The same structured month-long plan for katakana — best started once you know hiragana, since the sounds are identical and only the shapes are new.
Katakana is the script for loanwords, names and emphasis, and it appears everywhere in daily life in Japan — menus, signs, packaging. Because it shares its sounds with hiragana, the only genuinely new thing to learn is the shapes, which makes a focused month more than enough.
This plan mirrors our hiragana schedule: the first ten days introduce a new row per day with writing and reading practice, days 11–14 add dakuten and handakuten (ガ, パ…), the middle covers combination sounds, the small ッ and the long ー mark, and the final days build reading fluency with real katakana words.
It is best started after hiragana, so you can lean on the shared readings and concentrate purely on the new forms — including the classic look-alikes シ/ツ and ソ/ン. Around 25 minutes a day, finishing with a day-30 test.
Here is what you will find inside the PDF to support your learning journey:
This resource is built with structured sections to target different aspects of your Japanese progress.
You already know the sounds — this plan focuses purely on the new forms.
Each day tells you exactly which row to write and read.
Dedicated attention to the confusable シ/ツ and ソ/ン pairs.
The final days build fluency with real katakana words you will actually meet.
About 25 minutes a day, designed to be completed in a month.
A day-30 test target confirms you can read katakana at speed.
Designed specifically to address the pain points of beginner and intermediate self-study learners.
No more guessing what to study — each day tells you exactly what to do.
Built around 20–30 minutes a day so it fits a busy schedule and actually gets finished.
Regular review and test days show you are really making progress, not just moving on.
Pin it above your desk and tick off each day as you go.
Whether preparing for tests or building practical skills, this resource fits your study roadmap.
The ideal next month once hiragana is comfortable.
Katakana unlocks menus, stations and product labels quickly.
A ready-made schedule so you always know what to study next.
Follow these step-by-step methods to get the maximum educational benefit from the materials.
Got questions about using or printing this resource? Check out our quick answers below.
Yes, completely free with no signup. Download and print it instantly.
Yes. Katakana shares the same sounds, so learning hiragana first lets you focus only on the new shapes.
About 25 minutes, deliberately paced so the month is realistic to finish.
The shapes are genuinely different from hiragana and appear constantly in daily life, so focused daily practice pays off.
The plan gives these look-alikes extra attention; writing them by hand is the fastest way to tell them apart.
It pairs with our free katakana writing worksheets and katakana chart for daily practice.
Simply carry on from where you stopped. Consistency matters more than perfect timing.
Yes, the full schedule fits a single printable page.
Improve your reading, writing and grammar reference. 100% free for every learner.
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