Learn to Read Hiragana

Friday, April 25, 6:30-8:30 pm ET | Calculate your local time

Related Workshop: Learn to Read Katakana

PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will be conducted online via Zoom. To participate fully, you will need access to a device with internet, microphone, and camera (such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet). Please note that all times listed are New York time (ET).

This mini-workshop offers the beginning student of Japanese the opportunity to quickly and efficiently master the reading of hiragana, one of the two Japanese syllabaries. This writing system, along with katakana and the more complex kanji (ideograms which represent meaning), constitute the written Japanese language.

Hiragana was developed from the cursive style of kanji at the beginning of the Heian era (794 – 1192). Its function is to represent sound rather than meaning, and it is used to write native Japanese words as well as verb inflections, adjectival endings, etc.

Due to this being a language learning workshop, we highly recommend having your video on if possible. We do ask that every participant is able to participate via their microphone. If you do not have this capability, please contact us at [email protected].

This workshop is designed for adults aged 18 and above.

For a printer friendly version, please click here: Workshop Information (PDF)

Instructor

Ms. Kazue Kurahara holds a BA from Hunter College and an MA in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language and TESOL from NYU. She holds teaching certificates in both Japanese and ESL. She has taught Japanese at various institutions, including New York University, Hunter College, Pace University, and The New School. She is the scriptwriter and host of Japan Society’s YouTube series “Uki Uki NihonGO! + Culture”.

How To Register

Workshop capacity is limited! To guarantee a seat, please register as soon as possible. If the workshop reaches full capacity, a waitlist may be available. Please email [email protected].

Tuition: $42 nonmembers /$35 Japan Society members and Corporate members
Inclusive of fees, where applicable.

Registration may be completed online (preferred) or by phone at (212) 715-1269 or (212) 715-1293, or in-person (please inquire for hours).

Registrants will receive a Welcome Email and the Zoom link from [email protected]  on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 23, 2025.

Please Note

UPDATE! Cancellation Policy: Cancellations are accepted until 12 pm ET, TWO BUSINESS DAYS before the workshop begins. The Language Center’s business days are Monday – Friday, except for most federal holidays. After this deadline, cancellations are not accepted and tuition is not refundable or transferable for any reason (including for credit). Upon cancellation, the tuition paid minus the nonrefundable administrative fee ($5 per workshop) will be refunded. 

Cancellation requests can be made either by phone or email, but they must be received by the office by the cancellation deadline. Otherwise, cancellation requests will not be fulfilled.

Japan Society also reserves the right to cancel any workshop if sufficient enrollment is not obtained. In such cases, students already enrolled will receive full refunds (no administrative fee).

By registering for a workshop, you accept and agree to the above terms of the cancellation policy.

We do not record our workshops, and recording of these workshops is prohibited.

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Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.

Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Support for Japan Society’s Language Center is provided, in part, by Mark F. Goldfield and Mary E. Hatch, Christopher Hong, Steven Giordano, and Dr. Bic Kanayjorn.