What is romaji?

Romaji is a transliteration system used to convey Japanese script using the Latin alphabet. Romaji is widely used in Japan and beyond, especially in contexts where the use of Japanese writing is not practical or impossible. Romaji is used in various situations. Romaji is often used to learn the Japanese language, especially for beginners or for people unfamiliar with Japanese writing systems (kanji, hiragana, and katakana). Romaji is used to transliterate Japanese words, names, and local names. This is especially useful for people who do not read Japanese. In digital technologies such as computers and mobile phones, romaji can be used to enter Japanese characters. Romaji is also used in international contexts, for example to write Japanese names on passports or to indicate in English in Japan. There are several different romaji systems, including the Hepburn system, the Kunrei system, and the Nihon system, each with its own characteristics. The Hepburn system, which is close to English phonetics, is the most common, especially in international contexts.

The Hepburn system, developed by the American missionary James Curtis Hepburn, is the most famous and widespread romaji system. It is designed primarily for English speakers, as it attempts to convey the pronunciation of Japanese as it would sound to native English speakers. For example, the word "Tokyo" is written in the Hepburn system, and "Toukyou" is written in the Kunrei system.

The Kunrei system was officially declared the standard in Japan in 1937. It is more grammatically faithful than the Hepburn system and closer to phonetic writing. However, it may be more difficult for speakers of non-Japanese languages, as its pronunciation rules differ from those used in many other languages. For example, "shi" in the Hepburn system is written as "si" in the Kunrei system.

The Nihon system was created to more accurately convey Japanese pronunciation using Latin letters. It is a variation of the Kunrei system and differs in some details, such as how elongated vowel sounds are recorded. For example, in the Nihon system, "Toukyou" is written as "Tōkyō".

All these systems have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them often depends on the context and personal preferences.

Examples of the word "Tokyo" in different romaji systems:

Word "osaka":

You may notice that in the Hepburn system, elongated vowels are not marked, in the Kunrei system they are marked by doubling the letter, and in the Nihon system - using macron (horizontal line above the letter). It's worth noting that local names in Japan are often transliterated using the Hepburn system, so you're more likely to see "Tokyo" and "Osaka" on most English-language maps and road signs in Japan.