Edomoji (江戸文字)

A chōchin

Photo credit: Stardog Champion (real name unknown) Used under a Creative Commons licence

This general term covers many Japanese lettering styles which were invented mostly for advertising purposes in the Edo period. For example,

Kanteiryuu (勘亭流)

This style is strongly associated with arts like kabuki and rakugo.

Yosemoji (寄席文字)

The name yosemoji literally means "letters to draw in customers".

Kagomoji (篭文字)

This name literally means "cage letters". The font is thick and square in shape.

Higemoji (髭文字)

These characters have little "whiskers" on them.

Sumō moji (相撲文字)

This style is the one used for sumo wrestling posters.

Chōchin moji (提灯文字)

These characters are the ones used on chōchin, hanging paper lanterns, such as the ones you might see outside a yakitori stand in Japan.

Kakuji (角字)

This very heavy, rectangular style is used for making seals.

Formation of kakuji, from Genkon Jidō Jūhōki (現今児童重宝記), published in 1886

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