Capture Japanese text from any screen using OCR. Get readings, meanings & save words to cloud-synced vocabulary lists.
Users
106
+22 in 30 days
Rating
5.0 / 5
unchanged in 30 days
Ratings
2
0 in 30 days
Store rank
#82K
#68K among extensions
Version
1.6.0
updated 12 Aug 2026
Users
monthly, 9 months
Latest, 15 Oct 2026:106 usersMove the mouse over the chart for any month
Ratings count
monthly, 9 months
Latest, 15 Oct 2026:2 ratingsMove the mouse over the chart for any month
The Chrome Web Store rounds user counts down to the leading digit, so the user line moves in steps. The ratings count is exact and is the better signal of real adoption.
About WhichKanji - Japanese Text Capture
WhichKanji - Japanese OCR Dictionary & Vocabulary Builder 🎌
Look up Japanese words inside manga, anime, and games - even text you can't select or copy. WhichKanji reads Japanese right off your screen with OCR, gives you instant furigana readings and meanings, and builds a vocabulary list you can study in Anki.
Most popup dictionaries only work on selectable text. WhichKanji works on images / videos too, so nothing you're reading is off-limits.
HOW IT WORKS 🖱️
- Click the WhichKanji icon in Chrome
- Draw a box around any Japanese text on screen
- See each word broken down with its reading and meaning
- Save the words you want to learn — one click
Works on manga, anime, visual novels, games, news sites, and social media — anywhere Japanese appears.
FEATURES ✨
- Screen-capture OCR — grab text from images and games, not just selectable text
- 250 free scans a day, no setup or API key required
- Automatic word segmentation with furigana readings and meanings
- Powered by the JMdict and KANJIDIC open dictionaries
- Organize words into named lists ("Manga words", "Netflix words"…)
- Cloud sync — reach your lists at whichkanji.com from any device
- One-click CSV export, ready for Anki
OCR OPTIONS 🔍
- Standard — 250 scans/day, works instantly, no key needed
- Google Vision — bring your own key for unlimited scans (Google has a free tier)
PRIVACY 🔐
- Your Google Vision key stays in your browser — never sent to our servers
- No tracking or ad analytics, just basic usage counts
POWERED BY ⚙️
Manga OCR · Google Cloud Vision (optional) · UniDic · JMdict · KANJIDIC
SUPPORT 💬
Hit "Report bug" on your dashboard or email oliver@whichkanji.com
Turn what you read into what you actually remember 🚀