Jōyō Kanji
常用漢字 (じょうようかんじ)
The official list of 2,136 'regular-use' kanji designated by the Japanese government for use in publications, education, and legal documents including personal names.
Jōyō kanji (常用漢字) are the 2,136 Chinese characters designated by the Japanese government as the standard set for everyday use in newspapers, official documents, and education. Established in 1981 as a successor to the tōyō kanji list of 1946, the jōyō kanji represent the baseline literacy expected of Japanese adults. All characters on this list are automatically permitted for use in personal names.
Role in Education and Literacy
The jōyō kanji are systematically taught across Japan's compulsory education system. The first 1,026 characters, known as kyōiku kanji (教育漢字), are taught in elementary school grades 1 through 6, with the remaining characters covered in junior high school. The 2010 revision added 196 characters and removed 5, reflecting changes in how the Japanese language is used in daily life.
Connection to Naming
For naming purposes, the jōyō kanji list matters because it defines the core set of characters available to parents. Since these characters are widely taught and recognized, names composed primarily of jōyō kanji tend to be easier for others to read and write. However, many aesthetically appealing or traditionally significant name characters fall outside the jōyō list, which is precisely why the supplementary jinmeiyō kanji list exists. Together, the two lists create the complete universe of legally permitted name characters in Japan.