Chinyorwa: Mavara echiChinese akazoshandiswawo kunyora mazwi echiJapan, zvichikonzera masiribhari emazuva ano eKana. Munenge muna 650 AD, manyorerwo anonzi man'yōgana (anoshandiswa mubhuku rekare renhetembo Man'yōshū) akashanduka akashandisa mavara echiChinese kuti anzwike, kwete kuti anorevei. Man'yōgana yakanyorwa nenzira yekunyora yakashanduka ikava hiragana, kana onna-de, kureva kuti, "ruoko rwemadzimai", manyorerwo aiwanikwa nevakadzi (avo vakarambidzwa dzidzo yepamusoro). Mabasa makuru ezvinyorwa zveHeian-era nevakadzi akanyorwa mu hiragana. Katakana yakabuda nenzira yakafanana: vadzidzi vemamongi vakarerutsa man'yōgana kuita chinhu chimwe chete. Dzimwe nzira mbiri dzekunyora, hiragana uye katakana, pamwe chete dzinonzi kana, dzinobva kuna kana.
man'yōgana