About Japanese
Japanese (日本語) is spoken by ~125 million speakers, primarily in primarily Japan. It's useful for business, anime and pop culture, and one of the more structured languages to learn systematically.
How JapanesePod101 teaches Japanese
JapanesePod101 uses the same proven system as EnglishClass101 and the rest of the Innovative Language family: structured audio and video lessons taught by real native speakers, organized into levels from Absolute Beginner to Advanced. Lessons run 3–15 minutes each, making it realistic to fit into a daily routine.
- Free Lifetime account — 100+ lessons, no credit card required
- Audio & video lessons from real native-speaker teachers
- 9 structured levels, Absolute Beginner through Advanced
- Flashcards, quizzes, and vocabulary tools included with Premium
- Optional 1-on-1 teacher with Premium PLUS for personal feedback and a custom study plan
- Mobile app for iOS and Android, with offline lesson downloads
Is JapanesePod101 right for you?
If you're a self-study learner who wants a clear, level-based path with real audio and video content — rather than a purely gamified app — JapanesePod101 is a solid starting point for Japanese. Like EnglishClass101, it includes a genuinely free tier, so you can try the first lessons before deciding whether to upgrade.