What Is Anzan? How My Daughter Learned to Calculate in Her Head Faster Than My Calculator
I watched my 8-year-old add five 3-digit numbers in 4 seconds—without paper, without looking at a soroban. This is anzan, and after 2 years of watching her develop this skill, I understand exactly how it works.
The first time I watched the viral video—a child adding 15 numbers in under 10 seconds, fingers dancing on invisible beads—I was skeptical. 'It's a trick,' I thought. 'Or they've memorized the answers.' As a neuroscientist, I pride myself on being evidence-based. So when my daughter Emma started soroban at age 6, I watched closely. Two years later, she can add five 3-digit numbers faster than I can type them into my phone. Her fingers move in the air, her eyes close briefly, and the answer appears. This isn't magic—it's anzan. And understanding the neuroscience behind it has made me a complete believer.
What Is Anzan?
Anzan (暗算) literally means 'mental calculation' in Japanese. In the soroban world, it specifically refers to calculating by visualizing an imaginary soroban in your mind—moving mental beads instead of physical ones.
Think of it like this: a pianist who's practiced enough can 'hear' music while reading a score without touching the piano. Anzan practitioners 'see' and manipulate a soroban that exists only in their mind.
The key word is 'visualization.' This isn't verbal mental math where you think '7 plus 8 is... carry the 1...' Instead, you literally SEE bead patterns and manipulate them visually. The answer appears as an image that you 'read off' the mental soroban.
The Neuroscience: Why Anzan Is Different From Regular Mental Math
As a neuroscientist, what fascinates me about anzan is HOW the brain processes it. Brain imaging studies show that anzan activates completely different regions than traditional mental arithmetic:
Traditional Mental Math
- •Left hemisphere dominant: Language-processing areas activated
- •Sequential processing: Step-by-step verbal reasoning
- •Working memory intensive: Holding intermediate results in verbal form
- •Speed-limited: Constrained by how fast you can 'talk' through steps
Anzan Mental Math
- •Bilateral / right hemisphere activation: Visual-spatial areas engaged
- •Parallel processing: Multiple beads can move simultaneously in the image
- •Visual working memory: Information held as images, not words
- •Speed advantage: Visual processing is inherently faster than verbal
When I explained this to my daughter, she said: 'It's like the difference between describing a picture with words versus just looking at it.' That's exactly right.
Brain scans show anzan practitioners activate the superior parietal cortex and visual-spatial areas rather than the language centers used in traditional arithmetic. They've literally created a 'second calculator' in their brain that works through images.
How Anzan Develops: The Five Stages
Watching Emma progress over two years, I identified five distinct stages of anzan development:
Stage 1: Physical Mastery (0-6 months)
Before visualization can happen, physical technique must be automatic. Emma spent months learning bead movements until her fingers 'knew' them without thinking. This stage builds the motor memories that will later become mental images.
Stage 2: Echoes and Shadows (3-9 months)
The first signs of visualization appeared when Emma could 'feel' the correct answer before finishing the bead movements. She'd say 'I think it's 47' while her fingers were still moving—her mental image was running slightly ahead of her hands.
Stage 3: Assisted Visualization (6-12 months)
Emma could now do simple problems with eyes closed, but her fingers still moved. The physical motion helped maintain the mental image. We'd see her fingers 'air-abacus' while calculating.
Stage 4: Independent Visualization (12-18 months)
Gradually, the finger movements became smaller, then optional. Emma could hold the mental soroban stable without physical reinforcement for simple problems.
Stage 5: Fluent Anzan (18+ months)
Now Emma can handle complex calculations entirely mentally. Her fingers still twitch sometimes during harder problems, but the visualization is robust enough for multi-digit operations.
Why Anzan Is Faster: The Parallel Processing Advantage
Traditional mental math is fundamentally sequential:
'247 + 358... okay, 7 + 8 is 15, write down 5 carry 1, 4 + 5 is 9 plus 1 is 10, write down 0 carry 1, 2 + 3 is 5 plus 1 is 6... 605.'
Each step must wait for the previous one. It's like a slow assembly line.
Anzan works differently:
'[Sees 247 as bead pattern] [Adds 358 pattern to it—beads move simultaneously across columns] [Reads result: 605]'
The visual image can update multiple columns at once. It's like looking at two pictures and instantly seeing the combined result.
My daughter once explained it: 'I don't add the numbers—I just watch the beads move and then read what's there.' The calculation happens TO her visual field, not THROUGH her verbal reasoning.
Flash Anzan: The Ultimate Expression
Flash anzan takes this to the extreme. Numbers appear on screen for fractions of a second—too fast to consciously process verbally. The brain must convert each number directly to a bead pattern and add it to the running mental total.
Top practitioners can add 15+ numbers that flash for 100-200 milliseconds each. This is only possible because:
- •Number recognition is automated: '247' instantly becomes a bead pattern without thinking
- •Addition is visual: Pattern merges with existing image immediately
- •No verbal processing bottleneck: The conscious mind just 'watches' the result accumulate
How Long Does Anzan Take to Develop?
| Timeline | What to Expect | Signs of Progress |
|---|---|---|
| 3-6 months | Basic anzan: single-digit + single-digit | Fingers move during mental calculation |
| 6-12 months | Reliable visualization: 2-digit problems | Can describe what they 'see' |
| 12-18 months | Growing independence: less finger movement | Faster than verbal calculation |
| 18-24 months | Fluent anzan: multi-digit operations | Confident mental calculation |
| 2+ years | Advanced: complex calculations, speed | Can do flash anzan practice |
These timelines assume regular daily practice (15-20 minutes). Every child progresses differently based on age, practice consistency, and natural visualization ability.
How to Encourage Anzan Development
1. Build Solid Physical Foundation First
Don't rush to mental calculation. Anzan emerges from physical mastery. Trying to visualize before techniques are automatic creates frustration. Let the physical skills become second nature first.
2. Practice 'What Do You See?' Questions
Ask your child: 'Close your eyes. What does 47 look like on the soroban?' This encourages the number-to-image conversion that anzan requires. Make it playful, not test-like.
3. Watch for Natural Signs
If your child's fingers move during mental math, they're already visualizing! Don't stop them—the finger movements help maintain the mental image. This 'air abacus' is a positive sign.
4. Use Structured Anzan Training
Apps like Sorokid have anzan modes that start with longer display times and gradually shorten them. This systematic approach builds visualization stamina gradually.
5. Celebrate Small Wins
The first successful mental calculation is a milestone! Even '3 + 4 = 7 in my head!' deserves celebration. Positive reinforcement builds confidence for harder challenges.
What If My Child Doesn't Develop Strong Anzan?
Here's an important truth: not every child develops elite-level anzan, and that's okay.
The benefits of soroban extend far beyond mental visualization:
- •Better number sense: Deep understanding of place value and operations
- •Improved calculation speed: Even with physical soroban, faster than traditional methods
- •Enhanced focus: Concentration skills developed through practice
- •Confidence boost: Mastering a skill builds self-efficacy
- •Different thinking pathway: Visual-spatial math reasoning
Some children develop moderate anzan (can do some mental calculation but not at competition speeds). Some develop strong physical skills but prefer using the tool. Both outcomes represent genuine success.
Anzan is impressive, but it's not the only measure of success. A child who enjoys soroban, uses it confidently, and has developed better number sense has gained enormously—regardless of visualization level.
FAQ: Anzan Questions Parents Ask
Can all children learn anzan?
Most children can develop some level of mental visualization with consistent practice. The degree varies—some become extremely proficient, others moderately so. Starting younger (ages 5-8) gives an advantage because brain plasticity is higher.
Is anzan only for math prodigies?
Absolutely not. Those 'amazing' kids in viral videos aren't genetic geniuses—they've simply practiced consistently for years. Anzan is a trained skill, like playing an instrument. Your child can develop it with time and practice.
How do I know if my child is visualizing?
Watch their fingers—if they twitch or move during mental calculation, they're visualizing. Also ask them to describe what they 'see' when calculating. If they can describe bead positions, visualization is happening.
Watch your child develop anzan—the mental math skill that amazes everyone. Sorokid's structured approach builds from physical mastery to mental visualization, with dedicated anzan training modes.
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