Here is the time I spent learning the two Japanese syllabaries ひら and カタカナ. I useda book called Remembering the Kana by Heisig. They use a very fast method of teaching, as you can see. HIRAGANA : ---------- Time : lesson 1 : 14 min lesson 2 : 16 min lesson 3 : 16 min lesson 4 : 10 min lesson 5 : 16 min lesson 6 : 24 min Total : 96 min = 1h 36 min ========================== KATAKANA : ---------- Time : lesson 1 : 8 min lesson 2 : 4 min lesson 3 : 12 min lesson 4 : 20 min ? lesson 5 : 20 min lesson 6 : 17 min Total : 81 min = 1h 21min