01
Recall before you reveal
In Active Recall mode, try to remember the word or kanji before hovering to reveal its reading and meaning. The example sentence stays visible to give you context.
Hover to reveal
Japanese, always within sight
Japanese, always in the background.
Keep Japanese words and kanji on your Windows desktop, with readings, meanings and example sentences. Add your own vocabulary, import Anki cards or start with the included kanji decks.
Windows 10/11 · Free forever · No account
Free & open source
Works offline
No ads or subscriptions
No telemetry
Less friction, more contact
Your study material stops disappearing after a session.
KanjiWidget does not ask you to build a new habit before it can help. It turns unused desktop space into gentle, repeated exposure — without notifications, streaks or guilt.
Review when you choose
A familiar reveal-and-rate flow schedules each card with FSRS: Again, Hard, Good or Easy. The session uses a fixed pool, so new cards never jump in halfway through.
Bring your Anki deck
Import text cards directly from an .apkg file. Images and other media are skipped, while imported cards stay in their own editable deck.
Built around your rhythm
Small enough to ignore. Useful whenever you look.
- Vocabulary cards with readings, meanings and examples
- Built-in JLPT N5 and N4 kanji decks
- Examples with furigana and translations
- Create, search, edit and delete cards
- Dark, light and system themes
- Optional autostart and system tray
- English and Russian interface
Local by design
Your cards stay on your computer.
Normal study activity uses no network connection. Settings, decks and review history live in a local SQLite database. There is no account, analytics or telemetry.
A different kind of repetition
Use your Anki cards on the desktop.
Anki is a powerful flashcard system. KanjiWidget solves a narrower problem: keeping Japanese close enough that studying does not always have to begin with a deliberate session.
Japanese stays on your desktop
- Passive exposure throughout the day
- Active Recall answers appear on hover
- Focused reviews use FSRS scheduling
- Optional local reminders after 24 hours without a completed review
- Imports text from Anki .apkg decks
A complete flashcard toolbox
- Best for deliberate study sessions
- Rich media, add-ons, and synchronization
- Supports subjects far beyond Japanese
- Can remain your source deck
Good to know
Questions before downloading.
Can I study whole words?
Yes. A card can show a word such as 見える, its reading みえる, meaning and an example sentence. Create vocabulary cards or import text from Anki. The included N5/N4 decks focus on kanji; your own vocabulary can come from any level.
Is it an Anki replacement?
KanjiWidget is a standalone desktop companion. Import text from an .apkg file to create a separate deck. Cards and review progress do not sync with Anki, and images and audio are not imported.
Does it need the internet?
No. Normal study is completely local. Cards, settings, and review history stay in a SQLite database on your computer.
Why might SmartScreen warn me?
The current build is unsigned. Source code and SHA-256 checksums are public. There is no confirmed date for signed releases.
Start with one glance
Keep Japanese on your desktop.
Version 1.6.1 for 64-bit Windows 10 and 11.
Current builds are not yet code-signed, so Windows SmartScreen may warn about an unknown publisher. Source code and SHA-256 checksums are public.