Pitari review: Japanese web novels at your level
An honest review of Pitari, a catalogue that recommends Japanese web novels for your reading level.
The short version
Pitari is a catalogue of Japanese web novels that recommends stories suited to your reading level.
What I tried
I tried Pitari for the first time on 22 July 2026. The onboarding process was simple: select your reading level, and Pitari recommends three web novels straight away. It also attempts to identify the kanji you know, although this is only a rough estimate.
What works well
Pitari makes it extremely easy to find something to read at your level. I enjoyed browsing and filtering the catalogue even more than I enjoyed the recommendation engine.
What can be improved
I would love Pitari to connect to the other learning systems I use. That would give it a clearer picture of what I am capable of reading. A shortlist and reading-progress tracking would also make it easier to return to books that catch my interest.
How it fits into learning Japanese
If you are looking for approachable Japanese reading material, Pitari is a great place to explore.
Pitari and Mayoi
I wish I could import my Mayoi or WaniKani data directly into Pitari so its recommendations could be personalised around what I actually know.
Final thoughts
As a Japanese-learning resource, I would rate Pitari 3/5. Its UX is clean, and it is easy to use. With integrations and progress tracking, I would rate it higher.