Niwa FAQ
Ready when you are.
Straight answers about how Niwa works, where to find updates, and what you can practise. If something here is still unclear, the method page has the reasoning behind each decision.
Is Niwa free?
Pricing details will be added here.
How long is a lesson?
Lesson length depends on your reviews and pace; there is no fixed time limit. A daily lesson brings together due reviews, new items and a short story when a suitable one is available. Longer review queues offer a stopping point after the first 50 reviews, with the choice to finish for today or keep going.
Do I need to know hiragana already?
No. Niwa teaches hiragana from the beginning, with 46 basic characters, dakuten and combined sounds. Katakana and Core Japanese open after hiragana completion. If you can already read hiragana, you can place out and move on.
How many words does Niwa teach?
First Steps has 13 phrases, and Core Japanese has 502 vocabulary words with 1,379 example sentences. The library includes 281 short stories selected to build on learned vocabulary, sometimes with one highlighted new word and reading support. This is a beginner foundation.
Does Niwa teach kanji?
Kanji appear in sentences and stories wherever Japanese would normally use them, with reading support. There is no separate kanji course, and stroke-order tracing is not built.
Does it teach grammar?
Niwa focuses on vocabulary and reading rather than a separate grammar course. You meet patterns in sentences and stories; a textbook, class or tutor can help when you want a fuller explanation.
What happens if I miss a day?
Your garden and earned keepsakes stay with you. After time away, Marimo rests and friends see your best streak rather than a zero. You can return to practice at your own pace.
Is there a streak, then?
Yes. Niwa tracks a streak, and it does not advance while you are away. Marimo rests after time away, and friends see your best streak. There are no hearts or leaderboards to keep up with.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Niwa installs to your home screen and the content lives on your device, so a session works on a train with no signal. Progress syncs when you reconnect.
Does it score my pronunciation?
No. You can listen to word and sentence audio and practise aloud, but Niwa does not assess or score your pronunciation.
Is this the same as a flashcard app?
Niwa uses spaced repetition for reviews and provides the vocabulary, example sentences and short stories too. You can focus on practice without building your own deck or tuning review intervals.
How is it different from other language apps?
Niwa brings kana, core vocabulary and supported reading into a daily lesson at your own pace. Reviews adapt to your memory history, and your garden reflects progress without hearts or leaderboards.
Can I import my own words or an existing deck?
Deck import and custom word authoring are not currently available.
What is FSRS?
Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler. It uses review history to estimate how well you remember each item and schedule its next review. Words you find difficult tend to return sooner; familiar words can wait longer. Niwa handles the scheduling for you.
Is it available in the App Store?
App Store availability details will be added here.
Who makes Niwa?
Mossball Labs, an independent studio.
Last updated 1 November 2026. Join the waitlist to hear when Niwa opens.