PSA: If you’re on Windows, you’re likely using the default font for Chinese kanji and not Japanese Kanji

This issue can cause some kanji to appear differently than you might have encountered prior, which can lead to some headache if you’re not aware. Thankfully, it’s a simple fix, credit to *themoeway*

Windows: hit WIN+I, go to apps and features, then click optional features, add a feature, and then download “Japanese supplemental fonts”

If you’re using a Chrome based browser, you’ll need to change your settings as well. (Google Chrome, Brave, etc),

In the upper right, click the 3 vertical dots ->Settings -> click on Appearance on the left -> Customize fonts. Here’s where you adjust your fonts as necessary.

Standard font: Meiryo UI
Serif font: Yu Mincho
Sans-serif font: Meiryo
Monospace: MS Gothic

Make sure you restart your browser, and after that you’re all set

14 comments
  1. I did this recently and I noticed it changed my Wanikani font by making it thicker and bolder from when it was on default Chinese Kanji. Does anyone know how to fix this? I’m on Windows 10 and Google Chrome

  2. Same thing on many, if not most, operating systems and devices. I had a Linux install and my Android do the same thing.

  3. One very weird thing I just realized is it seems like the website itself has a say as well. When I write 直す in the search box for jisho.org (or on any app on my phone) it appears as the Japanese version. But when I type it in the comment box here it gives the simplified chinese version…

  4. For Desktop Firefox you can go to Settings>Language>Choose>Select a language to add>add

    For Android I used Settings>System>Languages & input>Languages>Add a Language (this also changed my mobile Firefox settings)

  5. Adding some formatting there so no one else has to look for “Meiryo UI Serif” or “Meiro Monospace” for five minutes.

    – Standard font: Meiryo UI
    – Serif font: Yu Mincho
    – Sans-serif font: Meiryo
    – Monospace: MS Gothic

  6. this is mostly for windows 10 from what I am seeing.

    If you install the language pack in win 11 it is fine, for those who need help

    I give this link to people, gives you step by step to waht you need

    [https://learnjapanese.moe/font/](https://learnjapanese.moe/font/)

  7. FWIW, I recently enabled japanese language on a machine I just installed Windows 10 fresh on and without doing anything special the “japanese supplemental fonts” were installed and the fonts you listed were already the for japanese in Firefox.

Leave a Reply
You May Also Like

修士論文作成のためのアンケートご協力のお願い

はじめまして。 私はライナス・メレタットと申します。現在、ハノーファー・ライプニッツ大学で修士論文作成のため、アンケート調査を行っております。 この匿名のアンケート調査は、日本人の信仰心に関するものであり、特に日本における新興宗教運動をより深く理解するために行われています。そこで、今回皆様にアンケートへのご協力をお願いするために、ご連絡させていただきました。 回答所要時間は5分〜10分程度で、日本語と英語のどちらでも回答することができます。また、アンケートは完全に匿名で実施され、個人情報は一切収集せず修士論文の学術目的にのみ使用されます。 アンケートは、以下のリンクからご回答いただけます。 ​ * **日本語:** [**https://survey.uni-hannover.de/index.php/776558?lang=ja**](https://survey.uni-hannover.de/index.php/776558?lang=ja) ​ * **英語:** [**https://survey.uni-hannover.de/index.php/776558?lang=en**](https://survey.uni-hannover.de/index.php/776558?lang=en) 可能でしたら、こちらのアンケートリンクを周知していただけますと大変ありがたいです。ご質問等ございましたら、下記のメールアドレスにてお気軽にお問い合わせください。 お手数をお掛けいたしますが、ご協力いただけると幸いです。よろしくお願いいたします。 **ライナス・ロイド・メレタット** / Linus…