Starting in 2026, Japan is standardizing its official Romanization system to the 'Revised Hepburn' style. This replaces the 'Kunrei-shiki' system used in primary education for 70 years, aligning official documents with global English usage.
2026 Revised Hepburn Romanization
Guide to the new official Romanization standard starting in 2026. Learn about the transition from Kunrei-shiki and traditional Hepburn.
Historical Background
Key Changes & Standards
The main focus is on phonetic accuracy and consistency with international standards.
- Phonetic accuracy: 'shi', 'chi', 'tsu', 'fu', 'ji' (Standard Hepburn)
- Nasal 'n': Always use 'n' before 'b', 'm', 'p' (e.g., Shimbashi → Shinbashi)
- Vowel Length: Long vowels are optionally indicated with Macrons (ā, ī, ū, ē, ō).
System Comparison
| Item | Kunrei-shiki | Std Hepburn | 2026 Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| し / シ | si | shi | shi |
| ち / チ | ti | chi | chi |
| つ / ツ | tu | tsu | tsu |
| ふ / フ | hu | fu | fu |
| じ / ジ | ji | ji | ji |
| ん (before p, b, m) | – | m | n |
How to Type Macrons (ā, ī, ū...)
Windows / PC
Windows: Hold Alt + Type code (e.g., Alt+0257 for ā) or Use Character Map.
Alt+0257
macOS / Mobile
macOS: Hold the vowel key and select the macron version from the popup. & Mobile: Long-press the vowel key and slide to the macron character.
Official References
Cultural Affairs Agency: Revision of Romanization
Cabinet Notification (Dec 22, 2025 by Cabinet Office)