Look at the handwritten charts in the hiragana info page carefully, they give you the best example of how to write with a pen or pencil. Please be aware that characters written with a calligraphy brush (fude) are different, as are characters written on a computer. You should learn how to write with a pencil or pen first. In Module 8, if you choose it, we will give you a brush calligraphy lesson.

 Practice a little bit every day. Learn several new characters each day (there are 46 basic characters in all), and review all the characters you've practiced. You can use the tutorial links below, and don't forget to go to the Module 1 Home Page to try exercises that will be similar to the Module 1 Unit Test items. The Unit Test items will all be in hiragana (directions in English).

 Say the characters aloud as you write them. Do not fall into the trap of writing like a robot with your mind elsewhere. Repetitive kana writing can be very relaxing and meditative! Create words and sentences too. Make your own flashcards and practice with a friend. Here is a fun Hiragana Generator that will create hiragana when you type in the alphabetical letters.

 Romanization (writing Japanese words using the alphabet) can really mess you up!!! You will see Japanese words and names in many external links throughout Nihongo Web that are abbreviated. The word for "New Year card," for example, is correctly written in hiragana as ne-n-ga-jo-u. In romanization this word is almost always written as "nengajo." Japanese people usually abbreviate their names too: The first name "ko-u-ji" is usually written "Koji." Also, there are different systems of romanizing the consonants. We use a more phonetic system than the traditional Japanese system: "cho" instead of "tyo" and "shi" instead of "si." If you refer to the vocabulary lists in each Module, you will always know how to spell correctly in hiragana.

 If you would like us to evaluate your writing, please send us a page or two.

 If you are left-handed you may have some difficulty with brush calligraphy. Japanese children are made to write right-handed from a very young age. If they are born left-handed, they may do many things left-handed (such as play guitar, tennis, and baseball) but they write and eat right-handed. We do not expect you to change to your right hand unless you are ambidextrous!

 Try a hiragana writing quiz HERE to check your writing ability.

Kana (hiragana and katakana) and Kanji (Chinese characters) history and writing
Hiragana Chart with stroke order and .au sound files Kidsweb also has katakana and kanji. Click on the gif for a printable page.
Hiragana and Katakana Stroke Order & Sound See animated handwriting examples along with sound files. Very Good!
Hiragana chart with audio Just mouse over the characters/words to hear them pronounced
Animated katakana/hiragana/kanji chart. Click on a character and a cartoon brush writes it for you.
Interactive Hiragana Chart using brush style with sound No animation, but brush stroke order is numbered
Kana and Kanji history and resource books Very informative site. Please read the history sections!
Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana Games Interactive games make learning fun!
Dictation practice and more! Hard to navigate but definitely worth a look.
Click and Listen Hiragana Chart Hiragana chart to click and listen - no stroke order.
Kana Reading Quiz Check your reading ability of hiragana or katakana.
Kana Games in Flash format There are four different games to play, but they are all of the memory flip type.
Hiragana Times. An Internet magazine to practice reading.