Amazon.jp – “this field can contain Half-width Katakana characters only” issue

I am merely trying to write my name, so I can add my bank details to return an item on [Amazon.jp](https://Amazon.jp), but each time I do so, I receive the following error message: “this field can contain Half-width Katakana characters only”. Before anyone types ‘write your name in Katakana’, yes, I’m not that technologically incompetent. I have been on the phone to Amazon customer service back and fourth all afternoon, and even had them send my me my name in half-width Katakana to copy and paste into the name field, yet, still the same message…Has anyone else encountered this ridiculous issue? Is there something I am missing? I have:

1. Restarted my laptop (**ZenBook UX333FA\_UX333FA**) (**OS**: Microsoft Windows 10 Home, **version** 10.0.19045 Build 19045)
2. Confirmed my browser is updated to the latest version
3. Cleared cache & cookies, closed & re-opened the browser
4. Repeated steps 2 & 3 on multiple browsers: **Google Chrome** (Version 111.0.5563.147 (64-bit), **Microsoft Edge** (Version 111.0.1661.62 (64-bit), **Firefox** (Version 111.0.1 (64-bit)
5. Tried using the Amazon App on my phone (**OPPO A55s 5G, Android version 12**) as well as confirming the app is updated to the latest version
6. Typed my name on each browser using the **Microsoft Japanese IME Keyboard** (even using the “**Half-width katakana**” option)

I say ridiculous becuase even after trying all of the above, I still receive the same error messageit. If there is something I am missing and someone can help me out, I’d be very grateful, as I would prefer to get this sorted ASAP as opposed to waiting “1-2 weeks” for Amazon to potentially get back to me with a solution that may or may not work…

Thanks in advance.

19 comments
  1. Further info, my katakana name that I have typed into the name field is: ライト ベンジヤミン デビツド

  2. Do you have a ヴ in your name? Some fields won’t accept it for whatever reason. Have to change it to a ブ.

  3. Is your name too long?

    Amazon seems to have some issues with UI/UX. The one I had was, I had to enter my address in Romaji, it never pointed out what was wrong, just kept telling me to enter in “English characters”. After trying numerous times without a clue and a quick search on Google, it turned out that the address I was typing was too long.

  4. Do you have small vowels in your name? Because they are not half width.

    For examples: エディ

    The ィ is small vowel, some site don’t accept it you need to you big vowel エデイ and then convert them to half width which can cause some problem later due to inconsistency but that is future problem.

  5. I really hate how there are half width and full width characters…
    So annoying

  6. Unfortunately Amazon, specifically the registration for the credit card is optimized for Japan names, addresses.

  7. OP, I had this a few times before, for me it was usually the space “character”, as somehow it does not recognize it. The workaround was too google for something like 半角数字 入力 振り込み (anyone feel free to correct or add better search terms!), find a page that lists all the characters and copypaste the space from there.

  8. You’re not that technologically incompetent, yet you called them, went through all of those steps, and posted here.

  9. I’m completely confused. Where on Amazon do they require half width katakana? I have never had to use half width katakana on Amazon, nor pretty much any other Japanese EC site since around 2005.

  10. I scan read this and thought is said “Half-width katana characters only” and was an April Fool’s joke. Time to slow down and get off reddit, I guess.

  11. Oh I hate this whole half width full width system with online stuff ugh whyyyy

  12. Do you see a noticeable difference when you type in half ? It should look so tiny compared to full-width. Avoid spaces too.

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