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初級しょきゅうEasy Japanese Reading

Easy Japanese reading for beginners

10 very first reads in kana and short sentences. Every story has furigana, instant lookups, and a guided study path.

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精選せいせんEditor's picks

Hand-picked to start

なつまつり cover なつまつり Summer Festival Yomimaru A trip to a summer festival with takoyaki, goldfish scooping, and fireworks – all in kana! 1 min read · Short Story でんしゃで うとうと cover でんしゃで うとうと Asleep on the Train Yomimaru A relatable tale of nodding off on the train and ending up somewhere unexpected. 1 min read · Short Story うちの ねこ cover うちの ねこ Our Cat's Secret Yomimaru Your cat comes home with a neighbor's sock – is she a thief? A funny cat story in simple kana. 1 min read · Short Story

短編たんぺんQuick reads

Short Beginner reads

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なつまつり cover Read なつまつり Summer Festival Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story でんしゃで うとうと cover Read でんしゃで うとうと Asleep on the Train Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story うちの ねこ cover Read うちの ねこ Our Cat's Secret Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story あめの ひ cover Read あめの ひ A Rainy Day Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story ラッキーな じはんき cover Read ラッキーな じはんき A Lucky Vending Machine Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story いちばん からい ラーメン cover Read いちばん からい ラーメン The Spiciest Ramen Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story おやすみ、おつきさま cover Read おやすみ、おつきさま Goodnight, Moon Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story はじめまして cover Read はじめまして Nice to Meet You Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story

蔵書ぞうしょEvery Beginner text

All 10 texts

なつまつり cover Read なつまつり Summer Festival Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story でんしゃで うとうと cover Read でんしゃで うとうと Asleep on the Train Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story うちの ねこ cover Read うちの ねこ Our Cat's Secret Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story あめの ひ cover Read あめの ひ A Rainy Day Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story ラッキーな じはんき cover Read ラッキーな じはんき A Lucky Vending Machine Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story いちばん からい ラーメン cover Read いちばん からい ラーメン The Spiciest Ramen Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story おやすみ、おつきさま cover Read おやすみ、おつきさま Goodnight, Moon Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story はじめまして cover Read はじめまして Nice to Meet You Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story こうえんの いぬ cover Read こうえんの いぬ The Dog at the Park Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story くさい たこ cover Read くさい たこ The Stinky Octopus Yomimaru 1 min read · Short Story

解説かいせつBackground

About easy Japanese reading for beginners

Beginner reading is where Japanese starts to click. These 10 texts use mostly hiragana and katakana with simple sentence patterns, so you can read a whole story end to end on day one. Furigana sits above every kanji and tapping any word shows its meaning instantly.

Reading early, even a few lines a day, builds the sentence rhythm that flashcards alone can't. Every text on Yomimaru comes with a vocabulary list, a short grammar note, and a comprehension check, so a five-minute read turns into real practice.

質問しつもんQuestions

Beginner Japanese reading: questions & answers

I just started Japanese. Where should I begin reading?

Right here. These texts use mostly kana and simple sentences, so they're readable from your very first week. Start with the shortest one-minute reads, then work down the shelf as the sentences get longer.

How many texts are there and how long are they?

There are 10 free beginner texts, most just one to three minutes long, short enough to finish in a single sitting while you build the reading habit.

Is the Yomimaru library free to read?

Yes. Every text on the beginner shelf is free to read in full, with furigana and an English breakdown, no subscription required. A free account adds saved progress, the built-in dictionary, and AI study tools.