Furigana on every word
Morphological analysis runs on any text — news, PDFs, what you paste. Furigana appears above every kanji instantly. Toggle always-on, or restrict to unknown words. JLPT color-coding shows N5 vs N1 territory at a glance.
Free · Android & iOS PWA · v1.2.9
YoMoo読む — YomooRead real Japanese news with furigana on every word.
Open any article, paste any text, scan any sign. YoMoo adds furigana above every kanji, opens dictionary lookups in one tap, and saves vocabulary to spaced-repetition review — all in one app, all free.
No account
No subscription
On iPhone or iPad? YoMoo installs as a Progressive Web App. Open in Safari, tap Share, then "Add to Home Screen" — opens like a native app, no App Store.
See the 3-step install ↓6
Content sources
N5–N1
All JLPT levels
170k+
Dictionary entries
Furigana on every kanji — reading view with JLPT color-coding
Real-time furigana
Every kanji, auto-annotated
Japanese TTS
Listen and follow along
News in Easy JP
Same article at N4–N5
Scan & import
OCR, PDF, DOCX, paste
Try it right hereTap any word.
Tap any word.
See how YoMoo reads Japanese.
Real furigana, real dictionary entries, real JLPT classification. This is exactly how the app behaves — no video required.
N3Today's news · technology
↑ Tap any highlighted word to see the dictionary popup.
Tap a word in the article to see its reading, definition, and JLPT level.
A demo of the in-app reader
Core features
Built for how reading Japanese actually works.
Not a gamified lesson app. A Japanese reading app — the kind you reach for when you actually want to read.
Japanese text-to-speech
Articles read aloud with synchronized sentence highlighting. Listen on the train, or use it as a dictation exercise. On Android, the native TTS voice is noticeably better than browser alternatives.
Same news at N4–N5
Every news article comes pre-simplified at N4–N5: simpler vocabulary, shorter sentences, same story. Read the easy version first, switch to the original when ready. Both get full furigana and TTS.
One-tap dictionary
Tap any word for reading, all definitions, part of speech, JLPT level, and verb conjugation notes — without leaving the article. Cached locally, works offline. Save to vocabulary in one more tap.
SRS & Anki export
Saved words enter a review queue at 4h → 8h → 24h → 3d → 1w → 1m intervals. Quiz mode and flashcards. Export directly to AnkiDroid or CSV — reading, definitions, and part of speech included.
Scan anything Japanese
Point the camera at a menu, sign, manga panel. ML Kit OCR works on-device, no internet. Plus PDF, DOCX, SRT, and URL import. Everything gets the same furigana engine and dictionary.
English translation
Stuck on a passage? One tap reveals the full English translation. Pre-translated articles load instantly. Imported content translates on demand and caches for 30 days.
Bring your own text
Paste from anywhere. Upload PDF, DOCX, or PPTX. Drop in an SRT subtitle file from your favorite anime. Full reader treatment on every word.
Progress tracking
Recently Read surfaces your last 20 articles for one-tap resume. Reading time, articles finished, words saved, and streaks tracked locally — no account needed.
App walkthrough
Five screens. The whole reading loop.
Instead of scrolling through twelve phones, click a tab.
読
Reading view with furigana
Every kanji compound gets phonetic furigana above it the moment you open an article. JLPT color-coding shows at a glance whether a word is N5 or N1 territory.
- Furigana auto-generated on any text
- JLPT N5–N1 color-coded badges
- Tap any word for instant lookup
- TTS with sentence highlighting
Content library
From JLPT practice to native literature.
Six content sources cover every level. Every article ships with a curated vocabulary list, English translation, and simplified version — reading support is already there when you open it.
JLPT Practice Passages
N5N4N3N2N1Official-style reading comprehension for all five JLPT levels. Bundled locally — fully offline. Structured exam prep without leaving the app.
Japanese News Articles
N3–N1Real news in politics, business, science, culture, international affairs — updated regularly. Each comes with the N4–N5 simplified version, full TTS, English translation, and curated vocabulary.
How-To Articles
N3–N2Practical guides on daily life, health, technology, emergency prep. Bilingual content — Japanese with English reference. Good for N3 readers building stamina on practical topics.
Aozora Bunko Literature
N3–N1Japan's public-domain classics — Sōseki, Akutagawa, Dazai, and hundreds more. Fiction, poetry, essays, folklore. Ready when you outgrow learner readers.
Japanese Wikipedia
N2–N1Live access across 9 categories — science, history, culture, technology, geography, politics, economy, sports, society. Unedited native Japanese with full furigana support.
Your Own Content
Any levelCamera OCR, PDF / DOCX upload, SRT subtitles, or pasted text. Analyze manga, menus, work documents, or anime subs. Same furigana engine, same dictionary.
JLPT level guide
Who YoMoo is for.
YoMoo works from N5 through N1, but it shines for learners who can already read kana — typically N4 through N2. If unedited NHK feels impossible on day one, that's not a bug — read the simplified N4–N5 version first.
How YoMoo compares
The Japanese reader that does more.
Other apps do some of this. None do all of it free, in one place, with real-time furigana on anything you import.
Real-time furigana on imported text
YoMoo✓ Any text
OthersPre-annotated only
Same news at N4–N5 level
YoMoo✓ Every article
Others—
TTS with sentence highlighting
YoMoo✓
OthersRarely
Built-in SRS & Anki export
YoMoo✓
Others—
Camera OCR (on-device)
YoMoo✓
OthersRare / cloud only
PDF, DOCX, SRT import
YoMoo✓
Others—
Aozora Bunko literature
YoMoo✓
Others—
No account / no subscription
YoMoo✓ Free
OthersOften paywalled
| Feature | YoMoo | Other reading apps |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time furigana on any imported text | ✓ | Pre-annotated only |
| Same news article rewritten at N4–N5 | ✓ | — |
| TTS with synchronized sentence highlighting | ✓ | Rarely |
| One-tap dictionary from reading view | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in SRS — quiz & flashcards | ✓ | — |
| Direct AnkiDroid / CSV export | ✓ | — |
| JLPT N5–N1 passages, fully offline | ✓ | Some |
| Aozora Bunko classic literature | ✓ | — |
| On-device camera OCR (ML Kit) | ✓ | Rare / cloud-only |
| PDF, DOCX, SRT subtitle import | ✓ | — |
| No account, no subscription | ✓ | Often required |
How it works
From article to learned vocabulary in four steps.
1. Choose
Browse by source and JLPT level, or paste any text. Filter by category, switch original or simplified.
2. Read
Furigana on every kanji. Tap for definitions. TTS reads aloud while you follow along. No app-switching.
3. Save
Add words individually or in bulk. Each saved with reading, definitions, JLPT level, part of speech.
4. Review
SRS schedules at the right intervals. Quiz or flashcard. Export to AnkiDroid whenever you want.
★ 5.0 on Google Play
What learners say.
★★★★★
"Great app for reading and learning Japanese."
読
Play Store User
Verified · Google Play
★★★★★
"By far the best Japanese reading app on the Play Store. I can actually read Japanese when using YoMoo!"
文
Play Store User
Verified · Google Play
★★★★★
"Awesome app for practicing Japanese reading daily."
語
Play Store User
Verified · Google Play
See it in 60 seconds.
Watch a real Japanese news article open in YoMoo: instant furigana, one-tap dictionary, TTS with sentence highlighting. The whole reading loop, demonstrated.
iPhone & iPad
Install YoMoo on iPhone in 3 taps.
No App Store, no sign-up. YoMoo is a Progressive Web App — Safari turns it into a real home-screen icon that opens full-screen.
1
Open YoMoo in Safari
Visit my-senpai.com/analyzer/yomoo/ in Safari on iPhone or iPad. Chrome and Firefox on iOS don't support home-screen install.
2
Tap the Share icon
The box with the upward arrow — bottom toolbar on iPhone, top-right on iPad. Opens the share sheet.
3
Choose "Add to Home Screen"
Scroll the share sheet and tap Add to Home Screen, then tap Add. YoMoo lands on your home screen with its own icon.
Done. Opens like a native app.
Tap the icon. Full-screen, no browser bars. The dictionary downloads once (~20 MB) and works offline.
- Furigana on any text
- One-tap dictionary
- TTS playback
- Vocabulary & Anki export
- News, JLPT, Aozora
- Offline dictionary
Note: Camera OCR is Android-only (uses ML Kit on-device).
Open YoMoo in Safari
Then: Share → Add to Home Screen → Add
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Things people ask before downloading.
Is YoMoo really free? What's the catch?
Genuinely free, no account, no subscription. Furigana, dictionary, TTS, JLPT passages, and SRS vocabulary are all included. Two free articles per source before a short rewarded ad — watching a video unlocks the next ones. The dictionary downloads once on first use (~20 MB).
How does YoMoo help with Japanese reading practice?
Most reading practice falls apart because looking words up takes longer than reading. YoMoo keeps you in the text — furigana already there, dictionary opens as an overlay, TTS lets you check your reading. Saved vocabulary auto-enters a spaced-repetition queue. Reading practice that adds up, session by session.
What JLPT level do I need to start?
You should know hiragana and katakana before using YoMoo. Most content targets N4 through N2 — people who know some Japanese but hit a wall reading native text. N5 and early N4 learners should start with the JLPT Practice Passages and the simplified N4–N5 versions of news articles.
How is YoMoo different from NHK Web Easy or Todai?
NHK Web Easy and Todai are news readers. YoMoo adds real-time furigana on any text you give it, an offline dictionary, full SRS with Anki export, camera OCR, PDF/DOCX import, Aozora literature, and Japanese Wikipedia. It also pre-simplifies its own news to N4–N5 — neither competitor offers that free.
Does YoMoo work offline?
Mostly. The dictionary (170,000+ entries), saved vocabulary, SRS queue, and JLPT practice passages work offline after first download. Live news, Wikipedia, and on-demand translations need internet, then cache for 30 days. On Android, camera OCR also works offline via ML Kit.
How does the Japanese text-to-speech work?
TTS reads articles aloud with sentence-by-sentence highlighting so you can follow along. On native Android, YoMoo uses the system TTS engine — noticeably better Japanese voice quality than browser alternatives. Tap any word in the dictionary popup for isolated pronunciation. Works on every text type, including pasted content.
Can I import my own Japanese content?
Yes. Paste any text, upload PDF / DOCX / PPTX, drop in an SRT subtitle file (great for anime), or scan with camera OCR. Imported content gets the same furigana engine, dictionary lookups, TTS, vocabulary saving, and translation as built-in articles.
How does the SRS compare to Anki?
YoMoo's SRS uses 4h → 8h → 24h → 3d → 1w → 1m intervals. Quiz mode is multiple-choice; flashcard mode is self-rated. Designed for zero-friction saving while reading — tap word, tap save, into the queue. If you already use Anki, export to AnkiDroid or UTF-8 CSV at any time. Most users run both: YoMoo for reading-integrated review, Anki for legacy decks.
Is YoMoo on iPhone?
Yes — as a PWA. Open my-senpai.com/analyzer/yomoo/ in Safari, tap the share icon, choose Add to Home Screen. You get a dedicated icon and full-screen, app-like behavior. Furigana, dictionary, TTS, vocabulary, and Anki export all work on iOS. Camera OCR is Android-only.
Start reading real Japanese today.
No account. No subscription. No paywall on core features. Install, open, and start reading. The dictionary downloads once on first use — everything else is ready immediately.