Takeshi Nogi's profile on Product Hunt

About

Solo developer in Japan. I build bite-sized learning apps: Japanese onomatopoeia, clock reading, typing, and now WaseiGo for the 1,000+ Japanese words that only look like English.

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Maker History

Kotowaza KarutaLearn 2,000 Japanese proverbs with karuta cards and quizzes
Sep 2026
WaseiGoLearn the 1,000+ Japanese words that only look like English
Sep 2026
OnomanabiLearn the feeling behind 1,500+ Japanese onomatopoeia
Aug 2026
Time Tower Magical clock-learning adventure for kids to master time.
Jan 2026

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Joined Product HuntJanuary 9th, 2026

Forums

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8d ago

Kotowaza Karuta - Learn 2,000 Japanese proverbs with karuta cards and quizzes

Kotowaza Karuta helps you learn Japanese proverbs, idioms, four-character phrases and classical sayings through illustrated karuta cards and quizzes. 2,000 entries with furigana on every kanji; start with 400 free, with no account and no ads. Three quiz formats, eight goal-based courses (including one for Japanese learners), mastery tracking and weak-word review. Premium is a one-time purchase that unlocks all 2,000 entries. Web and Android, in Japanese and English.

p/waseigo

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1mo ago

What "English" word turned out to be fake English for you?

Hi, I'm a solo developer from Japan and I'm launching WaseiGo here on September 1st.

The app focuses on wasei-eigo, the 1,000+ Japanese words that look and sound like English but have different meanings. For example, an electrical outlet is a "consent". An all-you-can-eat buffet is a "viking". Cheating on a test is "cunning". These are completely normal Japanese words, and most Japanese speakers have no idea which ones are real English and which ones aren't. That's the gap the app covers. There are many pitfalls that travelers to Japan and Japanese language learners are bound to encounter.

The rabbit hole is deeper than it looks. Some words changed meaning on the way into Japanese. Others were cut in half, so "convenience store" became "konbini". Some words were assembled in Japan from English parts and never existed in English at all, such as "baby car" for a stroller. Each word in the app comes with a short illustrated dialogue, audio, a quiz, and the backstory of how the word came to be.

So here's my question. If you've studied Japanese or lived in Japan, which katakana word confused you the most? If you're Japanese, which word shocked you the most when you learned that it doesn't work abroad?

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1mo ago

WaseiGo - Learn the 1,000+ Japanese words that only look like English

In Japan, 'consent' (konsento) means a power outlet and a 'claim' is a complaint. WaseiGo teaches 1,000+ wasei-eigo, the English-looking words whose meanings Japan reinvented, through illustrated two-voice dialogues with native audio, a searchable dictionary, and picture quizzes. Guess first, then learn why. A free selection to start; a one-time purchase unlocks everything. No subscription.