JAPANESE FORM NAME HELPER

Make your name work
on Japanese forms.

Turn your name into the formats Japanese websites ask for — katakana, hiragana, full-width and half-width — in one click.

✓ Free forever✓ Nothing uploaded✓ Copy in one click
1

ENTER YOUR NAME

As it appears on your ID

Latin letters work best. Use the same order shown on your passport or residence card.

YOUR FORMATS
MOST COMMON全角カタカナ · フリガナ

Use for fields labelled カタカナ or フリガナ

PHONETICひらがな
Hiragana
でいびっど・へんりー・すみす

Use for fields labelled ひらがな

FULL-WIDTH全角英字
Full-width Latin
DAVID HENRY SMITH

Use when the form says 全角 (zenkaku)

STANDARD半角英字
Half-width Latin
DAVID HENRY SMITH

Use when the form says 半角 (hankaku)

Your name stays private. Everything happens in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
BUILT FOR REAL-LIFE FORMS

From “invalid input” to done.

01

Type your name

Enter it in Latin letters exactly as it appears on your official ID.

02

Choose the format

Match the Japanese label on the form to one of your four results.

03

Copy and continue

Paste it into the form. You can edit the katakana if your spelling differs.

QUICK REFERENCE

What does the form mean?

Keep this nearby the next time a Japanese website refuses your name.

YOU SEEIT MEANSUSE THIS
全角カタカナFull-width katakanaKatakana
フリガナPhonetic name readingKatakana
ひらがなHiragana charactersHiragana
全角英数字Full-width letters & numbersFull-width Latin
半角英数字Standard letters & numbersHalf-width Latin
A note on katakana

Foreign names can have more than one correct katakana spelling. Treat our result as a helpful starting point, then match the spelling on your residence card, bank account, or other existing Japanese records whenever possible.

JAPANESE FORM NAME GUIDE

Why won’t a Japanese website accept my name?

Many Japanese forms validate the character type, not just the spelling. A field may require full-width katakana, full-width Latin letters, or ordinary half-width Latin letters.

What does 全角 mean?

全角 (zenkaku) means full-width. Each character occupies the same visual width as a Japanese character, such as DAVID.

What does 半角 mean?

半角 (hankaku) means half-width. For Latin names, this usually means normal keyboard characters such as DAVID SMITH.

Katakana or furigana?

Foreign names are commonly represented in katakana. A フリガナ field often expects that phonetic katakana reading.

Help and examples

Japanese forms often validate the script and character width as well as the spelling. Match the field label first, then use the corresponding result.

Example: David Smithデイビッド・スミス (full-width Katakana)

Common mistakes

  • Using Latin letters in a フリガナ field
  • Guessing a new spelling instead of matching existing Japanese records
  • Keeping a normal space when the form expects a full-width space or separator

Questions

Should foreign names be written in Katakana?

Usually, yes. Fields labelled カタカナ or フリガナ commonly expect a foreign name’s phonetic reading in full-width Katakana.

Is there only one correct Katakana spelling?

No. Use the spelling already recorded by your bank, employer, residence card, or other Japanese account whenever one exists.

Why won’t a Japanese website accept my name?How to enter a foreign name on Japanese forms

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