Overview
- The Council for Cultural Affairs on Aug. 20 formally advised Minister Toshiko Abe to replace the long-standing Kunrei-shiki with Hepburn-style as the basic rule for romanization.
- The government is expected to revise the 1954 Cabinet notification within the year, resulting in the first overhaul of the national romanization standard in about 70 years.
- Elementary school Japanese-language instruction that has taught Kunrei-shiki in third grade will begin transitioning to Hepburn from fiscal 2026.
- The recommendation standardizes orthography by using macrons for long vowels (ā instead of â) and by specifying conversions such as si→shi, hu→fu, tsu→tsu, and sha/ja spellings, with guidance like writing Oono when diacritics are not used.
- The report states that individuals’ preferred romanization for names will be respected, acknowledging that Hepburn is already prevalent on passports, road signs, and in everyday name and place spellings.