your actual goals.