Japanese Calligraphy Generator
Type in Japanese and see it set in 29 free Japanese fonts, from brush-style lettering to classic Mincho and clean Gothic. Switch to vertical writing, add a seal, and download a PNG or transparent PNG for your design.
- 29 Japanese fonts
- PNG & transparent PNG
- 縦書き vertical mode
- Hiragana · Katakana · Kanji
- Free, no sign-up
Copy gives you plain text, the font stays on this page. To keep the look, download a PNG. This tool does not translate.
You typed letters without Japanese characters. Each card shows them in that font's Latin letters. Nothing has been translated into Japanese.
Try an example
Used for previews and PNG. Transparent PNG has no paper.
Optional red hanko-style mark, 1 to 4 characters. Decorative only.
Choose a Japanese style
Every card is a real Japanese font from Google Fonts. Brush and handwriting styles imitate lettering by hand; Mincho, Gothic, rounded and display styles are standard Japanese type.
What this tool does, and what it doesn't
Japanese font tools solve different jobs. Here is exactly what you get on this page.
Previews real Japanese fonts
Your text is set in 29 Japanese typefaces in your browser. Nothing is converted into look-alike symbols, so what you see is real Japanese text.
Exports images
Download a PNG on washi, white or sumi paper, a transparent PNG for overlays and tattoo stencils, or copy the image straight to your clipboard.
Copies plain text
Copy text gives you the characters only. Fonts cannot travel inside pasted text, so to keep the style use the PNG or install the font from its card.
Does not translate
It will not turn English into Japanese or pick kanji for your name. Type the Japanese you want, and have a fluent speaker check anything permanent.
How to make Japanese calligraphy text
- Type or pasteEnter up to 50 characters of hiragana, katakana or kanji, or tap a sample phrase.
- Pick a styleFilter by brush, handwriting, Mincho, Gothic, rounded or display and compare the cards side by side.
- Adjust the lookChoose ink and paper, size, spacing and bold, switch to vertical writing, and add an optional seal.
- Save itDownload a PNG or transparent PNG, copy the image, or copy the plain text and install the font from its card.
Japanese font styles explained
Knowing the style names helps you choose, and helps you find the same look in Canva, Photoshop or Figma.
| Style | What it looks like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Brush 筆文字 fude-moji | Ink-like strokes that swell and taper, with textured ends. These are digital typefaces based on brush lettering, not hand-brushed shodō. | Posters, wall art, tattoo sketches, menus, titles |
| Handwriting 手書き tegaki | Pen, pencil, marker or cute round handwriting. Friendly and informal. | Cards, social posts, packaging, notes |
| Mincho 明朝体 minchōtai | The Japanese serif style: thin horizontals, thicker verticals and small triangular stroke ends. | Elegant headings, invitations, editorial and book design |
| Gothic ゴシック体 goshikku-tai | The Japanese sans-serif style with even stroke width. Clear at any size. | Logos, signs, interfaces, modern branding |
| Rounded 丸ゴシック体 maru-goshikku | Gothic letters with softened, rounded stroke ends. | Children's products, cafés, friendly brands |
| Display デザイン書体 | Heavy poster type, playful lettering and retro pixel styles made for big sizes. | Thumbnails, game titles, merch, headlines |
Hiragana, katakana and kanji
Japanese mixes three scripts in one sentence. Every font here accepts all three, but rare kanji may fall back to another font, so check the preview before downloading.
Hiragana
Rounded phonetic characters used for grammar, native words and children's text.
Katakana
Angular phonetic characters used for foreign words and names, sound effects and emphasis.
Kanji
Characters that carry meaning, shared in origin with Chinese. A single kanji is a popular choice for seals and art.
Shodō
The art of hand-brushed calligraphy. These fonts borrow its look; real shodō is unique every time it is written.
What people make with it
Tattoo references
Download a transparent PNG to bring to your artist. Confirm the wording with a fluent Japanese speaker first.
Wall art & prints
Switch on vertical writing, choose washi paper and add a seal for a scroll-style print.
Logos & branding
Compare Mincho, Gothic and brush looks for a name or tagline, then install the font you pick.
Social posts & thumbnails
Copy the image straight into your editor, or use a display style for bold video thumbnails.
Frequently asked questions
Does this Japanese calligraphy generator translate English into Japanese?
No. It shows the exact text you type in Japanese fonts. If you type English, you will see each font's Latin letters, not Japanese. Names from other languages are usually written in katakana by sound, and choosing kanji for a name is a language decision, so ask a fluent Japanese speaker before you use a name or phrase anywhere permanent.
What do I get when I press Copy text?
Plain Unicode text, exactly as you typed it. The typeface, ink colour, size and spacing stay on this page, because ordinary pasted text cannot carry a font. To keep the look, download a PNG, use Copy image, or install the same free font in your design app.
How do I use these Japanese fonts in Canva, Photoshop or Figma?
Download a PNG or transparent PNG and place it as an image. Or open the Font link on any card to reach that font's Google Fonts page, install the font, and set your text in it. Canva includes some Google Fonts, so search the font name there first.
Does it support hiragana, katakana and kanji?
Yes. You can type or paste any mix of hiragana, katakana, kanji, Latin letters, numbers and punctuation. Character coverage differs between fonts, especially for rare kanji. If a font lacks a character, your browser shows that one character in a fallback font, so check the preview before you download.
Is this real Japanese calligraphy (shodō)?
Not hand-brushed. Shodō (書道) is calligraphy written by hand with brush and ink. The Brush filter shows digital typefaces with brush-style strokes, while the Mincho, Gothic, Rounded and Display filters show standard Japanese typography. A font draws every character the same way each time, unlike real brushwork.
What is the difference between brush, Mincho and Gothic fonts?
Brush fonts imitate ink strokes, with changing stroke width and textured ends. Mincho (明朝体) is the Japanese serif style, with thin horizontals, thicker verticals and small triangular stroke ends. Gothic (ゴシック体) is the sans-serif style with even strokes. Rounded Gothic (丸ゴシック体) softens the stroke ends.
Can I make vertical Japanese text (tategaki)?
Yes. Turn on Vertical to set every preview top to bottom, with columns running right to left, and PNG downloads follow the same layout. Long dashes and brackets are rotated, and small kana and the marks 、 and 。 are moved toward the upper right. Vertical typesetting has many fine rules, so check punctuation before printing.
Can I use the downloaded images commercially?
All fonts on this page come from Google Fonts under open licenses (the SIL Open Font License or Apache 2.0), which allow commercial use of artwork you create with them. Each card links to the font's Google Fonts page, where you can confirm its license before an important project.
Can I use this for a Japanese tattoo design?
You can download a transparent PNG to show your tattoo artist. This tool does not check meaning, grammar or cultural fit, so have a fluent Japanese speaker confirm the wording first, and ask your artist to adapt the lettering to your skin and placement.
Is there a character limit?
Yes, 50 characters per design. The counter turns amber as you get close, and if you paste something longer, the tool trims it and tells you.
Why do I see boxes or a different font after pasting?
Copied text has no font attached. The app you paste into uses its own font, and if that font lacks Japanese characters you may see empty boxes. Choose a Japanese font in that app, or use the PNG instead.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. Every button is always visible, so you can copy text or download images without hovering, and the layout adapts to small screens.