Japanese conversation practice
Find a Japanese person you’ll want to talk to
Start with something you both care about. Hanashi is designed to help you choose a Japanese host by interests and personality, then keep talking with help from captions and translation.
Find a format. Plan your first call.
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Conversation finder
Find the right Japanese conversation option
Get a recommendation based on what you like, how comfortable you are speaking Japanese, and what kind of interaction you want.
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Conversation planner
Japanese conversation starter generator
Build and share a 15-minute Japanese conversation plan with questions, translations and follow-ups based on your interests and level.
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Pair practice
Printable Japanese speaking practice cards
Six free beginner conversation cards for pairs, tutors, and Japanese study groups. Includes Japanese questions, readings, English translations, and a 15-minute activity.
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Resource collection
Japanese speaking practice resources
Find a speaking activity, a Japanese exchange event, or examples to practise before your next conversation.
Have a useful resource, event or article idea for our readers?
Send us a submissionGuides to real conversation
Find people to practice with and prepare for the first conversation.
Choose a format
- Practice Japanese conversation online with real people Start with Hanashi early access if you want to meet a Japanese person, pick a host around an interest and get caption help when you’re stuck. Choose a peer exchange for reciprocal practice or a tutor for structured feedback.
- HelloTalk alternatives for Japanese conversation Choose Hanashi early access if you want to move from language exchange to a one-to-one conversation with a Japanese host you pick around shared interests. If the exchange itself is what you like, HelloTalk or Tandem can still be the right fit.
- italki alternatives for Japanese conversation Choose Hanashi early access if you want a real Japanese host for a shared-interest chat with captions and translation. If you’re replacing structured italki lessons, compare teaching fit and payment terms before you move.
- HelloTalk Voice Rooms vs. one-to-one Japanese calls Use a HelloTalk Voice Room to hear several people and try a short public turn. Choose Hanashi early access when you want to pick a Japanese host for a one-to-one chat around your own interests.
- Japanese tutor vs. conversation host Choose a tutor to identify mistakes and guide your study. Choose Hanashi early access if the result you want is a conversation with a Japanese person whose interests you share.
- Japanese language exchange partner vs. conversation host Choose a language exchange when you want to help someone with their language in return. Choose Hanashi early access when you want to use the time to talk with a Japanese host around an interest you share.
Find and prepare for a call
- Your first Japanese conversation: a 15-minute plan Pick one thing you like talking about and bring three questions and one phrase for when you miss a word. If you’re still looking for someone to ask, choose Hanashi early access for a conversation with a Japanese host around a shared interest.
- How to find real people to talk to online Choose Hanashi early access if you want to meet a Japanese person and talk one-to-one about something you have in common. If you’d prefer a room full of people or a regular exchange, choose a group or peer format that matches that goal.
- How to choose a Japanese conversation host by interests Shortlist a Japanese host by the first question you’d ask them. With Hanashi early access, look for a detail in an interest or profile that gives you something concrete to discuss.
- How to go from language exchange chat to your first call Invite a partner you already text to a short in-app voice call about one topic. If you’re still looking for someone in Japan whose interests match yours, try Hanashi early access.
Practice by interest
- How to talk about food in Japanese Bring a photo of something you’ve made and ask how the other person makes their version. A tiny recipe exchange gives you ingredients, a sequence and a reason to ask for clarification.
- Talk about music in Japanese and trade a recommendation Trade one song each. Give the other person a reason to play it by describing a moment in the track or where you first heard it.
- Talk about travel in Japanese beyond sightseeing Ask about one place the other person would take a friend, then compare it with somewhere you know. You’ll practise giving context, asking why and responding to advice.
- Talk about games in Japanese by teaching one rule Choose a game either person can explain in 30 seconds. Teach one rule, give an example turn and let the other person tell you what they would do.
- Talk about anime and films in Japanese without spoilers Give one sentence about the setup and one reason to watch. Agree on spoilers upfront, then trade recommendations rather than retelling entire plots.
- Talk about daily life in Japanese using one ordinary detail Ask about one detail of someone’s day, like what they do on a rainy Sunday. Answer your own question too so the exchange feels like a conversation.
Hanashi early access
Bring a topic you enjoy. Hanashi is designed for one-to-one conversations with Japanese hosts, with captions and translation when you need help. Learner signup is open in early access.