The Starter Deck

Using JP1K for 1,000 Words Before Mining

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After you complete Kana Bootcamp, your vocabulary foundation comes next. You’ll be using the JP1K Anki Deck (Tatsumoto’s) to build a core of ~1,000 words before moving into mining real‐media content.

With this core base, new vocab from shows or books won’t feel overwhelming — you’ll recognize a lot of what you see, making mining much more effective.

🎯 The Goal

Use the JP1K deck as your core 1,000-word frequency set.
Retain ~800 of those words well; ~80% is more than enough to start mining.
Set yourself up so that when mining begins, you have enough recognition to avoid being lost in the weeds.

🗓 The JP1K Method Schedule (~10 Weeks)

Week	Focus	Daily Task
Weeks 1-10	Work through the JP1K deck at ~20 new cards per weekday (Mon–Fri).	Morning reviews + new cards (~45-60 min).
Weekends	Reviews only, no new cards (Saturday & Sunday mornings).	Clear reviews (~30 min).

After ~10 weeks you’ll have seen all 1,000 (or nearly all) cards from JP1K.
By that point, expect ~800 words solid enough to feel useful.

✅ Using the JP1K Deck

Import the JP1K deck from Akiweb.
Make sure the format is good: each card has the Japanese word and its meaning, preferably example usage / audio if available.
Apply your Anki settings (same setup rules):
- New cards/day = 20 (Mon-Fri)
- Graduating interval = 2 days
- Leech rules: 3 lapses for reviewed cards, 5 lapses for new cards → auto-delete with no notification (Mortician)
- Hotkeys: h = Again, k = Good

🧠 What “Mature” Means for JP1K

Here’s how maturity works with vocabulary cards:

Learning = new card, just seen.
Young = moderate familiarity, appears somewhat often but not daily.
Mature = Anki now spaces it out a lot (intervals like 21+ days).

You don’t need every word in JP1K to be mature. If ~80% of them feel automatic/comfortable, you’re ready to move on and begin mining. The rest will mature through exposure in mining and media.

🎥 Start Watching Raw — Lightly

During JP1K, it’s a good idea to start watching raw episodes.

Don’t expect comprehension — you’ll understand very little at first.
The point isn’t to “study,” but to start getting your ears used to Japanese rhythm, sound, and flow.
Watch casually: anime, dramas, whatever interests you.
Subs are optional — if you feel lost, English subs are fine for now.

👉 Think of this as dipping your toes in the water. By the time you finish JP1K and move into mining, raw immersion will already feel less intimidating.

🧘 Keep It Balanced

Don’t stress about perfect recall. Mortician will drop what doesn’t stick.
Don’t worry if raw content feels incomprehensible — it’s supposed to at this stage.
Focus on recognition, routine, and getting comfortable with Japanese sounds.

⏱ Daily Time Estimate

Weekdays: ~45-60 min (20 new + reviews).
Weekends: ~30 min reviews only.
Optional: Light raw viewing (1 episode a few nights a week, no pressure).

🚀 When You’ll Be Ready

Once you finish JP1K and have ~800 words solid:

Proceed to the Weekly Hub Overview.
Begin the mining loop:
- Saturday mining,
- Sunday reinforcement,
- Weekdays: reviews + immersion + passive listening.

This core vocabulary will make your mining so much more productive and less stressful.

✅ JP1K Starter Checklist

Import the JP1K deck
Set Anki settings (new cards, leech rules, hotkeys)
Study ~20 new per day, Mon-Fri
Do reviews every weekend
Reach ~80% comfortable retention
Start watching some raw Japanese casually
Finish the deck in ~10 weeks → ready for mining

JP1K is your bridge.
It takes you from “I know kana” to “I can start learning directly from Japanese.”

Once you cross it, the weekly loop begins — and the countdown to 10,000 words is on.

Continue on to the next section: the Weekly Hub Overview where you will begin the next step of your journey to 10,000 words.