Is HitaruJP free?
Yes. You can sign up, pick your level and start watching for free. We’re in beta, so everything is free for now. If we add a paid Premium plan later, the free plan stays, and we’ll say clearly what’s in each before anything changes.
Do I need to know any Japanese to start?
No. Choose N5 (Beginner) and you’ll get slow, clear videos made for people who are just starting. Learning hiragana alongside helps a lot, and the kana board in the app lets you track it.
What are N5 to N1?
They’re the five levels of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). N5 is the easiest and N1 the hardest. HitaruJP uses them to match videos to you. You don’t need to be studying for the test. See all levels.
Where do the videos come from?
They’re real YouTube videos, podcasts and other content made by Japanese creators and teachers. We hand-pick them, tag each with a level, and play them through YouTube’s own player. The videos belong to their creators.
Can I use it on my phone and on the web?
Yes. HitaruJP runs in your browser today, and the Android and iOS apps are on the way. Your account, vocabulary and flashcards are the same everywhere. A few features differ: Anki import is mobile-only, and YouTube search and transcripts are more limited on the web.
How do the AI explanations work?
Tap a word or line and ask HitaruJP to explain it. You’ll get the meaning, the grammar and the nuance (is it polite? casual? rude?). The text you ask about is sent to Google’s Gemini model to produce the explanation. Like any AI, it can be wrong now and then, so treat it as a helpful tutor rather than a dictionary.
What is spaced repetition?
A way of reviewing flashcards just before you’d forget them. Cards you know well come back less often; cards you struggle with come back sooner. It’s the most time-efficient way to remember vocabulary. Read more in How spaced repetition works.
Can I import my Anki decks?
Yes, in the mobile app. Anki import isn’t available in the web version.
Do I have to pick a character?
You pick one of 12 characters during sign-up (Neko, Kitsune, Shiba and friends). They appear on your profile and around the app. You can change them any time.
How do I delete my account and data?
Email us from the address on your account and we’ll delete your account and the data tied to it. Details are in the privacy policy.
Your first video is waiting.
Pick your level, choose a character and start watching. It takes about a minute.