Interactive Kana Learning Board (Hiragana & Katakana)

In a nutshell:

This model is more than a learning board – it is a modular learning and game system for Japanese Kana (Hiragana & Katakana)

Instead of pure rote memorization, this board focuses on touching, matching, repeating, and playing. This creates additional mental connections that make learning more sustainable and effective

What is included?

The project consists of several plates that allow for different learning levels and game variations:

• Kana learning board with Rōmaji lettering (game board)

   

• Hiragana tiles

  • labeled on one side (Kana only)
  • labeled on both sides (Kana + Rōmaji)

   

• Katakana tiles

  • labeled on one side (Kana only)
  • labeled on both sides (Kana + Rōmaji)

   

• Red bonus/joker tile

   

🧠 Why this board works so well for learning

This system uses haptic learning:

By physically placing the characters, knowledge is anchored not only visually but also motorically. This supports:

• active recall instead of passive reading
• learning through mistakes and self-correction
• gradual skill building (from confident recognition to free application)

In short:

👉 You don't just learn Kana – you "build" them into your memory

🎮 Game & Learning Modes

🔰 Level 1 – Beginner (with Rōmaji)

• Place the double-sided tiles on the board
• For example, take out the first row, turn the tiles to the Kana side
• Sort them back correctly
• Then check using the Rōmaji side
• Gradually increase difficulty: first one row, then two, then the entire board

⚙️ Level 2 – Advanced (without Rōmaji)

• Use the single-sided tiles
• Sort the entire board without direct checking
• Only at the end do you check if everything is correct

🎲 Random Mode – Blind Draw

• All single-sided tiles go into a stack
• Blindly draw a tile and place it immediately
• No strategic order, no elimination process – just real knowledge
• Ideal for revealing uncertainties

🔴 Bonus Mode – The Red Joker

• Shuffle all single-sided tiles
• Place them face down on the board
• Mix the red bonus tile onto the board so that you have one normal tile left at the end
• Now place the remaining tile in the correct spot and then continue with the tile you picked up
• If only the red tile remains at the end, you win
• If you draw the red tile:
  • You can freely decide where to continue
  • The joker re-enters the game

🧩 Repair Mode (with a partner)

• A second person swaps some characters on the solved board
• Easy variant: You are told how many errors there are
• Hard variant: No information, you must find all errors yourself
• Perfect for targeted repetition and self-correction

🆚 Multiplayer Mode (without board)

• All tiles are placed face down in the center
• One tile is revealed alternately
• Whoever names the correct sound first wins the tile
• Goal: Collect the most tiles at the end

✅ Conclusion

• ideal for beginners and advanced learners
• perfect for all learning styles
• flexible to use – alone or together
• Learning without a screen, but with real interaction

Whether as a learning aid, game, or supplement to a language course:

This Kana board makes Japanese writing tangible

Note: The “n" is located in the “w” row (in the middle). This is not strictly correct and the “n” should be one more row below. However, as this would waste too much space, I decided on this layout.