What are Kyujitai and Shinjitai? A List of Commonly Used Kyujitai and Their Historical Background

Explanation of the difference between "Kyujitai" (old character forms) used in family registers and old documents, and "Shinjitai" (new character forms) used today. Examples of typical Kyujitai conversions and basic knowledge for handling them in practical work.

Differences and History of Kyujitai and Shinjitai

The kanji we normally use are called "Shinjitai", which were simplified by reducing the number of strokes of complex kanji according to the "Toyo Kanji List" announced in 1946 after World War II.

The traditional kanji with many strokes and complexity used before that are "Kyujitai". Even today, there are many cases where Kyujitai are still used as they are in personal names (family registers), place names, company trade names, or historical documents.

Comparison Table of Commonly Used Kyujitai and Shinjitai

Here is an example of Kyujitai that are particularly common in daily life and business scenes.

學 ➔ 学

國 ➔ 国

櫻 ➔ 桜

廣 ➔ 広

澤 ➔ 沢

藝 ➔ 芸

鐵 ➔ 鉄

齊 ➔ 斉

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. My name in the family register is in Kyujitai, but is it okay to register or fill it out in Shinjitai?

A. In official procedures such as bank accounts and passports, you are often required to match the spelling on your family register (Kyujitai) exactly. We recommend checking with the submission destination in advance.

Q. What is the difference between variant characters (Itaiji/Zokuji) and Kyujitai?

A. Kyujitai are the former "correct characters", whereas variant characters (Itaiji/Zokuji) are groups of kanji with different shapes that share the same meaning, which have derived over a long history, such as "邊" and "邉" for the name "Watanabe".