Totally awesome  
By: Shitake2K - Mar 23, 2009
Version: 3.0.0.14
This program is totally amazing. I have had the program for rather a long time. It can sit untouched on my iPhone for weeks but then I come back to it and I feel so good about it's presence on my phone. Every upgrade has added such significant features. The list feature is very helpful and now the derivatives of each kanji really blows me away. I do intend to give this 5 or 10 minutes a day, it is a wonderful learning aid to anyone who would like to increase kanji recognition, reading and writing abilities. You are doing a great job with this application. Keep up the great work!

Awesome Kanji Dictionary  
By: Thrashre - Jun 26, 2009
Version: 3.0.1.20
I'm surprised that this app doesn't have more reviews; this is a very solid kanji dictionary. There are three times the kanji as the standard joyo list, and the interface is very intuitive. Overall, a very, very solid app. There are many solid features planned for the next revisions as well, so the app will continue to improve. And in response to a previous review, atsui is definitely there. It's listed as atsu.i, based on the romaji of the kanji. Just enter hot under meaning and it's right there.

HIGHEST POTENTIAL OF ANY JAPANESE APPLICATION AVAILABLE!  
By: cozykiwibird - Oct 25, 2008
Version: 2.1.0.4
(October 2008) I am shocked at how great this program is! It is the App Store’s BEST KEPT SECRET!!! 5 stars for the program and another 5 stars for the service!
Perhaps the most important thing about this program is the dedication of the creator. I received a reply to my question about future updates within a few hours. To my delight, I discovered that plans are in the works to include compounds for the current kanji and a full dictionary (not just kanji)! The dedication of ShinKanji’s creator speaks volumes. Speaking of which, the creator actually requests input; “And if you have usability issues, suggestions, or if you find a bug in the application or the data, please don't hesitate to inform me.”
ShinKanji features accurate readings and stroke order for kanji with definitions in multiple languages. The stroke order can be viewed step by step or in an animation and either way it is clear where the starting point for each stroke is (a very rare feature)! In addition you can sort the kanji lists by Radical(s), JLPT level, Jouyou Grade or word category (Animals, Body, Colors, Elements, Numbers, Elements, and even Counters). Personally, I prefer to sort them by grade and this feature makes my life so much easier! Because of that feature I can easily look up the meanings of the kanji I write in Kakitorikun handwriting practice for the Nintendo DS. ShinKanji is a fabulous reference at home and on the go. The program is easy to use and runs fast! ShinKanji is better than any of the Kanji books or applications I own and I have dozens. Although I own other Japanese reference applications, this is the only one I use often. If an excellent Japanese resource is what you want, you will certainly be happy if you purchase this program.

One of the best Japanese learning apps in the store  
By: form49b - Nov 16, 2008
Version: 2.2.1.0
I've had ShinKanji since its release. It was very good to start with but it has really become one of the top Japanese learning apps. The recent release includes its own Kanji drawing tablet which I like much more than the iPhone's native input mode (more area for drawing, and it seems better at finding what I'm looking for). Benoit is really responsive, listens to all suggestions, and his track record of improvements indicates a great future for this app.

excellent kanji-learning app  
By: changchup - Jan 4, 2009
Version: 2.2.2.0
This is still my favorite Japanese app, and I use it everyday to look up characters and how to write them. It is a very convenient way to see a character written LARGE for learning purposes. The developer has increased the font size of input kanji if you just want a reminder of what a specific character looks like. That's very helpful! The new "draw" feature is a nice bonus that offers a much better alternative to the iphone's chinese keyboard "draw" feature.
1. I'm still looking for a feature that would display two kanji at the same time (since most Japanese vocabulary use two or more kanji), or at least one that would allow one to toggle back and forth between the first kanji and second kanji without having to input a two-character word all over again and then delete the first character to see how the second one is written...!
2. When entering the hiragana for Direct Input, sometimes a lot of kanji appear. It is difficult to scroll through the group of kanji looking for the kanji I want without accidentally pressing on a kanji that I don't want. Also, if there's a way to make these kanji larger and more readable, that would help a lot. This is a probably a limitation on Apple's part.
3. Having to press "direct" first and then wait for the direct input to descend and ascend before inputting is time-consuming--it would be nice to have the input field come up directly in the home page when it opens so that I do not have to go through that extra step.
I would recommend this app to anyone who is serious about learning how to write kanji, and for all others who just need to look them up from time to time...

Currently the best Kanji dictionary available  
By: edwinbradford - 12-Jul-2009
Version: 3.0.1.23
I think the previous reviewer was expecting a flash card app of which there are many available, I recommend Anki which is free and highly regarded. This is a Kanji reference dictionary. I've been studying Japanese for several years and am intermediate level, studying JLPT 2 (second from top level). This is indisputably the best Kanji dictionary available. Its not as presentable as some of the other dictionaries but is infinitely more advanced for kanji. Please note, the iPhone / iPod does *not* offer built in Japanese Kanji recogniton through handwriting even on OS 3.0. It only supports Chinese Kanji recognition through handwriting. More difficult yet, there are two Chinese keyboard layouts to choose from, you have to try one and *hope* it will find your character, if that doesn't work you have to try the other chinese keyboard and after all that switch back to your Japanese keyboard.
ShinKanji has its own Japanese handwriting interface independent of the OS, i.e. it works. There's one new app come out called wishoTouch that now also offers this functionality and looks very presentable but its *very* expensive, in my opinion too expensive for a dictionary that only bundles Edict which is free. ShinKanji supports mulitple methods to search for kanji, all of which you will use as you study, all of which I've tried and have found to work perfectly. This is a very advanced app, ideal for non native speakers.
The presentation is a little primitive, I would like to see it look a bit less like a Windows program and more like an Apple one, its nowhere near as nice looking as wishoTouch or Japanese, the other (overpriced IMHO) dictionary, but the developer has made ShinKanji in his spare time and is to be commended. Highly recommended.

Headed towards 5 stars...  
By: yukkuri_kame - Apr 4, 2009
Version: 3.0.0.15
I have bought far too many Japanese learning apps - most of them disappointing, but ShinKanji keeps getting better thanks to Benoit. The radical search is unparalleled for looking up a kanji you don't know. The latest update added a long list of compounds for each kanji, which was on my wish list. I still find the interface a bit awkward and counter-intuitive, but reasonably functional. Example sentences would take this app over the top...into 5 stars territory. Lastly, the price is quite reasonable for the usefulness of the app.

A good idea, nicely executed  
By: Australian Kids Doctor - 02-Oct-2008
Version: 2.0
A substantial improvement on what was a good start with Version 1, V 2.0 now has many of the features I want out of a Kanji learning program: organised by theme (animals, anatomy... I expect more will come with updates), ability to flick through cards, great stroke order instruction. Can enter an English or French word, and easily find the relevant kanji and pronunciation. The interface takes some getting used to, but the program is powerful enough to make it worth it

definitely worth it  
By: scr33n - Sep 3, 2008
Version: 1.0
I'm using this frequently to help learn about 10 kanji a week. It simply does what you need it to and it's now one the more useful apps I have.

Great  
By: H1976 - Nov 16, 2008
Version: 2.2.1.0
Does everything right, simple multi engined search, hand drawn kanji recognition excellent, indespensable for any Japanese learners

Totally awesome  
By: Shitake2K - Mar 23, 2009
Version: 3.0.0.14
This program is totally amazing. I have had the program for rather a long time. It can sit untouched on my iPhone for weeks but then I come back to it and I feel so good about it's presence on my phone. Every upgrade has added such significant features. The list feature is very helpful and now the derivatives of each kanji really blows me away. I do intend to give this 5 or 10 minutes a day, it is a wonderful learning aid to anyone who would like to increase kanji recognition, reading and writing abilities. You are doing a great job with this application. Keep up the great work!

Great app  
By: McFate - Mar 21, 2009
Version: 2.2.3.30
I have 10 Kanji apps, and use this one more than the other 9 combined. The stroke order animation is really useful; the navigation by character composition is great.

Simply Terrific  
By: student of Japanese, Geneve - May 21, 2009
Version: 3.0.0.15
This is a terrific application. It's simply awesome to be able to write out a kanji with your finger and then have Shinkanji retrieve all the information about it - and while off-line!! It's also very useful to be able to make your own kanji lists, for example, to go along with a chapter-by-chapter study from a book. I can't praise it enough.

Awesome Kanji Dictionary  
By: Thrashre - Jun 26, 2009
Version: 3.0.1.20
I'm surprised that this app doesn't have more reviews; this is a very solid kanji dictionary. There are three times the kanji as the standard joyo list, and the interface is very intuitive. Overall, a very, very solid app. There are many solid features planned for the next revisions as well, so the app will continue to improve. And in response to a previous review, atsui is definitely there. It's listed as atsu.i, based on the romaji of the kanji. Just enter hot under meaning and it's right there.

no more crashes  
By: benwulf - Jul 7, 2009
Version: 3.0.1.23
the crashes which were unfortunately frequent on in v3.0.1.20 have been fixed.

Awesome!  
By: deadly_shinobi - Jul 9, 2009
Version: 3.0.1.23
This is a must-have app if you're studying Japanese.

Awesome!  
By: Kmlydy - Aug 31, 2008
Version: 1.0
Ever since I heard about apple providing the ability for applications to be created for the iPhone I hoped and wished someone would create a program the would serve as a word tank. A HUGE thank you for coming out with this! I am totally pleased with this and look forward to updates. 本当にありがとうございます。

HIGHEST POTENTIAL OF ANY JAPANESE APPLICATION AVAILABLE!  
By: cozykiwibird - Oct 25, 2008
Version: 2.1.0.4
(October 2008) I am shocked at how great this program is! It is the App Store’s BEST KEPT SECRET!!! 5 stars for the program and another 5 stars for the service!
Perhaps the most important thing about this program is the dedication of the creator. I received a reply to my question about future updates within a few hours. To my delight, I discovered that plans are in the works to include compounds for the current kanji and a full dictionary (not just kanji)! The dedication of ShinKanji’s creator speaks volumes. Speaking of which, the creator actually requests input; “And if you have usability issues, suggestions, or if you find a bug in the application or the data, please don't hesitate to inform me.”
ShinKanji features accurate readings and stroke order for kanji with definitions in multiple languages. The stroke order can be viewed step by step or in an animation and either way it is clear where the starting point for each stroke is (a very rare feature)! In addition you can sort the kanji lists by Radical(s), JLPT level, Jouyou Grade or word category (Animals, Body, Colors, Elements, Numbers, Elements, and even Counters). Personally, I prefer to sort them by grade and this feature makes my life so much easier! Because of that feature I can easily look up the meanings of the kanji I write in Kakitorikun handwriting practice for the Nintendo DS. ShinKanji is a fabulous reference at home and on the go. The program is easy to use and runs fast! ShinKanji is better than any of the Kanji books or applications I own and I have dozens. Although I own other Japanese reference applications, this is the only one I use often. If an excellent Japanese resource is what you want, you will certainly be happy if you purchase this program.

One of the best Japanese learning apps in the store  
By: form49b - Nov 16, 2008
Version: 2.2.1.0
I've had ShinKanji since its release. It was very good to start with but it has really become one of the top Japanese learning apps. The recent release includes its own Kanji drawing tablet which I like much more than the iPhone's native input mode (more area for drawing, and it seems better at finding what I'm looking for). Benoit is really responsive, listens to all suggestions, and his track record of improvements indicates a great future for this app.

Great app, always improving  
By: EricTokyo1973 - Apr 18, 2009
Version: 3.0.0.15
I live and work in Japan. Shinkanji is excellent for looking up Kanji quickly and for study. My Japanese co-workers even ask to borrow it sometimes (nobody remembers all the kanji, all the time.) I highly recommend it.