A small forest of thoughtful apps
kotomori is a free learning platform built around language, creativity, and the quiet joy of getting better at something. All core features across all apps are free to use.
Our philosophy
kotomori (言葉が育つ — "words that grow") started with a simple idea: the best learning tools are the ones you actually use. Not because they're addictive or clever, but because they fit into real life without demanding too much of it.
We're not building one giant everything-app. Instead, we're making a collection of small tools that each do one thing well. ShadowFlow for pronunciation through YouTube. UgoKaki for bringing children's drawings alive. Nazori for tracing hiragana the right way. Memoria for a private AI that actually remembers you. Daily English Article for one authentic article each morning.
It's fine to use only one. It's fine to skip days. We just want the right tool to be within reach when you actually need it.
Our apps
- Nazori
Japanese writing practice app. Teaches hiragana, katakana, and 2,000+ kanji through stroke-by-stroke tracing with real-time accuracy feedback.
iOS · Web - Daily English Article
One real-world news article per day at B2 CEFR level. Vocabulary highlights, reading time, difficulty badge. Covers politics, science, economy, technology, and culture.
iOS · Web - UgoKaki (うごカキ)
Transforms a photo of a child's drawing into an animated storybook video using AI. For parents of children ages 2–10.
iOS · Web - Memoria
Local AI chat app with permanent long-term memory. Runs 100% on-device — no data sent to any server. For Mac and iPhone.
Mac · iOS - ShadowFlow
Language shadowing practice with any YouTube video. Syncs subtitles sentence by sentence for pronunciation, listening, and speaking practice.
Web
Who makes kotomori
kotomori is built by Daichi, an indie developer based in Japan. Before building apps, Daichi was thinking about the same problems all language learners face: how to practice speaking when you live somewhere with no native speakers, how to keep kids interested in writing, how to get real language practice without expensive tutors or subscriptions.
The apps in kotomori are tools Daichi wanted to exist. They're built to last — no venture funding, no growth targets, no artificial subscription gates on features that should be free.
Frequently asked questions
- Is kotomori free?
- Yes. All core features across all kotomori apps are free to use. Some apps offer optional premium content (like additional kanji packs in Nazori) for a one-time fee, but the core functionality is always free.
- Does kotomori share my data?
- kotomori uses Supabase for authentication and progress sync across devices. Memoria is the only app that runs 100% on-device with zero data sent to any server — your AI conversations stay entirely on your Mac or iPhone.
- Which devices does kotomori support?
- Most apps work on iPhone and in any web browser. Nazori and Daily English Article have dedicated iOS apps. Memoria runs on Mac (Apple Silicon) and iPhone. ShadowFlow is web-only. UgoKaki is iPhone-only.
- Which kotomori app should I start with?
- If you're learning Japanese writing: start with Nazori. If you want to improve English reading: Daily English Article. If you want better English pronunciation: ShadowFlow. If you want a private AI assistant: Memoria. If you have children who draw: UgoKaki.
- Is kotomori available in multiple languages?
- Yes. kotomori.app is fully available in English, Japanese, and Spanish. All core apps support the same three languages.