Jōyō Kanji Database
Browse and filter the official 2,136 essential kanji for Japanese literacy
The Jōyō Kanji (常用漢字) are the 2,136 Chinese characters designated by the Japanese Ministry of Education as essential for functional literacy. These kanji are taught systematically through the Japanese school system.
Kyōiku Kanji (教育漢字)
1,026 kanji taught in elementary school (grades 1-6)
Secondary Jōyō
1,110 additional kanji taught in junior and senior high school
Browse Jōyō Kanji
Filter and sort by grade level, stroke count, frequency, and more
Study Strategy
Grade Order
Follow the official grade progression (1-6, then secondary) for optimal learning sequence.
Frequency Focus
Prioritize high-frequency kanji for faster practical gains in reading comprehension.
Radical Groups
Study kanji with shared radicals together to understand semantic patterns.