Stories from the Japanese you know.
early access·feedback
Japanese reading practice matched to your level.
Finding Japanese reading material at exactly the right level is harder than it should be. Native content is often too difficult. Beginner textbooks are too repetitive. Mukashi fills the gap by generating short stories built around the vocabulary you already know.
Why level-matched reading matters
When you read above your level, you spend more time looking up words than actually reading. When you read below your level, you don't encounter new vocabulary in context. The sweet spot — reading where you know most words but not all — is where real progress happens.
Linguists call this comprehensible input. Mukashi is designed to help you find it, consistently, at your current stage.
Sample stories by JLPT level
Here are examples of the kind of stories Mukashi generates at each level. Every story is different — generated fresh each time based on your vocabulary and chosen topic.
田中さんは毎朝公園を散歩します。今日は空が青くてきれいでした。ベンチに座って、水を飲みました。少し休んでから、家に帰りました。
Tanaka-san takes a walk in the park every morning. Today the sky was blue and beautiful. She sat on a bench and drank some water. After resting a little, she went home.
週末に友だちとカフェで待ち合わせをしました。少し早く着いたので、本を読みながら待ちました。友だちが来たとき、二人でコーヒーを注文して、しばらく話しました。
I met a friend at a café on the weekend. I arrived a little early, so I waited while reading a book. When my friend arrived, we both ordered coffee and talked for a while.
電車の中で、隣に座った男性が話しかけてきた。どこへ行くのかと聞かれたので、図書館に行くと答えた。男性は少し笑って、「いいですね」と言ってから、静かに本を開いた。
On the train, the man sitting next to me struck up a conversation. When he asked where I was headed, I said the library. He smiled slightly, said "That's nice," then quietly opened his book.
How Mukashi generates your reading practice
Connect your WaniKani account or select a JLPT level, pick a topic, and Mukashi generates a short Japanese story using vocabulary you already know as the foundation. Each story is reviewed for naturalness and level fit before being shown to you.
In the reader, you can tap any word to see its meaning and reading, toggle furigana on or off, and view an English translation if you need it.
Who it's for
- WaniKani learners looking for reading that matches their current kanji level
- JLPT N5, N4, and N3 students who want more exposure between textbook sessions
- Anyone who finds native content too difficult but textbook sentences too boring
Try it free — no account required to start.
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