Frequently Asked Questions
About your kanji name, the products, and gifts
Last updated: November 15, 2026
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Your kanji name
How are the kanji for my name chosen?
We match the sound of your name to kanji from a dictionary checked by hand, then choose characters whose meanings fit well together. It is not machine translation. You get three versions to compare, each with the meaning of every character.
Is this an official Japanese name?
No. It is a creative kanji rendering of your name, based on its sound and meaning. It is not a legal translation or a registered Japanese name. In Japanese, names written this way are called ateji.
Will a Japanese person read it as my name?
Kanji often have several readings, and even Japanese people sometimes pause over the kanji in a name. The reading we show is one careful interpretation, not the only possible one. Press Hear it to listen. If it doesn't sound right, use Fix pronunciation and type how your name sounds (for example, maikeru for Michael).
Why does my name sound a little different?
Japanese has fewer sounds than English. For example, kanji readings have no "p" sound, so a name like Paul is read with an "h" sound in kanji. When this happens, the results page tells you.
What are the four brush styles?
- Brush — free, flowing strokes of a calligrapher's brush
- Mincho — clean, printed lines, calm and modern
- Kaisho — neat, careful handwriting with every stroke clear
- Ink — bold, heavy ink with a hand-made feel
You can switch between them after you generate.
Can I use it for a tattoo?
Our designs are made for printed products. Because kanji can be read in more than one way, please show the characters to a native Japanese speaker before anything permanent.
Products and prices
How much does it cost?
Generating your kanji name is free. You only pay if you order a product. In US list prices, a T-shirt is about $30, a mug about $23 and an art print about $34. Zazzle often runs sales, and it shows the final price before you pay.
What can I put my name on?
T-shirts (front or back print), hoodies, sweatshirts, mugs, art prints, tote bags, stickers, pillows, clocks and phone cases. For a dark shirt, choose the Dark shirt (white kanji) option when you order.
Can I download the image file?
No. We don't sell digital files. The full-size design is printed only on the products you order. Preview images carry a SAMPLE mark.
Orders, shipping and returns
Who prints and ships my order?
Zazzle prints and ships every order worldwide through our store, jp_shop_goemon. When you tap Put it on a product, you go to Zazzle to choose the size and color and to pay.
How long does shipping take, and how much is it?
It depends on the product and where you live. Zazzle shows the shipping cost and delivery estimate at checkout, before you pay.
Can I return or exchange it?
Returns and exchanges follow Zazzle's policies. Please contact Zazzle for a damaged or wrong item. We can't refund an order because you changed your mind about the kanji or their reading, so please check them with Hear it before you order. See our Terms of Use.
Gifts
Can I send it as a gift?
Yes. Enter the recipient's address at Zazzle checkout. Check Zazzle's delivery estimate there and order a little ahead of the date.
What kind of gift works well?
- Birthdays — a mug or art print with their name in kanji
- A friend who loves Japan — a T-shirt or hoodie for an anime fan, a traveler, or someone learning Japanese
- Family and couples — each person's name in the same brush style, so the set matches
Do I need to know their name's meaning?
No. Just type their name. The results show what each kanji means, so you can pick the version whose meaning suits them.