Kana to Romaji Converter

The main difference is how kana such as shi, chi, tsu, fu, and ji are written. Hepburn writes SHI, CHI, TSU, FU, and JI, while Kunrei-shiki writes SI, TI, TU, HU, and ZI. Hepburn is mainly used for passports and road signs, and Kunrei-shiki is used in school education and when representing Japanese phonology systematically.

In Hepburn, the syllabic n becomes M before B, M, and P (なんば becomes NAMBA). The small tsu doubles the following consonant, except before CH, where a T is used instead (はっちょう becomes HATCHO). In Kunrei-shiki the syllabic n is always N (some conventions separate it as N' before a vowel or Y, but this tool leaves it as N), and the small tsu doubles the following consonant.

Passport-style Hepburn does not write long vowels as a rule (とうきょう becomes TOKYO, おおの becomes ONO). By default this tool follows that rule and drops the long vowels in OU, OO, and UU. If you want to keep the vowels as they are, tick "Keep long vowels" (you then get spellings like TOUKYOU). The long vowel mark ー is not written by default.

The Hepburn mode follows the main passport Hepburn rules published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (the syllabic n becomes M before B, M, and P; the small tsu doubles the following consonant, except that T is used before CH; long vowels are not written). Whether a spelling is finally accepted is up to the office handling your application, so always check the official table.

They spell kana such as shi, chi, tsu, fu, and ji differently. Hepburn writes SHI, CHI, TSU, FU, and JI, while Kunrei-shiki writes SI, TI, TU, HU, and ZI. Hepburn is mainly used for passports and road signs, and Kunrei-shiki is used in school education and when representing Japanese phonology systematically.

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