/jp/ - Otaku Culture

ok so basically, I started teaching myself japanese a little while ago, but all I'm doing right now is memorizing hiragana and katakana.

I'm sure there's a very good explanation, I just haven't gotten to anything in the actual written language yet. I'm wondering why there is a hiragana for every katakana, meaning the same syllable, and how they are distinguished. Like, how would one know whether to use the hiragana or katakana in a sentence? Do they have specific contexts/uses?

best site to learn Japanese.
give it a try.
http://pepper.idge.net/japanese/

Its time for japanese lessons!
anybody care to share a few useful words?
sharing is caring.
i'll start,
ようこそ (youkoso) means welcome!