Irodori Kanji
The official いろどり kanji list — 644 characters from Starter (入門) through Pre-Intermediate (初中級). Each kanji includes memory aids built from shape hints, radical stories, anchor vocabulary, and reading tips.
92 kanji
Starter
16 lessons with new kanji · 18 chapters
182 kanji
Elementary 1
18 lessons with new kanji · 18 chapters
155 kanji
Elementary 2
18 lessons with new kanji · 18 chapters
215 kanji
Pre-Intermediate
18 lessons with new kanji · 18 chapters
How memory aids work
- Shape— pictographic hints linking the character's appearance to its meaning.
- Components — radical-based stories that break the kanji into meaningful parts.
- Anchor word — the Irodori vocabulary where you first meet each character (contextual encoding).
- Readings — on/kun tips tied to words you already know from the course.
Based on multi-modal memory research: combining visual, semantic, contextual, and phonetic cues improves long-term retention more than rote copying alone.