MOJIMICHI REFERENCE LIBRARY

Every kanji has a story.

Explore the form, sound, meaning and recorded history of all 2,136 Jōyō kanji. Follow every claim back to its source.

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2,136 characters · official readings · sourced origin notes

BEGIN EXPLORING

Start with a character

Each entry separates the character’s earlier meaning from its use in modern Japanese.

THE FULL LIBRARY

Browse by school grouping

The grouping follows the source dataset’s older grade allocation; entry pages explain its limits.

READ THE EVIDENCE

Origin is a beginning, not a date.

Each kanji page brings together the source’s origin explanation, the official modern readings, variant forms when listed, and examples. A first Japanese appearance is left undated unless a document actually supports one.

How the sources are used →