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What is Shukofukurou?
Shukofukurou is a list-management app for anime and manga, built for the Apple ecosystem. The macOS version manages Kitsu and AniList lists, while the iOS/iPadOS version manages Kitsu, AniList and MyAnimeList, and both include discovery features for finding new titles. It comes from the developers behind Homepage, who describe their apps as open source but donation-supported rather than free of cost.
Where it fits in the toolkit
The site presents Shukofukurou alongside three related tools, and the differences matter when choosing:
| Tool | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Shukofukurou (macOS/iOS) | Manages and browses lists on the supported services | People who want one place to edit and explore their library |
| Hachidori | Updates your library automatically based on what you're watching | People who forget to log episodes manually |
| KaniManabu | Japanese vocabulary and kanji study, positioned as an Anki alternative | Learners studying Japanese |
A practical example: if you watch anime on a Mac and keep an AniList account, Hachidori handles the passive tracking while Shukofukurou is where you curate entries and look for new series. Someone who mainly wants spaced-repetition study would look at KaniManabu instead.
Decision criteria
- Service coverage: macOS covers Kitsu and AniList; MyAnimeList support appears only on iOS/iPadOS. Check that your main list service is supported on the device you'll use.
- Platform: it is Apple-only, so Windows or Android users need a different client.
- Open source vs. cost: the code can be studied, modified and redistributed, but the developers ask for donations to sustain work—so budget for that if you rely on it.
If you're unsure whether it suits your setup, start by confirming which list service you actually use, then try the iOS version if MyAnimeList is your main account.
Which app should I use if I want my AniList or Kitsu list to update automatically while I watch anime?
Use Hachidori for that specific job. According to the developer's site, Hachidori automatically updates your Kitsu, AniList, and MyAnimeList library based on what anime you are watching. That makes it the automatic-tracking tool in this lineup, while Shukofukurou is the manual list manager for browsing and editing your lists.
A quick way to choose
| Your goal | App to consider |
|---|---|
| Your list updates itself as you watch | Hachidori |
| You want to browse, edit, and discover titles in your Kitsu/AniList lists on a Mac | Shukofukurou for macOS |
| You want list management on iPhone or iPad, including MyAnimeList | Shukofukurou for iOS |
| You want Japanese vocabulary and kanji study | KaniManabu |
Practical scenario and trade-off
If you watch anime in a desktop player and often forget to mark episodes as watched, Hachidori addresses exactly that problem by tying library updates to playback. The trade-off is that automatic detection depends on your viewing setup being recognized; if you watch on a device or service outside that setup, you will still need to update your list another way, such as with Shukofukurou. Manual management also gives you more control when you want to correct an entry or add something you did not watch through a tracked player.
Next step: Confirm Hachidori supports your player and platform before relying on it, then keep Shukofukurou installed as a fallback for manual edits. More detail is available at Homepage.
How do I choose between the macOS and iOS versions of Shukofukurou for managing my anime lists?
Choose the iOS version if iPhone or iPad is where you actually track and browse anime; choose the macOS version if list management happens at a desk and you want the Mac workflow. The key difference in the page evidence is service coverage: the iOS app manages Kitsu, AniList and MyAnimeList lists, while the macOS app is described as managing Kitsu and AniList lists. So if MyAnimeList is part of your setup, the iOS version is the safer fit of the two as described.
Quick comparison
| Consideration | Shukofukurou for macOS | Shukofukurou for iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Services named on the page | Kitsu and AniList | Kitsu, AniList and MyAnimeList |
| Best for | Managing lists while at a Mac | Tracking and discovering titles on iPhone/iPad |
| Discovery | Discover new titles | Discover new titles |
| Platform fit | Desktop-style list upkeep | On-the-go updates and browsing |
How to decide
- Match your list service first. If you use MyAnimeList alongside Kitsu or AniList, pick iOS. If you only use Kitsu and AniList, either app fits and the choice is about device.
- Match where you watch and browse. If you mostly add and update entries while watching on a phone or tablet, iOS keeps that in one place. If you prefer a larger screen for reviewing seasonal lists or cleaning up backlogs, macOS is the natural choice.
- Consider whether you also want automatic updates. The same developer offers Hachidori, which updates Kitsu, AniList and MyAnimeList libraries based on what you are watching. Pairing that with the list app reduces manual entry, so the list app becomes more about browsing and correcting entries than typing them in.
As a concrete example: a viewer who watches on a tablet, keeps a MyAniList list and occasionally fixes episode counts would be best served by the iOS app plus automatic tracking. Someone who only uses AniList and does weekly backlog cleanup on a Mac can stay with the macOS version.
A practical next step is to open the developer's app pages and check which services and features each build currently lists, since the page describes the apps at a summary level. Both apps are open source, so you can also inspect the code before committing.
Is KaniManabu a good Anki alternative for studying Japanese kanji and vocabulary on Apple devices?
KaniManabu is positioned as a lighter, Apple-first way to drill Japanese vocabulary and kanji, and it is a reasonable Anki alternative if you want something simpler and are already tied to the Apple ecosystem. It is not a drop-in replacement for Anki's full feature set or its enormous shared deck library.
What it is and who it suits
According to the site, KaniManabu is described as an "Easier and Effective Alternative to Anki for studying Japanese Vocabulary and Kanji in the Apple Ecosystem" Homepage. The developer has been shipping macOS and iOS apps since 2009, and all programs are open source, supported by donations rather than paid licenses Homepage.
That combination points to two clear audiences:
- Casual-to-intermediate learners on iPhone, iPad, or Mac who want spaced-repetition drilling without configuring note types, card templates, or add-ons.
- Open-source-minded users who value being able to study, modify, or redistribute the code, and who are comfortable with donation-funded software.
It fits less well if you depend on Anki's ecosystem: thousands of community decks (including the widely used core Japanese decks), cross-platform sync to Windows or Android, and a large add-on library. The site does not claim those, so treat portability and deck sharing as things to verify before switching.
Practical trade-offs
| Consideration | KaniManabu (per site) | Typical Anki use |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Apple ecosystem (macOS, iOS/iPadOS) | Broad, including Windows and Android |
| Setup effort | Presented as easier | More configuration, more control |
| Content library | Not described on the page | Large shared deck ecosystem |
| Cost model | Open source, donation-supported | Free desktop app; sync/add-ons vary |
| Code access | Open source | Mixed |
The same developer's other apps (Shukofukurou for list management, Hachidori for automatic library updates) suggest a workflow where your anime tracking and your Japanese study live in the same Apple-centric toolset Homepage.
A concrete way to decide
If you are a Mac or iPad user studying for JLPT N4–N2 and mostly want a daily kanji and vocabulary review habit, try KaniManabu for a couple of weeks alongside your current deck. Keep Anki installed during the trial so you can compare review load and retention. If you find yourself missing specific community decks or need to review on a Windows machine or Android phone, stay with Anki; if the simpler flow keeps you reviewing consistently, the switch is justified.
For a second opinion on Japanese study tools generally, see Anki for its deck-sharing model and the App Store for user reviews of Apple-only study apps.
Does Shukofukurou support MyAnimeList as well as Kitsu and AniList?
Yes, but only partly: MyAnimeList support depends on which version of Shukofukurou you use.
- Shukofukurou for macOS manages Kitsu and AniList lists, according to the site's app description.
- Shukofukurou for iOS/iPadOS manages Kitsu, AniList and MyAnimeList lists.
So if MyAnimeList is your main list, the iPhone or iPad app is the version that covers it; on a Mac you'd be working with Kitsu and AniList in Shukofukurou itself. The site also offers Hachidori, which automatically updates a Kitsu, AniList or MyAnimeList library based on what you're watching — a useful companion if you track viewing on a Mac and keep a MyAnimeList account.
Next step: decide where you do most of your list editing. If it's on an iPhone or iPad and MyAnimeList matters, Shukofukurou for iOS fits directly. If you mainly use a Mac, check whether Kitsu or AniList could serve as your primary list, or plan to use Hachidori to keep MyAnimeList in sync. You can confirm current app details and support options at MalUpdaterOSX.
How can I report a bug or request a new feature for these apps?
Use the official Support Forums linked from Homepage to report bugs, suggest features and ask questions. The site presents the forums as the main support channel for its macOS and iOS apps, so that is the most direct route for both a defect report and a feature request.
What to include in a report
- App and version: name the app (for example Shukofukurou, Hachidori or KaniManabu) and the version shown in its About screen.
- Platform: macOS or iOS/iPadOS, plus the OS version.
- Service involved: whether the issue concerns Kitsu, AniList or MyAnimeList, since the apps support different combinations.
- Steps to reproduce: what you did, what you expected, and what happened instead.
- Evidence: screenshots or a short screen recording, and any error message text.
For a feature request, describe the workflow you are trying to complete and why the current behaviour gets in the way. A concrete example, such as "syncing a season's episodes in one action after a batch watch", is easier to evaluate than a general wish for "better syncing".
A practical next step
Search the forum before posting. If someone has already reported the same bug, adding your platform and version details to that thread is more useful than starting a duplicate. If your request is accepted, the project is open source, so you can also follow or contribute to the code through the GitHub link on the site.
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