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Asked: 2026-05-23T02:38:58+00:00

I am creating a game. I have some UI with text. Recently we wanted

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I am creating a game. I have some UI with text. Recently we wanted to add Japanese language version but I have problem with fonts. I use stb_freetype to rasterize fonts and I support Unicode so it should not be a problem. But most fonts doesn’t seem to contain Janapese characters, on Windows I’ve found that Arial Unicode does. But its size is 26 MB, that’s much more than our complete game!

I’ve seen Unicode and fonts but it doesn’t cover my questions completly.

So basically I’m asking about 2 things:

  1. Does Janapese fonts have different typefaces? I mean, Western fonts have serif, sans-serif or more exotic versions. Does this apply also to Asian fonts?

  2. I probably would use system font rather than providing such a big file myself. I know how to locate Arial Unicode on Windows, but our game have also versions for Mac OSX, Linux and iOS. Where can I find Unicode fonts (and which ones should I use) on those platforms? Especially I’d be intrested about Linux, because this is least familiar platform for us.

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  1. Editorial Team

    most fonts doesn’t seem to contain Janapese characters, on Windows I’ve found that Arial Unicode does. But its size is 26 MB, that’s much more than our complete game!

    Arial Unicode contains a lot more than just Japanese. It’s also in general not a very good font: it is made to cover a lot of Unicode code points, but it is missing many features needed to actually render some languages properly. Not to mention it is not freely redistributable.

    I suggest looking at the free Japanese fonts used by Linux distributions. For example VLGothic is 3.7MB and compresses down to just 2.2MB, which would be much more palatable. See also: Takao, Motoya, Togoshi.

    Does Janapese fonts have different typefaces? I mean, Western fonts have serif, sans-serif or more exotic versions. Does this apply also to Asian fonts?

    Certainly. Japanese (and other Han-derived fonts in general) vary widely, just as Latin does. Generally fonts might be categorised as:

    • Gothic: typically unstressed, without line-endings, with little sign of the original brushed nature of the characters. Most similar to Latin ‘sans-serif’ fonts—indeed, the name ‘Gothic‘ is taken from exactly that tradition.

      Often used as default screen fonts as they render well in reduced detail. As well as square-ended Gothic Kaku, there’s Gothic Maru which uses rounded features, matching well with Latin rounded sans.

    • Minchō: has serif-like endings stylised from the brush strokes, and strong vertical stress. Often formal in appearance. Most similar to Latin ‘serif’ fonts, typically paired with a transitional serif design. Often the default Japanese font for word processing, paired with Times New Roman.

    • Kyōkasho (‘textbook’): formal handwritten style, clear and readable, but less straight-edged than Mincho. Most similar to a legible Latin pen-written script font; might also usefully be paired with a more characterful serif.

    • Kaisho: traditional brushed style, but still regular and legible, somewhat formal. Not usually so good at low screen resolutions. Might be paired with a semi-serif or brushed script Latin face.

    • Gyōsho: cursive brushed style, less clear, typically for display purposes. Also Sōsho takes this further, to generally-illegible lengths.

    • Display fonts. There are some everyday handwritten-like styles, but typically fewer really wacky novelty fonts. Presumably because the amount of work involved in creating a font to cover the huge number of common Kanji makes it not worth it. You may also find novelty fonts that contain only the kana and Latin (rōmaji) characters, with few or no kanji.

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