Help
Help & FAQ
Everything you need to get going with Tomo, and answers to the questions learners ask most.
Getting started
Choose your level
Create your account and pick your JLPT target. Tomo starts you where you are, N5 through N1.
Add some words
Subscribe to a premade deck, or capture your own words. Tomo drafts the card: reading, meaning, example, hook.
Review each morning
A few focused minutes a day. Rate honestly after the reveal; Tomo handles every bit of the timing.
How Tomo works
Four things happen quietly so your study stays simple: Tomo schedules, drafts, watches for weak spots, and keeps the daily ritual gentle.
Scheduling that follows your memory
Tomo uses FSRS, the modern spaced-repetition algorithm, to time each card to the moment just before you would forget it. Rate honestly after the reveal: cards you find hard return sooner, and cards you find easy wait longer.
Cards that arrive ready
Add a word and Tomo drafts the whole card: reading, meaning, a natural example sentence, and a memory hook. Edit anything, keep what fits, and start reviewing right away.
A teacher’s eye for weak spots
When two words keep crossing wires, Tomo notices, explains the difference in plain language, and brings the pair back together so you can finally pull them apart.
A ritual, not a streak
A few focused minutes each morning hold a surprising amount of Japanese in place. Miss a day and your schedule simply picks up where you left off; there is no streak to break.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Tomo?
- Tomo is a spaced-repetition app built specifically for Japanese learners. It schedules your reviews, helps you build high-quality cards, and points you at the words that need more work — all in one place.
- What is FSRS, and why does it matter?
- FSRS (the Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler) is the modern algorithm Tomo uses to decide when to show each card. It times reviews to just before you would forget, so you spend less time reviewing and retain more.
- How is Tomo different from Anki?
- Anki is powerful but spartan, and its cards are only as good as the time you spend making them. Tomo pairs modern FSRS scheduling with cards that come ready-made — readings, example sentences, and mnemonics — in a calmer, friendlier app.
- Do I have to make my own cards?
- No. Tomo ships complete JLPT N5–N1 vocabulary decks you can start with immediately. When you do add a word, Tomo drafts the card for you — you just review and keep what fits.
- Does Tomo work on my phone?
- Yes. Tomo runs in any modern browser and can be installed to your home screen on phones, tablets, and desktops. Many learners review on desktop in the morning and catch stray moments on mobile.
- What happens if I miss a day?
- Your schedule simply picks up where you left off. Tomo has no streak pressure — missed practice is handled as recovery, never as failure.
- Is Tomo accessible?
- Accessibility is part of the product, not an add-on: full keyboard review (number keys rate, space reveals), screen-reader support with correct Japanese pronunciation, reduced-motion support, and color-blind-safe rating controls.
- Does Tomo work offline?
- Yes. Tomo buffers the reviews you do offline and syncs them automatically when you reconnect, so a spotty connection on the train never costs you a session.
- Can I export or delete my data?
- You can delete your account and its data at any time from Settings → Security. If you would like a copy of your cards and review history first, you can request an export from the same place.
Ready when you are.
Pick a level, choose a few decks, review your first cards in minutes.