Printable Genkōyōshi Paper (Japanese Writing)
Genkōyōshi (原稿用紙) is Japanese manuscript paper: a grid of squares, one character per square, with narrow gutters beside each column for furigana reading aids. It's the standard paper for Japanese composition and handwriting practice.
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One character, one square
The defining rule of genkōyōshi is that every character occupies exactly one square — kanji, kana, punctuation marks and even the small tsu all take a full cell. This enforces the even spacing that Japanese handwriting depends on, and it makes character counts trivial: a standard 400-character sheet is 20 columns of 20 squares, which is why manuscript length in Japan is quoted in sheets.
The furigana gutter
The narrow channel beside each column of squares is for furigana — the small kana written alongside kanji to show their reading. It's essential for学習 material and for any text aimed at readers still building kanji knowledge. Turn the gutter off for a plain square grid, which is what you want for pure handwriting drill.
Reading direction
Traditional Japanese writing runs vertically, top to bottom, with columns progressing right to left — so the first column is at the right edge of the page. Horizontal left-to-right writing is also common in modern contexts, and the same grid serves both; only the order in which you fill the squares changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is genkōyōshi paper?
Japanese manuscript paper ruled into squares, with one character written per square and narrow gutters for furigana. It's used for Japanese composition, school assignments and handwriting practice.
How many squares are on a standard sheet?
400 — twenty columns of twenty squares. Manuscript length in Japan is commonly quoted in numbers of these sheets rather than word counts.
What is the narrow column beside the squares for?
Furigana — the small kana written next to kanji to indicate pronunciation. You can turn the gutter off if you want a plain square grid for drill practice.
Which direction do you write on genkōyōshi?
Traditionally vertically, top to bottom, with columns running right to left across the page. Horizontal left-to-right writing is also used in modern contexts and works on the same grid.
Printing Tips
- Print at 100% scale.Turn off “fit to page” and “shrink oversized pages” — otherwise your printer rescales the sheet and the measurements no longer match.
- Match the paper size. Choose the same size here as the paper in your tray. Printing a Letter PDF on A4 (or the reverse) scales it.
- Lighter lines print better. A light grey or blue guides your work without competing with it — and it uses far less ink.
- Use heavier paper for wet media. 100gsm and up for fountain pens and markers; standard copier paper is fine for pencil.