Rekindling My Journey: Hiragana Again

Learning Japanese isn’t completely new to me—I first studied it in primary school and continued it through high school. But like many things, without regular use, much of it faded over time. Now, in my mid 30s and having spent the past 8–9 months doing online tutoring lessons, I’m rediscovering what I once knew and rebuilding my foundation.

One of my first steps in this renewed journey was returning to hiragana—the core of the Japanese writing system. Even though I remembered bits and pieces, relearning it felt like reconnecting with an old friend.

Why Hiragana Still Matters

Hiragana is essential for reading and writing in Japanese, and revisiting it gave me the confidence to dive deeper into grammar and vocabulary. It’s amazing how such a simple set of characters can open the door to an entire language.

How I Relearned Hiragana

Here’s what worked for me as I refreshed my memory:

1. Rediscovering Familiar Characters

Some characters came back instantly (like あ and か), but others felt brand new. Repetition and writing practice helped bridge the gaps. To keep it simple, I actually focused on the characters I already knew so I could put the challenging ones to the side for future revision.

2. Alternative Learning Tools

This time round, I actually searched restaurants in Japan on Google Maps and tried reading their menus. They made practice more engaging than the old pen-and-paper drills I remembered.

3. Reading Practice

I started reading simple phrases and sentences with both hiragana and romaji while trying my best to follow along the hiragana and then only using the romaji when I needed to. This helped create perspective and relationships with each of the characters rather than just trying to memorise them individually.

What This Taught Me

Returning to hiragana reminded me that learning (or relearning) is a process. It’s okay to have gaps—it’s how you approach them that counts. Slowly but surely, it all starts to click again, and that’s incredibly motivating.

Tips for Relearners

• Don’t Rush: It’s tempting to skip basics you think you know, but revisiting them solidifies your foundation.
• Mix Old and New: Combine traditional methods (like writing by hand) with modern tools for a fresh perspective.
• Celebrate Progress: Even small wins, like remembering tricky characters, are worth celebrating.

What's Next?

With hiragana firmly back in place, I then moved on to katakana and tackled more grammar. Each step was a reminder of how much there was to explore.

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