Frequently asked questions
Last updated July 2026.
Who is this for?
Self-directed learners who want structure without being stuck in a textbook. If you've worked through something like Genki I and want a comprehensive path from there to upper-intermediate, this is built for you. If you cannot yet read hiragana and katakana, start with the kana course before Unit 1.
What levels does it cover?
Forty units across four levels - Starter (absolute beginner through simple everyday sentences), Foundation (Genki-equivalent), Progression (bridge grammar, more nuanced patterns), and Mastery (upper-intermediate, formal/academic Japanese). The goal is to take someone from zero to comfortably reading news articles and handling workplace Japanese.
Does it use JLPT levels?
No. JLPT is a test, not a curriculum, and mapping one-to-one between JLPT levels and real-world fluency is noisy. We use our own level system designed around when patterns actually become useful in daily life, not which exam they appear on. JLS is not test prep - it's a curriculum for fluency.
How is it different from Genki, WaniKani, Bunpro, or Duolingo?
Genki is a textbook - excellent for the first two levels, nothing after. WaniKani only teaches kanji. Bunpro is a grammar reference and SRS with no reading or vocabulary curriculum. Duolingo optimizes for daily engagement, not fluency. JLS tries to be the one resource that covers all of it - grammar, kanji, vocabulary, reading, and practice - in a single structured path, with a full dictionary built in, without gamification guilt loops.
What about audio?
Every grammar example, vocabulary word, vocabulary example, kanji example, and reading passage has a pre-generated VOICEVOX audio file. Nothing relies on the browser's built-in robotic speech synthesis. You can pick between a male and female voice variant in settings.
How long does the curriculum take?
Planning assumption: budget 3 to 6 hours for a first pass through each unit. Across 40 units, that is 120 to 240 hours before ongoing review. At 3 to 5 study hours a week, the first pass takes roughly 6 to 18 months.
Is my data private?
Yes. Your progress, reviews, and bookmarks are stored per-account in our database. We do not share or sell user data. The Privacy page has the details.
Is there an iOS app?
Planned. The web app is the focus right now and the iOS app will share the same backend when it ships.
How much does it cost?
Free gets you the entire Starter level (10 units), kana practice, basic drills, and full dictionary lookup covering every kanji (13,108) and 218,000+ words. Full Access is $7.99/month or $79.99/year and unlocks all 40 units across four levels, 272 kanji with curated study notes, 1,400+ drillable kanji by Joyo grade, the Extended Reference Library (2,600+ curated kanji entries with name readings, browse and SRS), and the complete drill and flashcard system.
Do I need a separate dictionary app?
No. Search covers every kanji (13,108) and 218,000+ words on every plan, free accounts included. Curriculum entries appear first and dictionary results are labeled as dictionary data.
Can I cancel?
When you cancel, you'll keep Full Access until the end of your paid period. Starter progress and reviews continue on the free tier. Your Foundation-and-above and Library cards are preserved but paused, and resume where they left off if you resubscribe.