Nazoru
Nazoru is a handwriting practice app for Japanese learners working on kanji, hiragana, and katakana.
What Nazoru is
Nazoru is a handwriting practice app for Japanese learners working on kanji, hiragana, and katakana. Practice advances from full character outlines to dashed stroke guides, direction hints, and a blank canvas. If a learner misses a stroke, the guide returns, and the next session begins at the level their memory indicates. The app includes study paths for JLPT levels N5 to N1, Japanese school grades, frequency, and Heisig ordering. It can identify confusable kanji the learner has encountered and provide side-by-side drills. Users can browse by category, path, or custom list, or search kanji and words they have seen. Nazoru can suggest practice based on kanji studied in WaniKani, Bunpro, and MaruMori; these connections use a read-only API key kept on the device and do not count as reviews in those services. It works offline and offers optional Google Drive backup for progress, practice history, and settings. The Free plan allows two full practices per day; Unlimited is $3.99 per month.
Good
- Practice guidance adapts after missed strokes.
- Includes JLPT, grade, frequency, and Heisig paths.
- Supports hiragana, katakana, and similar-kanji drills.
- Works offline and offers optional Google Drive backup.
Watch out
- Free plan allows two full practices per day.
- Unlimited costs $3.99 per month.
Who it suits
Nazoru suits Japanese learners who want to practice writing kanji and kana by hand, including learners using its listed study paths or synced study sources. It is available on Android, iOS, and macOS.
Verdict
Nazoru combines guided handwriting practice with study paths, kana support, and drills for confusable kanji. Its free daily practice limit is worth considering if you want frequent sessions.
Plans and prices
From Nazoru's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | 2 full practices per day · WaniKani, Bunpro & MaruMori sync · JLPT, grade, frequency & Heisig paths · no ads, no tracking · $0 forever |
| Unlimited | $3.99 a month | Unlimited practices · unlimited side-by-side similar-kanji drills · everything in Free · $3.99 / month |
| Unlimited monthly | $3.99 a month | Unlimited practices · unlimited side-by-side similar-kanji drills · everything in Free · $3.99 / month |
| Unlimited | $39.99 a year | Unlimited practices · unlimited side-by-side similar-kanji drills · everything in Free · $39.99 / year |
| Unlimited yearly | $39.99 a year | Unlimited practices · unlimited side-by-side similar-kanji drills · everything in Free · $39.99 / year |
The facts
Each one read from Nazoru's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Adaptive help
- When a learner misses a stroke, Nazoru restores guidance for that stroke and starts the next session at the learner’s current memory level.checked 15 Oct 2026
- API integration model
- Connected study services use read-only API keys kept on the device; Nazoru reads progress without writing reviews back.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Backend architecture
- The developer states that Nazoru has no backend and keeps connected-account data on the device.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Backup
- Optional Google Drive backup syncs progress, practice history, and settings across devices in a private app-only folder.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Backup and sync
- Optional backups use the user’s private Google Drive app-data folder on Android or iCloud on Apple devices.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Content types
- Users can practice individual kanji, words and complete phrases.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Data handling
- Nazoru says it has no server of its own and only accesses its dedicated Google Drive app-data folder for backups.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Data safety on Google Play
- Google Play reports no third-party data sharing, possible collection of app activity, app information and device IDs, and encryption in transit.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Google Play reach
- Google Play shows 1K+ downloads and a 3+ content rating.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Guidance progression
- A practice moves through full outlines, dashed hints, direction hints and a blank canvas.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Imported lists
- The developer says users can import lists in addition to using connected services and built-in paths.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Integration privacy
- The synced-source integrations use a read-only API key that stays on the device, and practice in Nazoru does not count as a review in those services.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Officially listed study integrations are WaniKani, Bunpro and MaruMori, while the app listing also mentions Anki.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Kana and discovery
- The app supports hiragana and katakana and lets users browse by category, path, or custom lists and search kanji and words they have seen.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Kana support
- The app supports hiragana and katakana practice.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: missing integrations
- Community feedback requested Ringotan import support and NativShark integration; the developer said these were future investigation items.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limits and ads
- The free plan includes two full practices per day, and the site says the app has no ads or tracking.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Apple app size
- The App Store lists the app size as 39.5 MB.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Apple compatibility
- The App Store listing requires iOS 26 or later, iPadOS 26 or later, watchOS 26 or later, and macOS 26 or later on Apple silicon Macs.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: Apple reviewer request
- The sole App Store reviewer requested a much smaller writing canvas option for iPad use.checked 15 Oct 2026
Money
- Billing
- The site says prices are in USD, may vary by region, and are charged through the App Store or Google Play.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Limit: free usage cap
- The independent review says the free tier limits users to two practice sessions per day and requires a subscription for unlimited practice.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Company headquarters
- Google Play lists Elysoft at Rua 03 553 Quadra 21 Lote 10 Sala 01, Vila Barrinha, Itapuranga, Goiás 76680-000, Brazil.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- Google Play identifies the developer as ELYSOFT TECNOLOGIA LTDA.checked 15 Oct 2026
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