Learning Japanese with Visual Novels¶

Your complete beginner's guide to reading Japanese VNs and games

Why Visual Novels Are Perfect for Learning Japanese¶

Mememasa

Visual novels offer a unique advantage for Japanese learners that traditional textbooks simply can't match:

Extensive reading practice - VNs contain thousands of lines of dialogue and narration
Native audio - Many VNs are fully voice-acted by professional Japanese voice actors
Visual context - Images and scenes help you understand situations and context
Engaging content - You're learning through stories you actually want to follow
Interactive learning - Choices and branching paths keep you actively engaged

Unlike textbooks (which lack real context), VNs let you read at your own pace while experiencing authentic Japanese in natural contexts.

Understanding Japanese Writing¶

Before getting started, it's helpful to understand what you'll be reading. Japanese uses three writing systems that work together:

Hiragana and Katakana (Kana)

These are the two phonetic scripts, each containing about 46 basic characters. They represent the same sounds but have different uses:

Hiragana - Primarily used for grammar particles, parts of words of Japanese origin, and native Japanese words
Katakana - Used primarily for foreign loanwords (like コーヒー for "coffee"), slang, onomatopeia, and emphasis

As phonetic scripts, once you learn them, you can read any kana text out loud, even if you don't understand the meaning.

Kanji (Chinese Characters)

These are logographic characters adopted from Chinese. Japanese uses about 2,000-3,000 common kanji in everyday writing.

Why kanji matters: Most content words (nouns, verbs, adjectives) are written using kanji. Unless you only plan on playing full-kana children's games, you need to learn them
Multiple readings: Each kanji can have different pronunciations depending on the context

How they work together:

A typical Japanese sentence mixes both kana and kanji. This might seem complex, but it's actually efficient once you get used to it.

Hiragana Chart¶

	a	i	u	e	o
∅	あ a	い i	う u	え e	お o
K	か ka	き ki	く ku	け ke	こ ko
S	さ sa	し shi	す su	せ se	そ so
T	た ta	ち chi	つ tsu	て te	と to
N	な na	に ni	ぬ nu	ね ne	の no
H	は ha	ひ hi	ふ fu	へ he	ほ ho
M	ま ma	み mi	む mu	め me	も mo
Y	や ya		ゆ yu		よ yo
R	ら ra	り ri	る ru	れ re	ろ ro
W	わ wa				を wo*
N	ん n

Katakana Chart¶

	a	i	u	e	o
∅	ア a	イ i	ウ u	エ e	オ o
K	カ ka	キ ki	ク ku	ケ ke	コ ko
S	サ sa	シ shi	ス su	セ se	ソ so
T	タ ta	チ chi	ツ tsu	テ te	ト to
N	ナ na	ニ ni	ヌ nu	ネ ne	ノ no
H	ハ ha	ヒ hi	フ fu	ヘ he	ホ ho
M	マ ma	ミ mi	ム mu	メ me	モ mo
Y	ヤ ya		ユ yu		ヨ yo
R	ラ ra	リ ri	ル ru	レ re	ロ ro
W	ワ wa				ヲ wo*
N	ン n

Notes: *は = "wa" as particle, を = "o" as particle. Dakuten (゛) and handakuten (゜) modify sounds.

The Learning Path Overview¶

flowchart LR
    subgraph S1 ["Foundation (1wk)"]
        A["🔤 Learn Kana"] --> B["📚 Kaishi"] --> C["📝 Basic Grammar"]
    end

    subgraph S2 ["Active Learning (1-6mo)"]
        D["🛠️ Setup Tools"] --> E["📖 Pick VN"] --> F["🎮 Read"] --> G["⛏️ Mine"] --> H["🔄 Build a Routine"]
    end

    subgraph S3 ["Mastery (6+mo)"]
        I["🎯 Read More"] --> J["🚀 出来る"]
    end

    S1 --> S2
    S2 --> S3

    style S1 fill:#e3f2fd
    style S2 fill:#e8f5e8
    style S3 fill:#fff3e0

The Right Mindset

Here's the truth: you don't study until you can read VNs, you study WITH them. The moment you know kana and some basic grammar, you should be attempting to read. Yes, it will be overwhelming at first, but that's how you actually learn.

If you've made the decision to learn Japanese, the best thing you can do is tell yourself that if you want to enjoy Japanese media, it must be in the original language. This separates people who make it from those who don't.

The Immersion-First Approach¶

Forget the traditional "build foundations first" approach. That's a trap that keeps you in textbooks forever. Instead, embrace the chaos of jumping in early. You'll be confused, you'll look up tons of words, and that's exactly what should happen.

Think of it this way: when children learn their native language, they don't spend years studying grammar before attempting to understand stories. They're thrown into the language from day one, picking up patterns through exposure. The same principle applies here.

Even if at the beginning it seems impossible, if you trust the process and make a serious effort to understand all Japanese that you interact with, you will improve. You won't do this if you keep telling yourself that you "need" translations. You don't.

Your actual timeline: Learn kana (1 week maximum), start the Kaishi 1.5k Anki deck, set up tools, and immediately start engaging with native content. Don't wait for some arbitrary "readiness" milestone that doesn't exist.

Step 1: Master the Basics¶

Learn Hiragana and Katakana (1 week maximum)¶

Kana is your gateway to everything Japanese, but don't overthink it. This should take a few days to a week at most, not weeks of perfectionist drilling.

The fastest approach is intense but effective: Immediately start practicing with the interactive kana game. Don't aim for 100% accuracy before moving on-you'll naturally improve through exposure to real Japanese text.

Here's the key insight: you'll learn kana faster by seeing it in context (like in actual VNs) than by endlessly drilling isolated characters. Once you can recognize most kana even if slowly, you're ready to start reading. Speed and accuracy will come naturally through practice.

The perfectionist trap: Many learners spend weeks "mastering" kana before touching real content. This is backwards. Get comfortable with the basics, then let real reading solidify your knowledge.

Start Building Vocabulary (Ongoing from Day 1)¶

Vocabulary learning should begin immediately and run parallel to your reading, not before it. The Kaishi 1.5k deck is specifically designed for this approach. It's the most beginner-friendly option available, and makes use of relevant example sentences.

Start conservatively with 10-15 new cards daily. As you begin reading VNs, you'll discover which words appear frequently in your chosen content. This creates a powerful feedback loop: Anki introduces you to common words, and your reading reinforces them in context.

The great thing about starting to learn vocabulary alongside reading is that you'll immediately see Anki words appearing in your VNs. That moment of recognition when you come across a word that you have just learned is incredibly motivating and helps cement the vocabulary in your long-term memory.

Alternative option: Core 2k/6k Deck covers the most common Japanese words, but Kaishi's beginner focus makes it more suitable for VN readers.

Why Skip Isolated Kanji Study?

It is recommended to start learning vocabulary directly rather than studying individual kanji in isolation (like RTK or KKLC). Learning words with kanji in context is more practical and immediately useful for reading. If Kaishi feels too difficult, consider the RRTK450 deck as a bridge, but you don't need to spend months on isolated kanji study before starting real content.

Essential Grammar Foundation (Ongoing)¶

Primary recommendation:

Tae Kim's Grammar Guide - Free, comprehensive, and practical. Tae Kim isn't perfect, but it's a quick read, which is why it's recommended. Start here for solid fundamentals.

For deeper understanding:

IMABI - Incredibly detailed grammar explanations covering everything from beginner to advanced topics. IMABI is more accurate than Tae Kim but may be overwhelming for some. Use this when you need thorough explanations of complex grammar points you encounter in VNs.

Alternative approaches:

Bunpro - SRS-based grammar learning with built-in reviews
Cure Dolly YouTube Series - Explains grammar from Japanese perspective
Sakubi - Structured grammar course with examples

Remember: you will learn more grammar through actually making an effort to understand sentences in the wild than through any grammar guide.

Study approach:

Keep reading grammar points while learning vocab
Focus on understanding and recognizing patterns rather than rules
Always try to understand grammar in context
Don't aim for perfection, understanding develops through exposure

Step 2: Set Up Your Reading Tools (Do This Immediately)¶

Don't delay tool setup because you'll need these from your very first reading session. The goal is to remove every possible barrier between you and Japanese text.

Essential Software Setup¶

You'll need three core tools to start reading VNs effectively. Install them in this order for the smoothest experience.

1. Anki - Your Vocabulary Foundation¶

Core Learning Tool

While you can get really good at reading Japanese without Anki through interacting with native text, this spaced repetition system is a very powerful tool for retaining vocabulary you encounter in your reading.

What it does: Ensures you actually remember vocabulary long-term through scientifically-optimized review scheduling.

Setup: Follow Donkuri's detailed Anki setup guide for complete installation and configuration.

2. Dictionary Tool - Choose Your Lookup Method¶

Choose between JL (recommended for VN readers) or Yomitan (browser-based alternative):

JL - Recommended for VN Readers

Best choice for most learners

JL is specifically designed for Japanese learners reading visual novels. It offers the most streamlined experience for VN workflows.

Why choose JL:

Built specifically for VN readers and learners
Works system-wide (no browser required)
Integrated Anki mining features
Reading statistics and progress tracking

Setup: Follow our JL guide for complete installation and configuration.

Yomitan - Browser-Based Alternative

Choose this if you prefer browser-based tools

Select Yomitan if you prefer browser-based reading or need to look up text on websites frequently.

When to use Yomitan:

You prefer reading VNs in browser
You frequently look up text on Japanese websites
You want a more traditional dictionary extension experience

Setup: Follow Donkuri's Yomitan setup guide for complete installation and configuration.

3. Text Hooker - Your Text Extraction Engine¶

Text Hooking

Textractor extracts text from VNs so you can copy, look up, and mine vocabulary without manually typing Japanese characters.

What it does: Hooks into VN processes and extracts displayed text in real-time for easy dictionary lookups.

Setup: Follow our complete Textractor guide for installation and configuration.

Key features: Compatible with most VNs, supports extensions, WebSocket integration for browser dictionaries

Setup Priority

Install tools in order: Anki → Dictionary Tool → Text Hooker. Each tool builds on the previous one for optimal workflow integration.

The Holy Trinity of Japanese Learning¶

The Three Essential Tools

📚 SRS ←→ 📖 Dictionary ←→ 🔗 Text Hooker

Anki ↔ JL / Yomitan ↔ Textractor / OCR

These three tools work together to create a powerful Japanese learning ecosystem: your text hooker extracts text from VNs, your dictionary looks up and mines vocabulary, and Anki ensures long-term retention. Each tool supports each other in a continuous learning cycle.

Step 3: Jump Into Your First Visual Novel¶

Choosing Content for Maximum Learning¶

It may be a good idea to pick something you're genuinely interested in reading, even if it seems challenging. If it feels like too much for you to handle, you can always put it on hold and come back to it later. Passion for the story will carry you through moments of confusion better than "optimal" difficulty ever could.

Remember: you're committing to experiencing this story in Japanese, not just "trying" Japanese. This mindset shift is crucial. You're not using Japanese as practice for some future enjoyment; you're enjoying the medium through Japanese from day one.

That said, certain features make the learning process smoother. Furigana support (hiragana readings above kanji) is helpful for beginners. Modern, everyday language transfers better to other content than historical or fantasy vocabulary. Voice acting provides pronunciation models and helps with listening comprehension.

Length is a psychological factor: finishing a shorter VN makes reading in Japanese feel achievable and builds confidence for longer works. But don't let length deter you from a story you really want to read. Better to struggle through something engaging than breeze through something boring.

Recommended First VNs¶

Nanairo Reincarnation - Supernatural mystery with romance and comedy
Tsuyuchiru Letter - Yuri romance set in a prestigious girls' school
Gyakuten Saiban (Ace Attorney) - Also known as Ace Attorney in the west. The famous legal mystery series with engaging courtroom drama
Marco to Ginga Ryuu - Extremely engaging, but short visual novel with tons of CGs
9-nine- Series - Supernatural life-and-death drama. Starts out slow, but gets better towards the end
Totono - Psychological romance involving a dramatic love triangle
Famicom Detective Club - Classic murder mystery series. Available on the Switch and practically fully voiced
Summer Pockets - Island summer story by Key. Long, but lots of slice of life content
Clannad - The classic Key drama
Kanon - The other classic Key drama
Aokana - Sports drama in a world with anti-gravity flying

Free Options for Practice¶

Browse NovelGame.jp - Many free short VNs for practice
Check Freem! - Free games including visual novels
Try web-based VNs - No installation required, good for testing setup

Step 4: Reading Strategy and Building Sustainable Habits¶

The Core Philosophy: Serious Engagement from Day One¶

Remember your commitment: if you want to enjoy Japanese media, it must be in the original language. This isn't about casual exposure or "trying" Japanese; it's about making a serious effort to understand all Japanese you interact with. You don't need to go "AJATT" or block out other languages, but you do need genuine engagement with the language. Resist the urge to reach for translations when things get difficult.

Daily Reading Strategy¶

Start Your Reading Sessions Right

Approach each VN session with the mindset that you're experiencing a story in Japanese, not studying Japanese through a story. Have your tools ready, but don't let technical setup distract from the core activity: reading and understanding.

The Smart Lookup Strategy

Look up words you see frequently - these give you the highest learning value
Look up key story elements - names, important concepts, anything crucial to your understanding of the story
Don't assume that you know the meaning of words - your intuition as a non-native speaker is not going to be perfect

The Importance of Comprehensible Input

Your goal is "comprehensible input": content that you can mostly understand with some effort. This means you should be genuinely trying to comprehend what you're reading, not just passively consuming text. Avoid "whitenoising" (mindlessly reading Japanese without caring about comprehension) as this provides no learning benefit and can actually be counterproductive.

The sweet spot is content where you understand enough to follow the story but encounter enough unknown elements to learn from. If you understand almost nothing, the content may be too difficult. If you understand everything easily, you're not being challenged enough to grow.

Don't get caught up in quantification and metrics. Some people get discouraged when they see low character counts or didn't read as much as they wanted that day, but these numbers don't define your progress. What truly matters is showing up consistently and making a serious effort to understand. Your comprehension and reading speed will naturally improve through regular exposure. Trust the process rather than obsessing over daily statistics.

Building Vocabulary Through Mining¶

What is mining?

Mining is the process of finding vocabulary in the wild (while reading VNs, playing games, etc.) and adding that vocabulary to a custom Anki deck for long-term retention.

As you read, you'll naturally encounter words worth learning. Mining vocabulary from your VNs creates personalized learning that's directly relevant to your interests.

Remember: Anki is designed for memory, not learning. You want to mine words that are about 75% of the way there: words that seem useful and can actually be remembered after a couple exposures. The goal is finding that sweet spot between learnable, useful, and not super uncommon.

Smart Mining Strategy:

Encounter unknown word during reading
Look up the word using JL or Yomitan's integrated lookup
Ask yourself: Is this word learnable, useful, and frequent enough?
Mine only if it passes the "75% test" - you can grasp it and it seems worth remembering
Create Anki card with the sentence context from your VN

The "75% Test" - Mine words that are:

Learnable - You can understand and remember them after a few exposures
Useful - They appear frequently or are crucial to story understanding
Not too obscure - Common enough that you'll see them again in other content
Feel "graspable" - Something clicks when you look them up

What NOT to Mine (Especially as a Beginner):

Words that feel completely overwhelming or abstract
Extremely rare or archaic terms you'll never see again
Technical jargon unrelated to your interests
Words you consistently understand from context

Advanced Note: Once you reach higher levels, you can mine anything you don't know since your foundation is solid. But early on, be selective and focus on building that strong core vocabulary.

For detailed mining setup: Check out Donkuri's comprehensive mining guide for advanced mining workflows, note types, and technical setup guides. If you're using JL (our recommended dictionary), see our JL Anki integration guide for streamlined VN mining.

Building Daily Consistency¶

Recognizing Real Progress¶

Early Victories (First Month)

The first major milestone isn't comprehension, it's beginning to become comfortable with confusion. When you stop panicking about unknown words and start seeing reading sessions as entertainment rather than tests, you've made a crucial mental shift. This usually happens within the first few weeks of consistent reading.

Successfully setting up your workflow and extracting your first VN text feels technical, but it's actually a huge psychological win. You have made your first step towards Japanese literacy.

Building Momentum (Months 2-6)

Real progress becomes visible when you start recognizing vocabulary from Anki appearing in your VNs. This creates a positive feedback loop that accelerates learning. Another key milestone is reading for extended periods without mental fatigue; your brain is adapting to processing Japanese naturally.

Completing your first VN, regardless of comprehension level, represents a massive achievement. You've proven to yourself that it is possible for you to read in Japanese and that it is an enjoyable activity, not an impossible challenge.

Long-term Development (6+ months)

Eventually, reading shifts from being a mere part of your study routine to entertainment. You'll choose VNs based on interest rather than difficulty level. This transition from learning Japanese to learning through Japanese marks true immersion success.

Remember: these timelines are rough guides, not rigid requirements. Your progress depends on consistency and genuine engagement, not speed. Focus on building sustainable habits rather than hitting arbitrary milestones.

Dealing with Challenges¶

When you feel overwhelmed:

Take breaks as needed
Review your Anki cards to reinforce known vocabulary
Re-read previous sections for confidence
Remember: confusion is part of the learning process
If your daily Anki load feels too heavy: Lower your daily new card count or adjust your target retention percentage in FSRS settings, but try not to skip your reviews

When progress feels slow:

Track your reading sessions to see consistency over time
Notice vocabulary you now recognize that was once unknown
Remember your commitment to experiencing Japanese media in its original language

Remember:

Every Japanese sentence you read makes the next one easier
Progress isn't always visible, so trust the process
Comparing yourself to others is counterproductive
The journey is part of the reward, so enjoy it as much as you can

"Read more." – Everyone who made it

Quick Start Checklist¶

Ready to begin? Here's your immediate action plan:

[ ] Day 1-3: Learn kana basics with charts and the kana game
[ ] Day 4-5: Install and configure JL (or Yomitan) + Textractor
[ ] Day 6-7: Download Kaishi deck, start Anki, choose your first VN
[ ] Week 2: Begin reading your chosen VN daily (even if it's confusing at first)
[ ] Week 3+: Develop consistent daily routine of Anki + VN reading
[ ] Month 1+: Start mining vocabulary from your VNs as you encounter interesting words

The key insight: You're not preparing to learn Japanese, you're learning it from day one. Every day you delay reading is a day of lost progress.

Most important: Embrace the chaos of jumping in early. You'll be confused, overwhelmed, and frequently lost, and that's exactly how language learning works. Start today, stay consistent, and trust that understanding comes through exposure, not preparation. But don't worry, you will make it!

Influential Japanese Learning Guides¶

This guide draws inspiration from several excellent resources in the Japanese learning community. If you want to explore different perspectives on immersion-based learning, check out these guides that have influenced my learning philosophy:

While this guide focuses specifically on visual novels and games, these guides provide complementary perspectives.

Community and Support¶

Want to connect with other learners? Join our Discord for questions, progress sharing, and VN recommendations from the community.

Ready to dive deeper? Check out our Tools Page for more advanced setup options, or visit our Sources page to find your first VN.