Hiragana Katakana Game

Students can work with a kana non-reader to learn their kana better. A number coded system allows for the student to work with their helper to work through 70 hiragana and 70 katakana symbols (the basic symbols and the tenten).

Preparation

  1. Copy the Romaji chart and the chart of the script you are learning onto a piece of A4 cardboard. (Alternatively, stick a copy of each onto two sheets of cardboard.)
  2. Stick the two pieces of cardboard together at the top with sticky tape.
  3. Separate out the bottom sides of the cardboard sheets enough to enable them to stand in the shape of an A-Frame, as in the illustration.

Procedure

Learner and helper sit opposite each other, the learner facing the Kana side and the helper facing the Romaji side of the cardboard frame. The Romaji side of the frame must not be visible to the learner.
The helper says a number and the learner looks at her/his chart and gives the pronunciation of the corresponding Kana. The helper checks this against the Romaji version on their side.
(The learner may need to go through the pronunciation of Japanese syllables with the helper before using the resource.)

Romaji Chart

Romaji Chart (PDF 1,274KB)

Hiragana Chart

Hiragana Chart (PDF 1,250KB)

Katakana Chart

Katakana Chart (PDF 1,162KB)

Easy version

The easy version charts only include the basic 46 kana characters, and do not include the ten-ten (゛) and maru (゜) voiced characters.

Easy Romaji Chart

Easy Romaji Chart (PDF 1,239KB)

Easy Hiragana Chart

Easy Hiragana Chart (PDF 1,324KB)

Easy Katakana Chart

Easy Katakana Chart (PDF 1,140KB)

Additional Reading

  • Cultural Notes: Katakana
豆知識 Katakana words (PDF 58KB)

Resource revised by Himiko Negishi-Wood and Jessica Leung based on the resource created in 2014 by Himiko Negishi, Cathy Jonak and Yohei Arakawa (April 2020).

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