Round curves. Only one possible form.
Straight strokes. Also a single form — this is how Japan writes names from abroad.
Thousands of characters, each one with its own meaning. Many of them are read «Karen»: none of them is the correct one.
That is where a person has to choose, not a translator: a Japanese calligrapher who has already written the names of more than 500 people by hand, on the street, one by one.
Is it for a tattoo? Read this first →
Your name carries the meaning of opening the way a flower opens, and coming up clean out of muddy water the way the lotus does.
Your name carries the meaning of leaving behind a scent people recognize, and loving with everything you have.
Your name carries the meaning of shining with a splendid brightness, and coming up clean out of muddy water the way the lotus does.
Your name carries the meaning of bringing together goodness and beauty, and loving with everything you have.
Your name carries the meaning of letting what is yours come out sung, and coming up clean out of muddy water the way the lotus does.
Your name carries the meaning of building a bridge between people, and loving with everything you have.
Your name carries the meaning of opening the way a flower opens, and loving with everything you have.
did you like it more than you expected?
☕ buy me a coffeeEverything above is drawn by a typeface: a thousand Karens, the same stroke. Not this one. The calligrapher dips the brush and writes yours a single time — the ink opens where it opens, the stroke breaks where it breaks.



If you are getting it tattooed, or you seriously want a kanji that is only yours — start here.
Your name printed on what you use every day. We do not sell the shirt: we give you the file and you take it to your printer.
if this made your day, buy me a coffee — it goes straight to keeping this going for people like you.
☕ buy me a coffee