With a cohort · 12 weeks

Janai Core

Twelve weeks, from zero to a real foundation you can actually use. One clear path pointed straight at conversation, with Mana watching your progress the whole way.

By week 12: you can introduce yourself, talk about your day, and hold a simple conversation in polite Japanese, roughly JLPT N5.

Not starting from zero? If you're already around JLPT N5, Janai Plus picks up from there.

See the offer

Starts January 4, 2027 · fully refundable up to 24 hours before day one

Zero to N5

from scratch

12 weeks

together

5 lessons a week

from 15 min a day

$180

one-time

What you'll be saying, week by week

Every milestone below maps to real lessons in the curriculum.

Want the full lesson list? It's all there in a free account.

  1. Weeks 1–2

    Your first real sentences

    What you do, did, and didn't do, plus the little particles that hold a Japanese sentence together. Real sentences from day one, not word lists.

    「きのう、友だちとすしを食べました。」“Yesterday, I ate sushi with a friend.”

  2. Weeks 3–4

    Questions: the door to conversation

    What, when, where, who. Asking and answering, and saying where you're going. Conversation is mostly questions; now you can hold up your half.

    「しゅうまつ、どこに行きますか？」“Where are you going this weekend?”

  3. Weeks 5–6

    Describing your world

    How often, "too" and "and", and the two adjective families: say what things are like, now and in the past.

    「ラーメンはとてもおいしかったです。」“The ramen was really delicious.”

  4. Weeks 7–8

    Reactions and small talk

    This vs that, "how is it?", "how was it?" — the everyday language of impressions, comparisons, and small talk.

    「しゅうまつはどうでしたか？」“How was your weekend?”

  5. Weeks 9–10

    You, in Japanese

    Likes, wants, and prices. The patterns for talking about yourself, and for getting around in travel and everyday life.

    「日本に行きたいです。」“I want to go to Japan.”

  6. Weeks 11–12

    From sentences to conversation

    "There is", "I have", and joining sentences with "and" — your answers stop being one line and start being conversation.

    「へやにねこがいます。小さくてかわいいです。」“There's a cat in my room. It's small and cute.”

That's 58 sentence patterns: the polite-form foundation of the language. Just as important: a daily habit that held for twelve weeks, and a clear view of the road ahead.

Is it for you?

A good fit if

  • You're starting from zero, or you know some words but can't put them into sentences
  • You can fit in 15 minutes, five days a week
  • You do better when someone's expecting you

Probably not, if

  • You'd rather go at your own pace: 1-on-1 fits better
  • You already know around JLPT N5: head to Plus or 1-on-1
  • Your goal is passing an exam: we use JLPT as a rough level guide, but this is for people who want to speak, not test prep
“I have struggled to find a learning resource that sticks, but this resource is exactly what I needed!”
David · United States · Early access

Join the next Janai Core cohort

12 weeks: January 4 – March 28, 2027

Starts 0:00 Japan time.

$180one-time

Founding cohort price.

  • ✓The full curriculum: Jump Start, Practice Dojo, and Slow Japanese videos
  • ✓A cohort with a real start and finish date
  • ✓Mana checks and stamps every lesson you complete
  • ✓A checkpoint every 4 weeks, submitted to Mana
  • ✓30 days of free access after week 12, then $9/mo (or $90/yr) as an alumni, if you want to keep going

Full refund up to 24 hours before the start. If this cohort fills up, the waitlist gets first notice for the next.

You don't have to wait to start. Join today and the first lessons, hiragana practice, and the newest episodes open right away. The full curriculum unlocks on day 1.

You'll be asked to create a free account first. By purchasing you agree to the Terms of Service.

You can add a weekly 1-on-1 session with Mana on top: speaking practice and personal feedback, alongside the cohort. Separate, optional, and it can keep going after the 12 weeks.

Common questions

Do I need any prior Japanese experience?

No. The curriculum starts from zero, and the first lesson assumes nothing.

How much time does it take each day?

One lesson a day plus a quick daily review, about 15 minutes, five days a week. That's the core; the videos and drills are there when you want to go deeper, at whatever pace suits you. Some lessons will take you a little longer, and that's normal, not falling behind. If you miss a few days, the lessons wait for you, and Mana can see where you are.

Can I go faster than 12 weeks?

Yes. Every lesson is open from day one, so you can move at your own pace. The 12 weeks is a rhythm, not a limit: a pattern a day, spread out, is what makes it stick. The checkpoints are paced to those twelve weeks.

What happens after 12 weeks?

You keep full access free for 30 days. After that you can continue as an alumni for $9/month (or $90/year). Janai Plus is the next round, same format one level up, when you're ready.

Can I join mid-cohort?

No. Cohorts start together. If the timing doesn't work, join the waitlist and you'll hear first when the next one opens.

What if I change my mind?

You can cancel yourself from your plan page any time up to 24 hours before your cohort starts. The refund is full and instant, no need to email. Within 24 hours of the start (0:00 Japan time on day one), the purchase is non-refundable.

Not sure yet? Start free.

A free account opens the first Jump Start lessons, hiragana practice, and the two newest Slow Japanese episodes today. No card, no newsletters.

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