Kanji Heatmap is an exploration tool with advanced filtering, sorting, frequency heatmap visualizations, and detailed kanji information. This tool can help you prioritize which kanji to learn based on your specific goals.

The kanji you encounter in casual Twitter posts differ from those found in literary works, and the kanji commonly used in TV dramas may vary from those in news articles.

Visual learners will appreciate the heatmap feature, which highlights more frequently used kanji in brighter colors, with less common characters shown in progressively duller shades.{" "}

Unlike many kanji resources that display characters in a single style, Kanji Heatmap lets you change fonts to see how the appearance of characters can vary.

While Kanji Heatmap is not a dictionary, it offers useful kanji details. Simply click on any kanji to view sample words, meanings, onyomi and kunyomi readings, stroke order animations, component breakdowns, and more.

What is Kanji Heatmap about and what is it useful for

Description 1

A tool designed to help learners of Japanese visualize and prioritize their kanji study based on frequency of use.

What it does

  1. Frequency-Based Heatmap – The site color-codes kanji based on how often they appear in written Japanese, helping learners focus on the most useful characters first.
  2. Customizable Study Focus – Users can sort and filter kanji by JLPT level, school grade (Japanese education system), frequency rank and much more
  3. Interactive Exploration – Hovering or clicking on a kanji provides details like readings, meanings, and example words.
  4. Study Planning – Helps users identify gaps in their knowledge by highlighting which high-frequency kanji they haven't learned yet.

Useful for

  • Efficiency – Prioritizes learning the kanji you’ll encounter most often.
  • Visual Learners – The heatmap format makes it easy to see importance at a glance.
  • Test Preparation – Great for JLPT or kanji kentei study by focusing on level-appropriate characters.
  • Review & Gap Analysis – Advanced learners can check if they’ve missed any common kanji.

Kanji Heatmap is particularly useful if you want a data-driven approach to kanji learning rather than just following a fixed order (like RTK or JLPT lists)

Description 2

a website that generates a heatmap of kanji characters based on their frequency of use in Japanese texts. The heatmap is color-coded, with more frequently used kanji characters appearing in duller colors.

Useful for

  1. Language learners: It helps Japanese language learners focus on the most common kanji characters, making their studies more efficient.
  2. Kanji study prioritization: By identifying the most frequently used kanji, learners can prioritize their studies and concentrate on the characters that will be most useful in everyday communication.
  3. Understanding kanji distribution: The heatmap provides a visual representation of kanji frequency, giving users an intuitive sense of how kanji are distributed in the Japanese language.
  4. Research and analysis: Researchers and linguists can use the heatmap to analyze kanji usage patterns, identify trends, and inform language teaching methods

Overall, Kanji Heatmap is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the Japanese language, kanji characters, and language learning strategies.

Description 3

Kanji Heatmap is an interactive web application designed to assist learners in studying Japanese kanji by visualizing their frequency of use across various real-world sources. It aggregates data from over 17 sources, including Netflix, Twitter, Google, Wikipedia, and Aozora, providing insights into how often each kanji appears in different contexts.  Key Features: • Frequency Visualization: Displays kanji characters in a heatmap format, with color coding indicating usage frequency. This helps users identify which kanji are most prevalent in everyday language.  • Comprehensive Kanji Profiles: Offers detailed information for each kanji, including stroke order animations, component breakdowns, sample vocabulary, and customizable font options. These features aid in memorization and deepen understanding.  • Advanced Search and Filtering: Allows searches by English keywords, on’yomi (Chinese readings), or kun’yomi (Japanese readings). Users can filter results based on JLPT level, Jouyou Grade, Remembering the Kanji (RTK) Index, stroke count, or frequency rank, tailoring their study sessions to specific needs.  • External Resource Integration: Connects to additional learning tools such as Jisho, Wanikani, and Kanshudo, facilitating a comprehensive study experience.  Overall, Kanji Heatmap serves as a valuable tool for Japanese language learners aiming to enhance their kanji knowledge through data-driven insights and interactive features.

User Impressions

Review One

KanjiHeatmap.com is a specialized educational tool designed to assist Japanese language learners in visualizing and prioritizing kanji characters based on their frequency of use. Here's a detailed breakdown: Core Features: Heatmap Visualization: Kanji are displayed in a grid, color-coded to indicate usage frequency (e.g., warm colors like red for high frequency, cooler colors like blue for rare characters). A legend clarifies the frequency-intensity scale, helping users quickly identify which kanji to prioritize. Interactive Kanji Cards: Clicking a character reveals detailed information, including readings (onyomi/kunyomi), meanings, stroke order, and example compounds. Links to external resources (e.g., Jisho, WaniKani) are provided for deeper study. Filtering and Search: Users can filter kanji by JLPT levels (N5-N1) or Japanese school grades (1st-6th), aligning with standardized learning benchmarks. A search bar allows quick lookup by kanji, reading, or English meaning. Mobile-Friendly Design: Responsive layout ensures accessibility across devices, from desktops to smartphones. Target Audience: Learners: Focus on high-frequency kanji to optimize study time for exams (JLPT) or practical fluency. Educators: Use heatmap data to structure curricula around commonly encountered characters. Data Sources & Utility: Likely aggregates frequency data from contemporary Japanese media (news, literature, online content), though the exact source isn’t specified. Serves as a quick reference tool rather than a comprehensive learning platform, complementing apps like Anki or textbooks. Potential Limitations: Color Accessibility: May pose challenges for colorblind users without alternative text or high-contrast modes. Data Freshness: Frequency rankings could become outdated if not regularly updated. Dependency on External Tools: Relies on third-party sites for in-depth practice or memorization features. Overall Impression: KanjiHeatmap.com is a streamlined, visually intuitive resource for learners to efficiently identify and study the most relevant kanji. Its strength lies in simplifying prioritization through data-driven visuals, making it a practical addition to a learner’s toolkit.

Review Two

Kanji Heatmap is an interactive, data‐driven web application designed to help learners and enthusiasts explore Japanese kanji in depth. It offers a visually engaging platform where users can: Search and Filter: Quickly find kanji using English keywords, on’yomi or kun’yomi readings, and refine searches by filters such as JLPT level, Jouyou Grade, stroke count, Remembering the Kanji index, and more. Visualize Frequency Data: See how the usage frequency of each kanji varies across multiple real-world data sources—from Netflix subtitles and Japanese dramas to novels, Twitter, Wikipedia, and more. Explore Detailed Profiles: Click on individual kanji to reveal comprehensive information including stroke order animations, component breakdowns, sample vocabulary, and even customizable fonts. Integrate with External Resources: Benefit from connections to additional resources like Jisho, Wanikani, Kanji Alive, and others for extended study and cross-referencing. Overall, the website serves as a powerful tool for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of Japanese kanji through data visualization and detailed, interactive insights.

Review Three

What a fascinating website! The Kanji Heatmap website is an interactive tool that visualizes the frequency of kanji characters in Japanese texts. It displays a heatmap of kanji characters, with more frequently used characters appearing in duller shades. This website is likely to be useful for: Japanese language learners, who can identify common kanji characters and focus on learning the most frequently used ones. Language researchers, who can analyze the distribution of kanji characters in different texts and genres. Anyone interested in linguistics, data visualization, or Japanese culture. Overall, the Kanji Heatmap website is a unique and informative resource that provides insights into the Japanese language and its usage patterns.

Review Four

Based on the information available, Kanji Heatmap (kanjiheatmap.com) is a web application designed to aid in the study of Japanese kanji. Here's a breakdown of its key features: Kanji Frequency Visualization: It allows users to visualize how the frequency of kanji usage varies across multiple data sources, including platforms like Netflix, Twitter, Google, Wikipedia, and Aozora. This provides valuable insights into the real-world application of kanji. Comprehensive Kanji Information: It offers detailed profiles for each kanji, including: Stroke order animations. Component breakdowns. Sample vocabulary. Advanced Search and Filtering: Users can search for kanji using English keywords, on'yomi, or kun'yomi readings. Results can be sorted and filtered by various criteria, such as JLPT level, Jouyou Grade, stroke count, and frequency rank. User-Friendly Interface: The application is designed with a sleek and intuitive interface to enhance the learning experience. External Resource Integration: It connects users to external resources like Jisho, Wanikani, and Kanshudo for seamless cross-referencing. In essence, Kanji Heatmap is a tool that aims to provide a data-driven approach to kanji learning, making it easier for learners to understand and master Japanese characters.

Review Five

Kanji Heatmap (kanjiheatmap.com) is a visually striking website dedicated to Japanese kanji characters. The site features: - A vibrant interface with kanji characters displayed in bright pink/magenta squares arranged in a grid format - A search functionality with keyword filtering - Navigation options including "Kanji Search" in the dropdown menu - A comprehensive collection of kanji characters organized in an easy-to-scan visual format The website appears to be a tool for Japanese language learners or linguists to explore kanji characters in a visual way. The grid layout makes it easy to browse through many characters at once, and the bright color scheme creates a distinctive visual experience. This type of "heatmap" visualization could potentially help users identify patterns or relationships between different kanji characters. The interface is clean and focused on presenting the kanji characters prominently, making it a specialized resource for anyone studying or working with Japanese writing.

Japanese Learning Resources

Jotoba: An online Japanese dictionary that offers comprehensive kanji lookups using keywords, radicals, or stroke counts.

The Kanji Map: An interactive tool that visually organizes kanji, helping users see relationships and connections between characters.

Jisho: A popular Japanese-English dictionary known for its detailed kanji entries, example sentences, and versatile search options.

kanjiapi.dev: A developer-friendly RESTful API that provides extensive data on kanji—including meanings, readings, and usage examples.

Kanji Alive: An educational platform featuring detailed kanji information, stroke order animations, and example vocabulary for effective learning.

Hochanh: A resource offering visual and interactive tools to aid in kanji study (often paired with other databases for comprehensive learning). https://hochanh.github.io/rtk/%E5%93%81/index.html

JPDB.io: A robust Japanese language database that features kanji, vocabulary, and example sentences with advanced search capabilities.

Wanikani: A structured kanji learning application that uses mnemonics and spaced repetition to help learners master characters efficiently. Tofugu

Remembering the Kanji/Heisig: A method and associated resources that introduce mnemonic techniques to simplify the process of learning kanji.

Duolingo: A gamified language-learning platform that includes Japanese lessons with kanji practice integrated into its curriculum.

Memrise: A language learning app that employs spaced repetition and mnemonic devices to assist with memorizing kanji and vocabulary.

Anki: A flashcard-based tool widely used for spaced repetition, making it a favorite among students for memorizing kanji and other study materials.

Kanshudo: A comprehensive online resource offering interactive kanji learning tools, quizzes, and detailed character information.

Immersion Kit: A platform providing immersive language resources, including contextual vocabulary and kanji references, to enhance language acquisition.

Tatoeba: A collaborative database of example sentences in multiple languages, useful for understanding real-world kanji usage in context.

Frequency Rank Data Sources

Data Source Description Kanji Occurrences Year/Compilation Details
Netflix Derived from Japanese Netflix subtitles 53M Compiled by OhTalkWho (Dave Doebrick) in 2019
Japanese Drama Derived from 12,277 subtitles from drama, anime, films 20.5M Compiled by Chris Kempson, github.com/Matchoo95/JP-Subtitles, chriskempson/japanese-subtitles-word-kanji-frequency-lists
Novel Derived from scanning 5100 novels 180M Compiled by Redditor Nukemarine
Twitter Derived from Twitter messages collected 10M Last June 2015
Wikipedia Derived from 100,000 articles sampled 59M 2023
Online News Derived from over 3,700 articles from Japanese Wikinews (2005-2023) 1.1M -
Aozora Derived from over 17,000 books from Aozora Bunko (mostly >70 years old) 67.8M Compiled by Patrick Kandrac
Google Kouji Shibano's Google Kanji Data 133B 2009
Kanji Usage Frequency (KUF) Processed from Wikipedia, Aozora, e-news, Twitter 850M 2016
Matsushita's Character Database (MCD) Processed 33M words from BCCWJ and Yahoo知恵袋 - 2014
Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs Processed from books, magazines, textbooks, newspapers, websites, etc. 1.45M Published in 2010
Jisho.org Uses Alexandre Girardi's word frequency list 300,000 words Published in 1998, 4 years of Mainichi Newspaper
Alex Yatskov's Wikipedia Kanji Frequency Report (WKFR) Analyzed more than 500M kanji occurrences 500M+ Published in 2010

Kanji Heatmap Description Summaries

Efficiently identify, search, and study the most relevant kanji using frequency data-driven visuals. Gain real-world usage insights from data corpora drawn from 17+ sources, including Netflix, Twitter, Google, Wikipedia, and more

A kanji exploration tool. Visualize kanji frequency rankings from 17+ sources (Netflix, Twitter, Google, Wikipedia, etc.) for real-world usage insights. Search effortlessly and dive into detailed info — stroke animations, component breakdowns, and sample vocab — all in one place.

Efficiently identify, search for, study, and gain real-world usage insights into the most relevant kanji with frequency data-driven visuals. Data corpus drawn from 17+ sources - Netflix, Twitter, Google, Wikipedia...

A dynamic web app designed to revolutionize how you study Japanese kanji. Perfect for learners at all levels, this tool offers real-time visualization of kanji frequency rankings across 17+ data sources—including Netflix, Twitter, Google, Wikipedia, and Aozora—so you can see how widely a kanji is used in real-world contexts. Quickly search by English keyword, on'yomi, or kun'omi readings using the intuitive search bar, then sort and filter results by JLPT level, Jouyou Grade, stroke count, RTK index, or frequency rank to tailor your study sessions. Dive deeper into each kanji with detailed profiles featuring stroke-order animations, component breakdowns, sample vocabulary, and customizable fonts. Optimize your learning with a sleek, user-friendly interface that prioritizes clarity and efficiency. Whether prepping for the JLPT exam, analyzing kanji usage in media, or exploring etymology, Kanji Heatmap connects you to external resources like Jisho, Wanikani, and Kanshudo for seamless cross-referencing. Rank higher in your studies and let Google rank us higher too—Kanji Heatmap is the go-to hub for data-driven kanji mastery.

A powerful and intuitive web application designed to help you master Japanese kanji. With its advanced search bar, you can look up characters by English keyword, on'yomi reading, or kun'yomi reading. Then, sort and filter results by JLPT level, Jouyou Grade, Remembering the Kanji (RTK) Index, stroke count, or frequency ranking. Gain valuable insights into how each kanji's frequency changes across multiple data sources—including Netflix, Twitter, Google, Wikipedia, Aozora, and more—and dive deeper by clicking on any kanji to reveal sample vocabulary, component parts, stroke animations, and even font customization options. Kanji Heatmap offers a clean, user-friendly interface and a visually engaging experience, making it the perfect tool for learners and enthusiasts looking to refine their study and expand their Japanese vocabulary.

Elevate your Japanese language learning. The ultimate web application for mastering kanji with precision and ease. Perfect for beginners and advanced learners alike, Kanji Heatmap offers a powerful suite of tools to explore kanji in depth. Search effortlessly using English keywords, onyomi, or kunyomi readings via an intuitive search bar, and sort kanji by JLPT level, Jouyou Grade, Remembering the Kanji Index, keywords, or frequency rankings. With data from 17 diverse sources—including Netflix, Twitter, Google, Wikipedia, and Aozora—you can visualize how kanji frequency varies across contexts, giving you unique insights into real-world usage. Refine your study with advanced filters like stroke count, JLPT level, or frequency ranking, and dive into detailed kanji profiles featuring sample vocabulary, component breakdowns, stroke order animations, and customizable fonts. Wrapped in a sleek, user-friendly interface. Makes learning kanji engaging and efficient. Transform your kanji study experience!