Japanese alphabet has :

14 consonants (k, s, t, n, h, m, y, r, w, g, z, d, b, p)

5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

But are only the vowels and n can be pronounced/ written individually, all other syllables, are made up of 1 consonant and 1 vowel. 

Pronouncing the syllables is done with equal stresses but the sounds of the vowels are like this: There are no silent letters.

A pronounced the same as cat

E pronounced the same as egg

I pronounced the same as the vowel sound in seat

o pronounced the same as pot 

u pronounced the same as put

ai pronounced the same as the vowel sound wine

ae pronounced “ah eh”

ei pronounced same as the vowel sound way

The main uses of hiragana are to aide pronouncing written words and to modify kanji to create verbs and adjectives and grammar.

When it was first developed, hiragana was not accepted by everyone. The educated or elites preferred to use only the kanji system, it was used by women, then Hiragana was used for unofficial writing such as personal letters, later they were combined into one set. The modern hiragana syllabary consists of 46 base characters:

• 5 singular vowels
• 40 consonant–vowel unions
• 1 singular consonant
• Daikuten: Some consonants can be modified to produce another set of syllable  k to g, ts/s to z, t to d, h to b and ch/sh to j indicated by “ mark
• Handakuten : changing the h to a p indicated by ° mark
• yōon: Changes the i sound into a long y sound where it is followed by ya, yu, yo these 3 characters are written smaller
• sokuon: these create double consonant sounds it is used in all except the na, ni, ne, no, nu which are modified by n. These sounds are marked with a small tsu っ
• Wo is often pronounced “o”, and when ha is a particle is pronounced wa;  wi and we are considered obsolete.

The main uses of katakana is for transcription of foreign words(called gairaigo . Similarly, katakana is usually used for country names, foreign places, and foreign personal names, sometimes also for Japanese company names.

When it was first developed, Katakana was used for official writings such as government letters, from China. Like the modern hiragana syllabalry consists of the same 46 base characters:

• 5 singular vowels
• 42 consonant–vowel unions
• 1 singular consonant
• 
• Daikuten: Some consonants can be modified to produce another set of syllable  k to g, ts/s to z, t to d, h to b and ch/sh to j indicated by “ mark
• Handakuten : changing the h to a p indicated by ° mark
• yōon: Changes the i sound into a long y sound where it is followed by ya, yu, yo these 3 characters are written smaller
• sokuon: these create double consonant sounds it is used in all except the na, ni, ne, no, nu which are modified by n. These sounds are marked with a small tsu ッ
• chōonpu: This is a modifier elongating vowel sounds marked by short line ー following the direction of the text
• Wo is often pronounced “o”, and written as hiragana を

Kanji is a wide used written language composed of iconographs there are over 85,000 though the commonest are about 3000 in number and many more combinations. For this reason we wont go int a lot of detail here just some background.

The Japanese  had no written language when Chinese started trading so their characters were introduced. For a long time texts were written and read only in Chinese.

Later, the Japanese speakers restructured the Chinese sentence characters and added  particles and verb endings, in accordance with the rules of Japanese grammar, some characters were used for their sounds rather than meaning to fit spoken Japanese.

As kanji is not phonetic based it can be difficult to learn at first. indeed the characters may not only have different meanings but different sounds. The reading meaning is called “kun yomi” and the sound meaning “on yomi”. This is why when translating martial arts terms some of the meanings sound different this is common in counting.

As with other kanji there are 2 pronounciations for Japanese numbers

 Common Japanese Phrases And Commands Terms

Kanji, Words and phrases describing parts of the body which are related to martial techniques.

Kanji, Words and phrases describing relative positions and movement directions which are related to martial techniques.

The names and pronunciation and Kanji terms found in the practices, training and exercises in Aikido  and some general Japanese martial arts practices.

 稽古 (Keiko) Practice & Training Terms

The names and pronunciation and Kanji terms found in the practices, training and exercises in Aikido  and some general Japanese martial arts practices.

Kanji, Words and phrases describing attacks holds and attack directions and dynamics.

持つ (Mochi) Hold & Application Terms

Kanji, Words and phrases describing attacks holds and attack directions and dynamics.

 当たる (Atari) Striking Attack Terms

Kanji, Words and phrases describing postures and stances and relative positions use in martial practices.

Kanji, Words and phrases describing postures and stances and relative positions use in martial practices.

立ち位置 (Tachi Ichi) Standing Position Terms

Kanji, Words and phrases describing postures and stances and relative positions use in martial practices.

相対位置 (sotai ichi) Relative Position Terms

Kanji, Words and phrases describing body movement used in martial practices.

足捌き(Ashi Sabaki) Foot Movements Terms

All foot moves can be performed mae 前 (forward) & ushiro 後 (backward)

Kanji, Words and phrases describing body movement used in martial practices.

手捌き(Te Sabaki) Hand Movement Terms

Kanji, Words and phrases describing falls and rolls used in martial practices.

受け身 (uke.mi) Receiving With The Body 

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for solo exercises common to Aikido.

単独動作 (Tandoku Dousa) Solo Exercises

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for paired exercises common to Aikido.

相対動作 (Sotai Dousa) Paired Exercises

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for Aikido techniques which involve holds, pins and applications.

固め技 Kata.me  Waza / 関節技Kansetsu Waza

Hold & Control Techniques

All waza can be performed mae (forward) & ushiro (backward) Also Tachi Waza (Standing), Sawari Waza (Sitting), Hanmi Handachi (1 Stood, 1 Sat)

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for Aikido techniques which involve Advanced Techniques such as Breath Power Techniques.

呼吸投げ 技 Ko.kyu.Na.ge  Waza 

Breathing Power Throw Techniques

All waza can be performed mae (forward) & ushiro (backward) Also Tachi Waza (Standing), Sawari Waza (Sitting), Hanmi Handachi (1 Stood, 1 Sat)

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for Aikido techniques which involve Advanced Techniques such as Hip Throw Techniques.

腰投げ 技 Koshi.Na.ge  Waza Hip Throw Techniques

Almost All waza can be performed mae (forward) & ushiro (backward) Also Tachi Waza (Standing), Sawari Waza (Sitting), Hanmi Handachi (1 Stood, 1 Sat)

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for Aikido techniques which involve Standard Throws, some are akin to Judo Techniques.

 固め技 Na.ge  Waza Throw Techniques

All waza can be performed mae (forward) & ushiro (backward) Also Tachi Waza (Standing), Sawari Waza (Sitting), Hanmi Handachi (1 Stood, 1 Sat)

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for Aikido techniques which involve Dropping partner, some are akin to Judo Techniques.

落とし技 Oto.shi Waza Drop Techniques

All waza can be performed mae (forward) & ushiro (backward) Also Tachi Waza (Standing), Sawari Waza (Sitting), Hanmi Handachi (1 Stood, 1 Sat)

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for parts of a martial arts practice place.

道場/ 演武場  Dojo / Enbujo Training Place Terms

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for practitioners and people associated with Aikido and martial arts.

固人々の種類 Hitobito no shurui  

Kinds Of  People

武器(Buki) Weapons And 服(Fuku) Clothes

The names and pronunciation and Kanji for equipment used in Aikido practices and some general weaponary found in Japanese martial arts practices.

帯色 (Obi iro) Belt Colours