Nankuro: Hiragana Word Puzzle

A Japanese hiragana number-crossword. Same number, same kana: read the hints, find the words, fill the board. Daily puzzle, stamp calendar, mistake-check. Offline. Free.

Nankuro is a Japanese word-logic puzzle — a "number crossword." There is just one rule to learn: every cell holds a number, and cells that share a number share the same hiragana. From the few hints you start with, and the shapes of the words as they appear, you fill the whole board with kana, one deduction at a time.

Perfect for a quiet few minutes on the train, before bed, or any spare moment. No connection needed to play, no sign-up, and the ads stay modest.

HOW NANKURO WORKS Nankuro is a cousin of the crossword. Instead of reading long clues, you follow numbers. Every white cell is numbered, and the same number always means the same hiragana, while different numbers mean different kana. The moment you know that "3" is "ma," every "3" on the board becomes "ma" at once. That chain reaction is the heart of the game.

A QUICK EXAMPLE Say two cells read "_ chi," and the left cell's number appears in many other places too. From the hints and surrounding letters you realize the word might be "machi." So the left cell is "ma" — and every matching number locks in as "ma." Attack from what you know; read the visible words to deduce the rest.

HOW TO PLAY

1. Pick a puzzle — Easy, Normal, or Hard, depending on your mood.
2. Tap a cell to select its number. Every cell with that number lights up.
3. Choose a hiragana from the candidates below, and all cells of that number fill at once.
4. Changed your mind? Tap Erase. You can redo as many times as you like.
5. Fill every cell correctly to solve it, then move on to the next.

THREE THINGS WE LOVE

1. Today's Puzzle (daily) A fresh puzzle is chosen for you each day. Everyone who opens it on the same day gets the same puzzle. A perfect morning brain-warmer, or a single puzzle before sleep. When the date changes, a new one is waiting.

2. A stamp calendar Clear Today's Puzzle and a stamp lands on your calendar. Watching the month slowly fill is a small but real joy. Your day streak and your total number of stamps are both shown at a glance — "I want today's stamp too" becomes the gentle habit that keeps you coming back.

3. Mistake-check "I slipped up somewhere — but where?" Tap Check, and only the cells that are currently wrong turn red. No need to wipe everything and start over. Fix just the mistakes and keep going. All of the thinking, none of the dead-end frustration.

FULLY OFFLINE, NO SIGN-UP The puzzles live inside the app, so they work in airplane mode, on the subway, anywhere. No account, no login. Your progress — solved puzzles and stamps — is stored only on your device.

MODEST ADS To stay free, the app shows light ads: a small banner under the board, and a single full-screen ad once every few clears. No bursts of pop-ups breaking your concentration.

PUZZLES AND DIFFICULTY From Easy 3x3 grids to Hard 5x5 boards, there's plenty to solve. Easy puzzles are gentle enough for kana beginners or a relaxed sitting. Hard puzzles bring the same letter back again and again, so the number clues thread across the whole board for a real, satisfying solve. We'll keep adding puzzles in future updates.

GREAT FOR

• Fans of crosswords, sudoku, and paper logic puzzles
• Anyone looking for a game that works offline
• Players tired of ad-heavy games
• People who want a small daily habit that sticks
• Kids and families getting comfortable with hiragana
• Anyone learning Japanese who wants to play with kana

A NOTE ON THE LETTERS Nankuro is a Japanese puzzle, so the answers are hiragana words. If you're learning Japanese, it's a fun, hands-on way to get a feel for kana.

MADE WITH CARE Selecting a cell, placing a letter, catching a mistake, finishing a board — each moment has its own gentle haptic feedback, so the game reaches your fingertips even in a silent room.

LANGUAGES English and Japanese, following your device language automatically. You can also force either language any time from Settings.

Now go find the words hiding behind the numbers. Today's puzzle is waiting.