A Downward Trend: Vertical Writing Usage Waning in Japan

"Japanese is traditionally written in vertical columns, as seen, for example, in printed books and newspapers. In this format, known as tategaki, lines of text run from top to bottom and are read sequentially from right to left. However, the digital shift has made horizontal text much more common, making vertical writing increasingly unfamiliar to younger generations.

According to a public opinion survey on the Japanese language, conducted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in early 2026, 67.3% of respondents indicated that they either “often” or “sometimes” have the opportunity to read and write tategaki. However, 31.7% answered that they do so “not often” or “never.”