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) akachinja akashandisa mavara echiChinese akati wandei kurira kwavo, pane zvavanoreva. Man'yōgana yakanyorwa nenzira yekunyora yakashanduka ikava hiragana, kana onna-de, ndiko 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. Mamwe masisitimu maviri ekunyora, hiragana uye katagana, pamwe chete vanonzi kana, vanobva kuna kana. Kuenzaniswa ne kana, mavara echi kanji anonzi "mana?"
man'yōgana