Okaeri Support
Okaeri teaches Japanese through a slice of life anime, one real scene a day in Tokyo. If something is not working, or you have a question, write to us. We read every email.
Email: mangolab120@gmail.com
The easiest way is Contact us in Okaeri's Settings (tap your picture on Home, then the gear). It opens an email with your app and phone versions already filled in. For a mistake in a lesson, tell us the episode and the line.
Free Episodes and the Subscription
Which episodes are free? The kana course (seven days, about five minutes each) is free on both phones. On iPhone, episodes 1 to 3 are free right away, and from episode 4 you need an Okaeri subscription. On Android, episodes 1 and 2 are free right away, and episodes 3 to 10 are free if you wait: each one opens the day after you finish the one before. From episode 11 on Android you need a subscription or one ad for each episode. With a subscription, every episode opens as soon as you finish the one before.
Can I watch an ad instead? On Android, yes. A short ad opens the next episode right away, up to three a day, past episode 10 too. Ads only play when you tap to watch one, and subscribers never see them. The iPhone app has no ads.
How does the free trial work? The yearly plan starts with 7 days free. The monthly plan has no trial. Turn on "Remind me the day before it ends" on the subscription screen, and Okaeri reminds you the day before the trial ends. On iPhone, cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the trial and you will not be charged. On Android, cancel any time before it ends.
How do I cancel? In Okaeri, tap your picture on Home, then the gear, then Manage subscription. On iPhone you can also open the Settings app, tap your name, then Subscriptions, then Okaeri. On Android you can also open Google Play, tap your picture, then Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions. Deleting the app does not cancel a subscription.
I subscribed but the episodes are still locked, or I have a new phone. Tap Restore in Okaeri's Settings or at the bottom of the subscription screen. Use the same Apple Account or Google account you subscribed with.
Can I get a refund? On iPhone, purchases are handled by Apple. You can request a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com. On Android, purchases are handled by Google Play. You can request a refund from Google Play, or write to us and we will look at it.
Speaking
Does Okaeri record my voice? No. Your voice is never saved. On iPhone, your phone recognizes what you say on the device itself, and nothing is sent to us or anyone else. On Android, your phone does the same where it can recognize Japanese on the device. Where it can't, your phone's own speech service (on most phones, Google's) does the listening and may use the internet. Okaeri only gets the words back as text, to compare with your line, and does not keep them.
The microphone does not hear me. On iPhone, check that Okaeri may use the Microphone: open the Settings app, tap Apps, then Okaeri. The first time you speak, your iPhone downloads Japanese speech recognition from Apple, which takes a minute on a good connection. On Android, open your phone's Settings, tap Apps, then Okaeri, then Permissions, and allow the Microphone. On Android 14 and later your phone may offer to download Japanese when you start an episode. Say yes and speaking will work without the internet.
I can't talk right now. Tap "Can't talk right now" to skip the speaking in an episode, or "Skip this line" for a single line. You can still finish the episode.
Texts and Widgets
Who is texting me? When you finish an episode, people from the story send you a few texts in Japanese during the day so you can answer out loud. They are part of the story, written in advance, and come as notifications on your phone. To choose when they come, or to turn them off, go to Okaeri's Settings and use Texts from the story.
How do I add the widget? In Okaeri's Settings, tap Add a widget for a guide. On iPhone it goes on the Lock Screen or the Home Screen, and on Android on your home screen. The widget shows phrases from your latest episode, a new one every 15 minutes, and the days until your flight if you added one.
Your Progress
Do I need an account? No. There is nothing to sign up for. Your progress is saved on your phone. On iPhone it is also kept in your own iCloud if iCloud is on. On Android it goes into your phone's Google backup if backup is on.
My progress did not come to my new phone. On iPhone, check that both phones use the same Apple Account and that iCloud is on for Okaeri (Settings, your name, iCloud). Open Okaeri on both and give it a few minutes online. On Android, progress comes back when you set up the new phone from your Google backup or install Okaeri again on the same Google account. It does not keep two Android phones in step.
Everything Else
Do I need to read kana first? No. If you can't read it yet, Okaeri starts with a seven day kana course before your first episode, and every line shows furigana over the kanji and how it sounds.
Can I switch between Mia and Ben? Yes. In Okaeri's Settings, use You in the story. Your name and your voice change in every scene, and the story stays the same.
Which languages does Okaeri explain Japanese in? English, Korean, Traditional Chinese, French, and German. Okaeri follows your phone's language. To change it for Okaeri only, open your phone's Settings, tap Apps, then Okaeri, then Language (on Android, from version 13).
Does it work offline? Yes. Every episode, voice, and picture is inside the app. You need the internet the first time you speak, and to subscribe. On some Android phones speaking always needs the internet, and so do ads.