Reading is passive. Active recall forces you to produce the answer, creating stronger neural pathways.
Active recall is a principle of efficient learning, which claims the need to actively stimulate memory during the learning process. It contrasts with passive review, in which the learning material is processed passively (e.g., by reading or watching).
We enforce active recall through dynamic scaffolding. Initially, you might see English translations and Romaji. As your mastery increases, these aids automatically fade away, forcing you to recall the word from memory alone to survive.