FAQ on manuscript paper: What you need to know before writing Japanese

[Learning Japanese Language]

Today, I’m going to talk about the FAQs for the manuscript paper. There would be questions like this; “What is the manuscript paper(genkō yōshi)?” “Is it only for vertical writing?” “Where to write the page number?” You will see 5 questions and the answers in this video.

1. What is the manuscript paper used for?

2. What paper sizes are available?

3. Is the Japanese character only written vertically?

4. How about character writing direction?

5. How can we paginate the manuscript paper?

I hope this video can improve your Japanese writing.

Let’s get started!

(1)What is the manuscript paper used for?

For writing a composition, an essay, a book report, a poem, a speech, a literary work, and so on.

The feature of this paper is that one character is written in each square, and the squares are partitioned so that the exact number of characters in the manuscript can be easily counted.

(2)What paper sizes are available?

Usually, the manuscript paper has 400 squares, which has 20 squares in one line, and 20 lines in one sheet.

There is the 200-square paper as well. It has 20 squares in one line, but 10 lines in one sheet. The A4, B4 and B5 sizes are available. The B4 size is larger than A4, so this B4　size is often used for the lower grades of elementary school.

In Japanese, the manuscript paper is called "genkō yōshi [geNkoːjoːʃi]". When we say "genkō yōshi", it means the 400-character paper(400字詰原稿用紙：yon-hyaku-ji-zume-genkō yōshi). The 200-character paper(200字詰原稿用紙：ni-hyaku-ji-zume-genkō yōshi) is commonly called "pera:ペラ" or "ham-pira:半ピラ".

For example, students have to write a 1200-character book report for homework during the summer vacation. If you divide 1200 by 400, you will see what "1200-character" means. The answer is 3, so we can also say students have to write 3 sheets of the manuscript paper.

(3)Is the Japanese character only written vertically?

Vertical writing and horizontal writing are possible in Japanese for the manuscript writing as well.

Normally, vertical writing and horizontal writing have different formats.

Vertical writing paper is common and usually used in schools.

The horizontal writing paper is more likely to be used for operational documents.

(4)How about character writing direction?

To write vertically, the manuscript paper starts from the right upper corner. In the first line, you will see 20 squares from the first to the 20th.

Then, on the left side of the first line, you will see the second line. It contains 20 squares from the 21st to the 40th. So, the 10th line starts with the 181st square, and finishes with the 200th square.

And the 201st square is in the latter half, and the last square of this line is 220.

So, when you see the 20th line, it starts with the 381st square and finishes with the 400th square.

To write horizontally, simply turn the vertically written document 90 degrees counterclockwise. It's simple and easy.

Don’t forget to turn each Japanese character as well.

(5)How can we paginate the manuscript paper?

Which character do you think is used, “numbers in kanji” or “Arabic numerals”?

It is common to write in Arabic numerals. If there is a space to write the page number, write it there.

In rare cases, it may be written with parentheses.

Perhaps some people write the page number with parentheses when there is no fixed place to write it, that is, when there are no underlined spaces or parentheses printed in that sheet of paper.

There is another style. The total number of pages may also be written together with the current page number like a fraction.

Current page number /(slash) total number of pages

Now, let me show you some rules for paginating the manuscript paper.

Basically, the 400-character manuscript paper is originally folded from the center to make two pages, so write the page numbers on both the left and right sides. When you staple together, use the stapler in the upper right. Alternatively, you can staple together at two points on the right side.

However, there is another way for pagination. Regard one sheet of paper as one page. In that case, do not fold each paper in half and write the page number on the upper left side only. Leave the upper right blank. Staple the papers together in the upper right. For horizontal writing, do not fold each paper in half. Write the page number in the upper right or lower right. Staple together in the upper left.

When you use the 200-character manuscript paper for scenarios for vertical writing, write the page number in the upper left, staple together in the upper right.

However, depending on the submission destination, the positions for pagination and stapling together may differ.

The position for the stapler isn't so hard to remember.

Just remember,

“Staple together on the side where the composition starts, for both vertical and horizontal writing”,

OK?

Don't forget to write the page number in the same place on all pages.

And the page number should be written in the same size.

Please check this content on YouTube, also.