However, learning hiragana is, I think, absolutely necessary. Why? They are the building blocks of how Japanese actually sounds.
I have met hundreds of non-Japanese people who have spent time living in Japan and trying to learn the language.
Many can barely read kanji, but are fine with everyday listening/speaking.
But those who refused to learn hiragana? Their pronunciation is terribly difficult to understand, and their listening skills suffer, too.
My takeaway: learn Hiragana first.
