Your Name in Kanji — HARUTAKE's Name to Kanji Tool
What would your name look like carved into a Japanese wood sign?
That's not a hypothetical. With HARUTAKE's Name to Kanji tool, you can find out in seconds — and then engrave it.
What It Does
You'll find a "Name to Kanji" button in two places: next to the text engraving field in the order form on every nameplate page, and inside the simulator. Click it, and a panel slides open on the right side of the screen.
From there:
- Type your name — the tool auto-detects your language
- Choose a conversion mode — Kanji (漢字), Katakana (カタカナ), or Hiragana (ひらがな)
- Hit "Convert to Kanji"
- Pick your character count — results come in 1 to 4 characters, and longer names work too: the tool automatically finds the shortest combination that covers every sound
- Browse the results, each showing the pronunciation, the kanji, and its meaning — and tap any character card to cycle through alternative kanji for that sound
- Click "Apply to engraving text" — your kanji goes straight into the engraving input
No copy-pasting, no guesswork.
More Than a Transliteration
The tool doesn't just match sounds — it finds characters with meaning.
Take "Lucas." The tool breaks it into its sounds (/luː/ and /kəs/) and suggests kanji that fit both the pronunciation and carry meaning. The result: 流霞 — current and haze, like mist drifting over water.
Each character card shows:
- The sound it represents (in IPA)
- The kanji itself, large and clear
- The primary English meaning
- Additional nuances in the Details section
You can compare the character-count options side by side and choose what feels right.
New: Common, Uncommon, or Rare — You Pick the Flavor
Kanji come in different registers. Some appear in everyday Japanese; others you might only ever meet in an old poem or a family name. The tool now lets you choose which world your name lives in, with a three-way toggle above the results: Common, Uncommon, and Rare.
Here's "Lucas" in both moods. On Common, it reads 流霞 — current and haze. Switch to Rare and the first character trades 流 for 劉 — an ancient character now best known as a surname, and one you will almost never meet on a Japanese street sign.
Rare mode doesn't sugarcoat. The meanings are shown exactly as they are — sometimes elegant, sometimes wonderfully strange. Whether an ancient blade-character is perfect or completely wrong for you is exactly the kind of decision this tool leaves in your hands.
Kanji, Katakana, or Hiragana?
Not sure which script to use on your sign? Here's a quick guide:
- Kanji — the most traditional choice for nameplates; each character carries meaning
- Katakana — clean and modern; commonly used for foreign names in Japan
- Hiragana — softer and more flowing; less common for nameplates but a valid option
All three are available with a single click.
Why It Matters
In Japan, a nameplate (hyosatsu) isn't just a label — it's a statement. The characters you choose say something about you. Most foreigners who order a Japanese nameplate have to trust someone else's judgment on which kanji to use.
With Name to Kanji, that choice is yours. You see the options, you read the meanings, and you decide.
Wooden Tags — Now Available
The same craftsmanship is also available as a wooden tag (Mukufuda) — a small solid-wood piece you can attach to a bag or suitcase, or keep as a personal keepsake.
Like our nameplates, each tag is handcrafted from solid Japanese wood — Keyaki (Japanese Zelkova) or Cherry — with the same distinctive surface finishes we use on our signs.
One of the things we're most proud of is the carved surface finish: a hand-chiseled naguri-style pattern or a stone-wall ishigaki pattern, cut directly into the wood. It gives each tag a depth and tactility you won't find on a mass-produced luggage tag.
The engraving works the same way: your name in kanji, roman letters, or any script you prefer — in laser engraving only, black-filled, or white-filled finish.
Name to Kanji is built into the tag's order form too, so you can bring a piece of Japan with you wherever you travel.
→ See the Wooden Tag (Mukufuda)
Try It Yourself
Name to Kanji is built into the order form on every nameplate page, and into the simulator. Type your name, explore the results — Common to Rare — and see which kanji fits you best, before you ever place an order.