The SLJFAQ kanji recognizer is pretty robust, and very useful for learners, and since it got iframe support last year, we can integrate it into Anki. I did this with a deck I had lying on hand, JALUP's RTK mod deck, but the principle will work with any deck.

Caveats before the screenshots: you have to be online to use it. I've only tested it on computer and mouse. It won't work on Ankiweb.net because, if I remember correctly, they block iframes. I haven't tried on AnkiMobile, but it might work (help?). I realize using your mouse to draw kanji isn't exactly 21st century neither is Anki alas.

Download the "JALUP RTK Mod (With Edition 6 Grouping) Japanese, With Writing Practice" deck and follow along.


The question side consists of:

1. the RTK keyword (with JALUP's in-Japanese version),
2. a textbox in which you could type your answer if you wanted (using IME, e.g.—this is just an Anki cloze-deleted field), and
3. the SLJFAQ kanji recognition webapp.

The first time you try it, the first checkbox, "Look ahead (don't match exactly)" will be checked, but you should really consider unchecking this. Then using your mouse, start drawing the kanji:

The app updates its list of candidates after each stroke. With the options as I've shown them here, its suggestions will match your input's stroke order and number of strokes. That's why I recommend turning off "look ahead", so it doesn't recommend the kanji you're aiming for until the last stroke is drawn. So as you draw, the list of solution continues evolving but you can ignore it till you're done

Now click on the kanji from the list of suggestions it gives you, and it'll automatically show up in the textbox under the keyword. Then you can click "Show Answer" to flip the card.

At the top is a big colorful stroke order diagram showing you what you *should* have drawn, the story, and finally two new things: what you just entered in the textbox, plus what what you *should* have entered. This will be green if you got it right, or red if you didn't.

That green/red correction is just Anki's cloze-deleted display: read all about it in the manual.

And here's all the code one has to add to the question side of the card template to get the SLJFAQ iframe and connect it to the cloze-deleted input textfield:

Code:

{{type:cloze:Kanji}}

<iframe id="my-iframe"  width="800" height="350" src="http://kanji.sljfaq.org/iframe.html"></iframe>

<script>
window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);

function receiveMessage(event) {
    document.getElementById('typeans').value = event.data;
}

function sendMessageToGetSelection() {
    var iframe= document.getElementById('my-iframe');
    var iwin= iframe.contentWindow || iframe.contentDocument.defaultView;
    iwin.postMessage('Anki requesting kanji', '*');
}
</script>

On the answer side of the template, you just need to use Anki's syntax for displaying cloze-deletions, in this case, "You entered: {{cloze:Kanji}}. Answer: {{type:cloze:Kanji}}". So again, this will work for any kanji deck. You can use this to even practice writing entire sentences, though the SLJFAQ doesn't recognize kana (yet! email Benjamin Bullock and ask him ).

If someone can tell me if this works in their AnkiMobile, I'd really appreciate it. I think having this sort of writing practice, which enforces good stroke order and doesn't distract you with predictions, on mobile would be worth paying for AnkiMobile.

It unfortunately doesn't work with AnkiMobile. Trying to draw results in the whole box just flickering and moving like you are trying to drag it. I tried removing the typing prompt to see if that would make a difference but it didn't.

A fully functional and easily configurable version of something like this would make AnkiMobile super appealing for Japanese learners I'm sure. The difference between using a mouse to draw compared to a fibre-tipped stylus on the iPad is night and day.

I wonder if there is some workaround that would make it work with AnkiMobile. It might even be worth contacting Damien to ask whether there's anything he might be able to do to make it functional.

Great idea!

I think this would be fantastic with a wacom pen and tablet. Any alternative pen/input recommendations that people like for practicing kanji?

Another potential input option is using a mobile phone screen for input (with finger or screen pen). I tried a program for the iPhone called iDisplay, but that was clunky and clumsy. There must be better options.

Using my old trackpad and a finger works fine although I think the pen idea is where this will shine.

While not as robust (and I mean giving you all the information as described in the OP), on AnkiDroid you can set your cards to require input and then use (you have to install from Google Play) Google Handwriting input which came out just in the last month or so and works remarkably well for recognition.

Edit: AnkiDroid, not AnkiMobile :-) I'm assuming people have been using handwriting input with other programs for Android, but the straight Google Handwriting has been awesome for this, although writing your answers is quite tedious, it's just an option :-)

I don't know about AnkiMobile, but AnkiDroid has a built-in whiteboard which lets you draw on the screen. I didn't know about the Google handwriting integration though. I should try it out!

Thanks all for your interest. I knew I couldn't be the only person who wants to write kanji while doing reps.

Roketzu Wrote:It unfortunately doesn't work with AnkiMobile. Trying to draw results in the whole box just flickering and moving like you are trying to drag it.

I wonder if there is some workaround that would make it work with AnkiMobile.

@Roketzu, thanks for reporting. That is disappointing, I'm guessing AnkiMobile doesn't use a standard browser view to render cards… sigh. The SLJFAQ recognizer has another interface that one could target using more standard HTML5 functions than this canvas-in-iframe. I plan on writing support for that for another project, and when I do, I'll post an update. I don't have AnkiMobile, so I'll rely on you all to help debug it. I don't know how worthwhile it is to bug Damien and his little elves about supporting this obscure canvas/iframe combination.)

scooter1 Wrote:I think this would be fantastic with a wacom pen and tablet. Any alternative pen/input recommendations that people like for practicing kanji?

Well, my favorite has been using a sumi-e brush with shoji paper—OH you meant electronic Mac trackpads are amazing because they're mini-tablets and know where on the trackpad you're touching, so, e.g., in Chinese handwriting recognition mode (which in a pinch works for Japanese), you literally use your finger as a brush to draw the character. This app called Inklet lets you use the trackpad in drawing programs, but doesn't seem to work for browsers or HTML5 canvas: I've tweeted them asking what's up with that. I'm not even sure if a Wacom would work with this browser thing? Wish I still had mine.

kazuki Wrote:on AnkiDroid you can set your cards to require input and then use (you have to install from Google Play) Google Handwriting input which came out just in the last month or so and works remarkably well for recognition.

Thanks for reminding me, yes! The Google Japanese handwriting recognition is an engineering wonder, as is the Apple Chinese recognition, but alas, as you note, not as effective for practicing correct kanji. And go, AnkiDroid! But I don't want to rely on platform-specific decks.

scooter1 Wrote:I think this would be fantastic with a wacom pen and tablet. Any alternative pen/input recommendations that people like for practicing kanji?

I am using Wacom Cintiq 13 HD with Art Rage 4 for all my RTK studies and I have a blast!

Here is example of the output, note that grid lines are available, just not on the picture.

Hi Robik,

Thanks for your post. Please tell us more about the process you use to make reviewing a "blast."

Do you integrate your writing input into Anki so the computer "grades" your answers? Or are you writing and manually checking, like one would with paper and a pen (or perhaps a tablet).

My current Anki process: First, I revisit the story in my mind's eye. Next I write all kanji on the desk with my finger. This is fast but I think there is some additional muscle and visual reinforcement from the discipline of the "pen" or pencil (despite the RTK vs route memorization technique debate).

I ignored Heisig's suggestion to write the kanji only once. I do it every time I am doing my reviews.

Art Rage allow me to pick the tool (i am using Ink Pen) and its thickness / smoothing and other properties which makes kanji i write visually pleasing to me.

It is most likely individual but whenever I am not home, I am using either regular pen and paper or just finger on table, but it is not the same. I find it more annoying and boring. Especially finger method I find not that good. I have a feeling that if I make small mistake, it is much easier overlooked, than if I can compare written kanji with ANKI by eye.

As an added benefit, my speed of writing raised considerably already. Also, I find very amusing that I am beginning to write some primitives / radicals in personalized style. I wonder if it makes them harder to read for others, but from what i saw in anime (notes, letters and stuff), hand written Japanese is often unreadable mess (for me), so in comparison mine seems easy enough.

I grade my answer manually, it is quicker without IME involvement (also, IME pad works with pen input, but it has it's quirks).