Learn Hiragana and Katakana in 30 days
30 minutes a day. 1040 practice pages. A clear daily plan. Everything you need to read Japanese. No apps, no subscriptions, just focused pen-and-paper practice.
WATCH
Why I created these workbooks
THE PROMISE
From zero to reading Japanese
Hiragana and Katakana are the two foundational writing systems of Japanese. Together, they cover every syllable you’ll encounter in daily life: on menus, signs, train stations, and in conversation.
Most learners give up because they have no structure. These workbooks give you a page for every character, every day, with a clear plan from Day 1 to Day 30. Show up for 30 minutes. The results follow.
I spent one month in Japan and experienced firsthand how much it matters to recognize even basic characters. These workbooks are what I wished I’d had before I got on that plane.
1040
Practice pages
per workbook
30
Days to read
a full alphabet
30
Minutes
per day
104
Character groups
covered
WHAT YOU GET
Everything in one download
01
1040 practice pages
Each character has dedicated practice pages with tracing guides and blank space for freehand writing. Covers base characters, dakuten, handakuten, and combo sounds.
02
30-day learning plan
A structured daily plan tells you exactly which pages to practice each day. No guessing, no decision fatigue. Just open and write.
03
Optimized for digital devices
Designed for iPad, Android tablets, and Kindle Scribe. Load once, practice anywhere. The layout is sized for comfortable stylus writing.
04
Complete character system
Base characters (清音), voiced sounds with dakuten (濁音), semi-voiced handakuten (半濁音), and all combination characters (拗音).
05
Repetition by design
Each character group repeats across multiple pages because motor memory is built through repetition. 10 pages per character group means it sticks.
06
Instant download
PDF format. Download once, use forever. No account required, no app to install. Works on any device that opens a PDF.
THE ROADMAP
Your 30-day learning plan
This is the plan included with every workbook. Each week builds on the last. By day 30, you’ll recognize and write every character in the system.
Week 1 · Days 1–7
Vowels & first consonants
Days 1–2 — The 5 vowels: a, i, u, e, o (あいうえお / アイウエオ)
Days 3–4 — K-row: ka, ki, ku, ke, ko
Days 5–6 — S-row: sa, si, su, se, so
Day 7 — Review all + self-test with flashcards
Week 2 · Days 8–14
Core consonants
Days 8–9 — T-row: ta, chi, tsu, te, to
Days 10–11 — N-row: na, ni, nu, ne, no
Days 12–13 — H-row: ha, hi, fu, he, ho
Day 14 — Full review: Rows 1–5 + write from memory
Week 3 · Days 15–21
Remaining base + dakuten
Days 15–16 — M-row, Y-row, R-row, W-row, N (ん/ン)
Days 17–18 — Dakuten voiced sounds: G, Z, D, B rows
Days 19–20 — Handakuten: P-row (pa, pi, pu, pe, po)
Day 21 — Full base + dakuten review
Week 4 · Days 22–28
Combo characters
Days 22–23 — KY, SH, CH combinations
Days 24–25 — NY, HY, MY, RY combinations
Days 26–27 — GY, ZY, BY, PY voiced combos
Day 28 — Full combo chart speed drill
Final Push · Days 29–30
Total mastery review
Day 29 — Full alphabet write-through: all base + dakuten + combos
Day 30 — Final test: read a simple Japanese text using your new skills
Bonus — Suggestions for what to study next (vocabulary, kanji, grammar resources)
PRICING
Simple, one-time price
No subscription. No upsells. Pay once, practice forever.
Hiragana Workbook
Single workbook
1040 pages covering every base, dakuten, handakuten, and combination character.
€14
Hiragana + Katakana
Complete bundle · save 32%
Both workbooks together. 2080 pages, two separate 30-day plans, so you can move back-to-back.
€19
Hiragana Workbook
1040 pages covering every base, dakuten, handakuten, and combination character.
€14
THE METHOD
Why handwriting actually works
01
Motor memory is stronger than visual memory
Writing a character by hand encodes it across multiple brain regions simultaneously. You remember what you write far better than what you type or swipe.
02
Repetition without boredom
Each character appears across multiple dedicated pages, so your brain builds the pattern through spaced, varied practice. Not endless rote repetition of the same page.
03
No app, no distraction
Your tablet becomes a focused writing space, not a notification machine. Analog tools in a digital format. The best of both worlds.
04
A plan beats willpower every time
The 30-day plan removes the daily decision of “what to practice.” You open the workbook, follow the plan, and build the habit. Consistency does the work.
MADE BY
David Mitran
I spent one month traveling solo through Japan. 15 cities, 30 days, zero Japanese knowledge before I left. What I learned is that even basic reading skills change the experience entirely.
I created these workbooks because I wanted something dead simple: open the file, pick up a stylus, write. No setup, no app, no subscription. Just the characters and the practice.
I’m also an ICF-certified executive coach, neuroscience practitioner, and the author of five personal development books. I build tools that make the hard things doable. This is one of them.
FAQ
Questions
Do I need to know any Japanese before starting?
No. These workbooks start from scratch. The learning plan assumes zero prior knowledge of Japanese writing. You just need to be able to hold a stylus or pen.
Which workbook should I start with?
Start with Hiragana. It’s used for native Japanese words and grammar and forms the foundation of the language. Katakana is used mainly for foreign loanwords and is typically learned second. The bundle includes a recommended sequence.
What devices does this work on?
Any device that opens a PDF. The pages are optimized for iPad (with Apple Pencil), Android tablets, and Kindle Scribe. You can also print them if you prefer physical paper. Works in apps like GoodNotes, Notability, and the standard PDF viewer on Kindle Scribe.
What if 30 minutes a day is too much?
You can extend the plan across 60 days at 15 minutes daily. The structure still works. The plan is a guide, not a rule. Consistency matters more than speed.
Is there a refund policy?
Given the digital nature of the product, all sales are final. However, if you have any issues with your download, get in touch and I’ll sort it out.
Can I buy just one workbook and add the other later?
Yes. The individual workbooks are available separately at €14 each. If you decide later to add the second one, you can purchase it individually. Though the bundle at €19 saves you €9.
Start day 1. Today.
30 minutes a day. 30 days. One complete writing system. That’s the deal.