Your Name, Designed in Japanese Kanji.

More Than a Translation.

What would your name look like in Japanese Kanji?

Writing a name in Japanese and designing a name in Kanji are two very different things.

Foreign names are generally written in katakana, a Japanese writing system used for words and names of foreign origin. Kanji, on the other hand, are characters that carry individual meanings as well as pronunciations.

That's why creating a Kanji name involves much more than simply matching sounds.

Many Kanji characters share the same pronunciation, yet each can evoke a different impression. Some may feel traditionally masculine or feminine, while others convey strength, gentleness, elegance, or warmth. These subtle differences are often intuitively understood by people familiar with the Japanese language.

The meaning, character, pronunciation, and visual balance of each Kanji—and the harmony of the name as a whole—all matter.

How Is a Name Written in Japanese?

Japanese uses three writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and Kanji.

Katakana is commonly used to write names of foreign origin. It represents pronunciation rather than assigning a meaning to each character.

Hiragana is another phonetic writing system. It can represent the sounds of a name, but its characters do not carry individual meanings in the way Kanji do.

Kanji are characters associated with meanings and readings. Choosing Kanji for a name involves considering not only how the characters can be read, but also what they mean and how they work together.

A name written in katakana and a name designed in Kanji may represent similar sounds, but they offer different forms of expression.

Why the Choice of Kanji Matters

A single pronunciation can correspond to multiple Kanji characters.

Even when characters share a reading, their meanings, associations, and visual qualities may differ. The combination of characters can also change the impression of the complete name.

A thoughtful Kanji name therefore requires attention to the relationship between sound, meaning, character, and visual balance—not simply a character-by-character substitution.

Designed, Not Translated.

Kanjimix approaches each name as a complete identity.

Drawing on more than 50 years of Japanese seal-making craftsmanship, we carefully consider sound, meaning, and visual harmony to create Kanji names that express a distinct identity.

We don't simply replace the letters or sounds of a name with individual characters.

We design the name itself.

See a Kanji Name Come to Life

Take the name Michael, for example.

Michael → マイケル → まいける → 舞華流

At Kanjimix, the name Michael is expressed through the Kanji characters 舞華流.

Each character contributes to the name's meaning and imagery:

・舞 (Mai): A free spirit, soaring gracefully through the vast sky.

・華 (Ka): Brilliant splendor and magnificence.

・流 (Ryu): A unique and beautiful style, flowing through the times.

Together, these characters form a complete name with its own meaning and story.

The Story Behind the Name

A magnificent name for a grand master soaring with absolute freedom（Mi：舞）, commanding brilliant floral splendor（chae：華）, to guide his own unique life stream（l：流）.

Discover Your Kanji Identity.

Search for your name and discover its Kanji design.

Explore the story behind the chosen characters and download your Kanji Identity Sheet for free. You can also bring that identity into everyday life through original products such as T-shirts, with traditional Japanese seals planned for the future.

Your name deserves more than a translation.