{"app_store_id":1208009110,"slug":"maru-learn-japanese-hiragana-1208009110","name":"MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana","subtitle":"Free Beginner Kana Practices","icon_url":"https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Purple221/v4/c8/2f/27/c82f278b-6421-e7c6-8daa-920a14ef9538/AppIcon-0-0-1x_U007epad-0-0-85-220.png/512x512bb.jpg","store_url":"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/maru-learn-japanese-hiragana/id1208009110?uo=4","price":0,"currency":"USD","rating":4.93264,"rating_count":18364,"in_app_purchases":true,"recent_rating":null,"recent_review_count":null,"reviews_checked_at":null,"primary_genre":"Education","version_date":"2024-08-02T17:13:07Z","updated_at":"2026-10-15T15:44:00.420Z","stale":false,"missing_since":null,"one_liner":"Free app for learning Japanese Hiragana and Katakana through reading, writing, listening, typing and vocabulary.","verified_maker":false,"maker_site":null,"file_size_bytes":38265856,"minimum_os":"16.0","content_rating":"4+","language_count":19,"screenshots":["https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/3f/62/04/3f620443-7709-0e76-27b4-abfed90859e8/08bc9c3b-a936-4e14-9681-d10a21aef123_5.5-01.png/392x696bb.png","https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/74/aa/f4/74aaf4bf-e932-5d52-e96e-8c71af384672/5893244e-dc44-43a7-9820-2aeb49116317_5.5-02.png/392x696bb.png","https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource211/v4/a2/bd/7a/a2bd7aee-3265-3ad2-a1fe-1856c1136fc6/b779b172-b246-4a2b-ba02-3203b9e54777_5.5-05.png/392x696bb.png","https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource211/v4/06/ce/24/06ce243b-2d89-e99f-4252-a37d2537409d/3d749f76-556a-4c40-8301-acfe68479a72_5.5-04.png/392x696bb.png","https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource221/v4/1c/ca/19/1cca192a-629c-4172-3d9c-45c8f06e4080/ebad23e9-6d38-4732-9105-71430f2f5d5b_5.5-03.png/392x696bb.png","https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource211/v4/44/63/a8/4463a8fd-f39b-d299-8e8a-8e214e9abfa4/4e39530a-9851-4386-a052-5847c700e74f_5.5-06.png/392x696bb.png","https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource211/v4/5e/de/28/5ede281b-df74-13fb-7870-ad589d6212c6/88e22817-5023-4f5f-8fd0-ea01e2cbf247_5.5-07.png/392x696bb.png","https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/PurpleSource211/v4/c3/94/4d/c3944de1-e404-7d7e-81c6-073cbd95fc5d/5a29195a-eb5e-44ee-8c25-2716b1a9aef9_5.5-08.png/392x696bb.png"],"developer_name":"Overdreamer, LLC","editors_choice":false,"url":"https://apptierlist.com/apps/maru-learn-japanese-hiragana-1208009110/","api_url":"https://apptierlist.com/api/v1/apps/maru-learn-japanese-hiragana-1208009110","schema_version":"1.0","generated_at":"2026-10-23T07:17:33.413Z","data_as_of":"2026-10-23T07:02:07.803Z","description":"Hey there! (•u•) Interested in learning Japanese but don't know where to start? You've come to the right place! MARU Japanese Kana, loved by over a million learners worldwide with an average rating of 4.9 (thank you so much!), is just what you need. As a lifelong learner of Japanese myself, I created this app to make Japanese alphabets less intimidating and more enjoyable. It's a simple app that focuses on one thing but does it very well: helping you start learning Japanese. I wish MARU had been around when I started learning Japanese. Lucky you!\n\nStop learning with those robotic voices and non-native pronunciations. That will impede your learning effectiveness. Dive in and experience authentic Japanese through exercises voiced by a professional voice actress. With 14 different practice varieties, learning Hiragana and Katakana becomes a breeze. Reading, writing, listening, typing, and even building your vocabulary – it's all here, making it the perfect start to your Japanese journey!\n\nWhat's the catch? You’ll see an ad after every five mistakes. Since MARU's launch in 2017, it’s been downloaded over a million times, yet ad revenue has been modest. But that’s okay! My goal is to spread the joy of learning Japanese.\n\nTo fulfill that goal, I try to provide tremendous value for everyone and keep as little as possible behind the Pro Version. \n\nHere’s what you’ll find in the default Free Version:\n\n• All 105 Hiragana and Katakana characters, not just the basic ones.\n• A short ad after 5 mistakes. No mistakes = No ads.\n• Over 300 everyday words for practice, like \"hello\" and \"thank you.\"\n• Clear voice recordings for all words and characters.\n• MARU-kun, our adorable mascot, greets and motivates you each time you practice.\n• Date and Time that changes every minute to teach you Japanese words for numbers and calendar.\n• A smart feature that identifies your weak spots and helps you improve.\n• A fun way to practice Katakana using familiar Hiragana words.\n\nMy app is completely free with minimal ads, but if you choose to upgrade to the Pro Version (one-time purchase), you’ll enjoy:\n\n• An ad-free experience.\n• Offline practice, anytime, anywhere.\n• Writing and typing exercises.\n• Timed challenges to test yourself.\n• Access to more words for time, date, and Katakana.\n\nDon't just take my word for it. Here’s one of my favorite reviews:\n\n\"This is MY #1 app for learning Japanese. I downloaded EVERY Japanese app I could find without paying a single dime. The app does exactly what it promises - nice graphics, great voice acting, and awesome practice methods. I'm in love with this awesome app!\" - A happy user\n\nThanks for reading! If you're interested, just download and start your Japanese learning adventure with MARU! (•u•)","facts":{"developer_id":1208009109,"developer_url":null,"first_released":"2017-02-24T03:16:19Z","support_url":"https://overdreamer.com/","privacy_url":"https://overdreamer.com/kana/privacy","website_url":null,"app_version":"2.15","release_notes":"やっほー！ Your favorite Hiragana learning app just got an update (•u•):\n\n• New MARU(•u•) Design! I’ve given MARU a new app icon, brighter colors, and some new expressions. MARU’s lip-syncing is smoother now too.\n\nLet me know if you liked it! Thank you for your support! Keep learning with MARU!","rating_current_version":4.93264,"rating_count_current_version":18364,"star_counts":[34,21,75,888,17346],"genres":["Education"],"languages":["CS","NL","EN","FR","DE","ID","IT","KO","PL","PT","RU","ZH","ES","SV","TH","ZH","TR","UK","VI"],"content_advisories":null,"device_families":["iphone","ipad"],"made_for_iphone_duo":null,"chart":null},"freshness":{"apple_read_at":"2026-10-15T15:44:00.420Z","catalog_read_at":"2026-10-15T15:44:00.420Z","reviews_checked_at":null,"summary_written_at":"2026-10-15T04:00:53.165Z","placed_at":"2026-10-14T16:36:19.787Z","scored_at":"2026-10-23T07:02:07.803Z"},"editorial":{"one_liner":"Free app for learning Japanese Hiragana and Katakana through reading, writing, listening, typing and vocabulary.","what_is":"MARU is an Education app for learning the Japanese kana, covering all 105 Hiragana and Katakana characters. It offers 14 practice varieties, including reading, writing, listening, typing and vocabulary, with exercises voiced by a professional voice actress. An optional one-time Pro Version is described as adding an ad-free experience and offline practice.","good_for":["Beginners starting to learn Japanese kana","Practicing Hiragana and Katakana reading and writing","Hearing native-voiced practice of Japanese words"],"pricing":"MARU: Learn Japanese Hiragana is free to download, with in-app purchases on the App Store.","faq":[{"q":"Is the app free?","a":"Yes, it is free to download. The description also mentions an optional one-time Pro Version purchase, but its price is not stated on the App Store."},{"q":"Does it cover Katakana as well as Hiragana?","a":"Yes. The description says it includes all 105 Hiragana and Katakana characters and a practice method for Katakana that uses familiar Hiragana words."},{"q":"Are there ads?","a":"The free version shows a short ad after every five mistakes, and no ads if you make no mistakes. 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