Soroban: Japanese Abacus Math

Learn the soroban step by step from lesson videos by soroban teachers, starting with how to move the beads, then move on to mental calculation. For beginners, Flash Anzan learners and teachers.

WHAT MAKES THIS APP DIFFERENT

Lesson videos from soroban teachers
The Abacus lessons include videos by soroban teachers, available in English. Watch the beads move, then do Practice and a timed Test.

Four dojos
Climb the Dictation of Sums, Dictation of Mental Sums, Sums (column addition and subtraction) and Flash Anzan dojos one level at a time: a run of correct answers moves you up, and a run of misses moves you back one level. The Dictation of Sums dojo alone has 444 levels, and both dictation dojos begin with an AI level check. Earn ranks as you go.

Create Dictation of Sums (paid plan)
Set your own numbers, choose the reading language (Japanese, English or Chinese), the speed and whether to include the opening phrase ("Start with." in English), then share the audio of each problem.

MAIN FEATURES

Abacus
Addition and subtraction, then multiplication and division, step by step, with Review lessons along the way.

Mental Calculation and Flash Anzan
Picture the abacus in your head and practice Flash Anzan, Mental Sums, Mental Multiplication and Mental Division. In Flash Anzan, numbers appear one after another and you add them up.

Dictation of Sums
Listen to numbers read aloud in English. In the unit you answer from your head; the Dictation of Sums dojo is done on your own real abacus.

Receipts
Calculate while flipping through a pad of receipts.

Times Tables
Learn with the chart and song, then check each table with "In order", "Random" and "Fill in the blank".

Number Play
"Spot the Number", "Trace the Number", "Friends of 10" and more help young children get familiar with numbers, with the numbers read aloud.

Create Worksheets
Create practice worksheets based on the exam guidelines of three Japanese exam bodies: The League of Japan Abacus Associations (Nisshuren), The League for Soroban Education of Japan (Zenshuren) and Zenkoku Shuzan Gakko Renmei (Zenshugakuren). Grades run from 15 Kyu to Dan, with abacus and mental calculation subjects plus Receipts, Roots and Applied Calculation; grades and subjects vary by exam body. Print or share them as PDF, with or without answers. You can also create practice sheets for carrying and borrowing, negative answers, times tables, quotient revision and rounding.

WHO IT SUITS
• Children starting the abacus, and parents considering it as an activity
• Students who practice at home after abacus classes
• Abacus teachers who need worksheets
• Adults who want to practice mental math

FREE FEATURES AND THE PAID PLAN
Number Play is free. The first few items of each unit and part of each dojo are free (the 4–6 digit Flash Anzan dojos need the paid plan). You can create one worksheet of each type per day for free. The paid plan unlocks the rest, Create Dictation of Sums, and adding your school name and the number of sets to worksheets. There are no ads.

FAQ
Q. What age is it for?
A. Number Play from about age 2, and Times Tables from about age 5.

Q. Can I practice only mental calculation?
A. Yes, with the Mental Calculation units and the Flash Anzan dojos.

Q. Can I continue on another device?
A. Sign in to use your data on another device.

Q. Can my child buy something by accident?
A. Purchases and external links first ask a math question meant for parents. This Parental gate is on by default and can be turned off in Settings.

LANGUAGES
English, Japanese (hiragana / kanji), Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Hindi, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Arabic.

* These practice problems are created independently by this app, based on the exam guidelines published by each exam body. They are not actual exam papers, and the app is not affiliated with these exam bodies.

Recent changes:
- More avatars are now available!
- Added the following to Worksheets:
　- Soroban Grand Prix Japan, All Japan Soroban/Anzan Contest andTimes Tables and Numbers & Counting!
　- Pyramid, Division to 13 Quotient Digits and Triple Jump Careds!
- Added the following to School Printables:
　- Certificates, Answer Sheets, Communication Book and Transparent Abacus!
- Math Mini Games are now available!
- Mental Calculation Basics are now available!
- Dictation Sums now supports all available languages!