Japanese Old Kanji Converter | Name Variants and Shift_JIS Checker
Convert Japanese text between shinjitai and kyuujitai, compare name variants, inspect Unicode details, and find characters that may break in Shift_JIS systems.
Convert text to traditional (or modern) kanji
Enter modern Japanese kanji to convert them to traditional forms (國, 學, 櫻, 龜, etc.). You can also convert traditional text back to modern forms.
Result (11 replacements · click highlighted characters to choose an alternative)
Purple Converted characterYellow Context-sensitive character; review itDotted underline Unchanged character
体：体 modernizes 體 (body), but 体 (inferior) was a separate character.
Checking Shift_JIS support…
Characters excluded from traditional conversion
The traditional forms of these characters (such as 社 with a different radical or 都 with an extra dot) exist only as Unicode compatibility ideographs. Normalization during copying or saving may change them back, so they are excluded.
欄 虜 塚 晴 猪 益 礼 神 祥 福 靖 精 羽 諸 逸 都 飯 飼 館 鶴 隷 侮 僧 免 勉 勤 卑 喝 嘆 器 塀 墨 層 悔 慨 憎 懲 敏 既 暑 梅 海 渚 漢 煮 琢 碑 社 祉 祈 祐 祖 祝 禍 禎 穀 突 節 練 繁 署 者 臭 著 褐 視 謁 謹 賓 贈 逸 難 響 頻 恵 舘
To preserve an excluded form, use an image, embed the font in a PDF, or use software and fonts that support ideographic variation sequences (IVS).
Traditional forms follow the forms in parentheses in the 2010 Jōyō Kanji table. Appearance can vary by font. Conversion and checks run in your browser, and your input is saved only in this browser.
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About Japanese Old Kanji Converter | Name Variants and Shift_JIS Checker
Convert Japanese text between modern shinjitai and traditional kyuujitai, compare name kanji variants, and check whether characters can be represented in JIS and Shift_JIS. The tool also explains context-sensitive conversions such as 弁 and 台.
How to use Japanese Old Kanji Converter | Name Variants and Shift_JIS Checker
- 1In Modern ↔ Traditional, choose a conversion direction and enter Japanese text.
- 2Review highlighted changes. Click a context-sensitive character to cycle through alternatives.
- 3Check the Shift_JIS report and copy the converted text.
- 4In Name Variants, enter a name and compare possible character combinations.
- 5In Character Check, paste text to find unsupported characters and safer alternatives.
- 6Use the Old Kanji List to search by either modern or traditional form.
Great for
- Write a name with its traditional kanji on an envelope, invitation, sign, or certificate.
- Convert older Japanese documents into modern kanji for reading.
- Find variants such as 髙, 﨑, 𠮷, 邊, and 邉 for names and directories.
- Check whether a name or customer list may break in Shift_JIS CSV files or legacy systems.
- Understand why 弁護士, 花弁, and 弁当 use different traditional characters.
Good to know
- Traditional forms follow the character forms listed in parentheses in Japan's 2010 Jōyō Kanji table, with some exceptions. Forms available only as Unicode compatibility ideographs are excluded because normalization may turn them back into modern forms.
- Some modern characters combine several older characters. Common compounds are disambiguated automatically; other cases are highlighted for review.
- JIS first- and second-level characters are generally usable in Shift_JIS systems. NEC/IBM extensions and characters outside Shift_JIS may be replaced or lost in legacy software.
- Official records and services may store a person's name using different character forms. Confirm the required spelling with the organization before submitting documents.
- Character appearance can differ by font. Conversion and checks run in your browser; text is not sent to a server.
Questions this tool answers
Use Japanese Old Kanji Converter | Name Variants and Shift_JIS Checker for searches like these:
- Convert Japanese text to traditional kanji
- Find traditional kanji variants in Japanese names
- Check whether Japanese names work in Shift_JIS
- Understand differences between 弁護士, 花弁, and 弁当
FAQ
- How do I convert text to traditional Japanese kanji?
- Choose Modern → Traditional and paste the text. Characters with known traditional forms are converted together. Context-sensitive characters such as 弁 and 台 are highlighted so you can review their alternatives.
- What are the traditional forms of 渡辺's 辺?
- The traditional form is 邊, and 邉 is also a common variant. This tool lists 渡辺, 渡邊, and 渡邉.
- Will 髙 in 髙橋 cause mojibake?
- 髙 is outside JIS first and second levels and is an IBM extension in Shift_JIS. Modern devices usually display it, but older systems and forms may reject or replace it.
- Why can 𠮷 be lost in older systems?
- 𠮷 is not included in Shift_JIS. CSV files and email using that encoding cannot represent it, so it may be lost or replaced.
- Are 斉藤, 斎藤, 齋藤, and 齊藤 the same character?
- 斉/齊 and 斎/齋 are two separate modern/traditional pairs. All four forms are used in Japanese surnames.
- Why are some old forms not converted?
- Some forms exist only as Unicode compatibility ideographs. Unicode normalization can silently change them back to modern characters, so the tool excludes them from automatic conversion.
- Do 弁護, 花弁, and 弁当 use the same old form?
- No. Common compounds use 辯 for speaking, 瓣 for petals or valves, and 辨 for distinguishing or handling. The tool applies common word-specific readings.
- How can I check whether a character is in JIS level 2?
- Paste the text into Character Check. It classifies each character by JIS level or Shift_JIS extension and shows Unicode and Shift_JIS codes when available.
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