World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 day ago
Vertical writing is becoming less common in Japan
A Japanese-language survey found that a little over 30% of respondents had no occasion in daily life to read or write vertically.
The finding matters to newspapers, magazines and books, which still often use vertical text.
Japanese writing has traditionally been arranged in vertical columns, a practice originating in ancient China.
Horizontal writing became more common as Japan took in Western culture, and left-to-right writing spread after World War II.
Today, smartphones and online media mostly use horizontal text, making vertical writing less familiar to many people.
Japan continues to use both formats, including in calligraphy and some publications.
The column argues that keeping vertical writing matters, but it does not describe any planned changes.
Vertical writing is becoming less common in Japan as people increasingly rely on smartphones for information.
A little more than 30% of respondents to a government survey said they had no occasions in daily life to read or write vertically.
Newspapers, magazines and novels are still mainly written vertically, while most textbooks use horizontal writing except Japanese-language texts.
Horizontal writing became common after Japan opened to Western culture, and left-to-right writing took hold after World War II.
The Mainichi column argues that Japan should preserve its ability to use both writing styles.
- Who
- People in Japan and publishers of Japanese-language media.
- What
- Vertical writing is becoming less common, while horizontal writing is widespread.
- When
- The trend is described in a Mainichi column published on Oct. 11, 2026.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- More people rely on smartphones for information, and vertical writing does not suit internet media.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
It was more than 100 years after the arrival of the Dutch that the study of horizontal letters began.
A future of nothing but horizontal writing would be less than desirable.
The ban on importing Western books was eased, and Dutch interpreters in Nagasaki were permitted to study horizontal writing.
Horizontal writing is said to have become common after the Meiji Restoration as Japan absorbed Western culture.
Horizontal writing from left to right took hold in Japan.
Mainichi published a column describing the decline in everyday use of vertical writing.
- Survey
- A little more than 30% said they had no occasions in daily life to read or write vertically.
- Textbooks
- Almost all are written horizontally except Japanese-language texts.
- Books and periodicals
- Newspapers, magazines and novels are still mainly written vertically.
- Smartphones
- Increasing reliance on smartphones is given as a reason people may encounter vertical writing less often.
- Historical change
- Left-to-right horizontal writing took hold after World War II.
Sources
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