Kakusū

Kakusū (画数) literally means 'stroke count' and refers to the number of brush strokes required to write a kanji character. In the context of Japanese naming, kakusū is the foundation of seimei handan (姓名判断), a popular form of name divination that assesses a person's fortune, personality, and life prospects based on the stroke counts of the characters in their full name.

The Five Grid System

The most common kakusū analysis method divides the name into five categories called kakukei (格): tenkaku (天格, heaven — surname total), jinkaku (人格, person — last character of surname plus first character of given name), chikaku (地格, earth — given name total), gaikaku (外格, outer — remaining outer characters), and sōkaku (総格, total — all characters combined). Each of these totals is evaluated as auspicious (kichi, 吉) or inauspicious (kyō, 凶) according to traditional numerological tables.

Modern Practice

Despite being rooted in traditional divination, kakusū remains remarkably influential in modern Japan. Numerous websites and smartphone apps offer instant kakusū analysis, and baby name books prominently feature stroke count evaluations. Some parents will choose between alternative kanji with the same meaning or sound specifically to achieve a more favorable stroke count total. While attitudes vary — some treat it as essential, others as a fun reference — kakusū awareness is nearly universal among Japanese parents naming a child.