At Japanese Languages, we believe the journey to mastering Japanese begins with Hiragana. This phonetic alphabet is made of 46 core symbols that form the base of pronunciation, grammar, and reading comprehension. Our blog explains why Hiragana is so crucial for learners: it’s used in children’s stories, grammar particles, and furigana for Kanji. Understanding Hiragana also helps you distinguish between similar-sounding words and develop natural rhythm in speech. You’ll also get insights into Hiragana’s history, dating back to the Heian period, where it was initially called “onnade.” Today, Hiragana is used by native speakers across books, education, and daily communication.