What is JIS Kanji code? Explanation of the basic concepts of the Japanese character code system
JIS Kanji code is a character encoding system used in Japan to represent Kanji characters, which are the Chinese characters adopted in the Japanese writing system. The JIS stands for “Japanese Industrial Standards,” which is the organization responsible for developing and maintaining the character code system.
In the Japanese language, there are tens of thousands of Kanji characters, and representing them electronically requires a standardized encoding system. The JIS Kanji code provides a way to map these characters to specific byte codes, allowing computers and other electronic devices to display and process Japanese text correctly.
The JIS Kanji code system is based on a set of standards defined by the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee. It categorizes Kanji characters into various levels, known as JIS Levels, based on their frequency of use. The higher the JIS Level, the more commonly used the character. This categorization helps in optimizing storage and processing efficiency.
JIS Kanji code uses a multi-byte encoding system, where each Kanji character is represented by two bytes. The first byte indicates the JIS Level, while the second byte represents the specific character within that level. This two-byte representation allows for a maximum of 8,000 different Kanji characters to be encoded.
In addition to Kanji characters, the JIS code system also includes encoding for Hiragana and Katakana, which are the other two components of the Japanese writing system. These two scripts are represented by single-byte codes within the JIS Kanji code.
The JIS Kanji code has evolved over the years, with several revisions and updates to accommodate new characters and improve compatibility with other character encoding systems. The latest version of the code is known as JIS X 0213, which provides comprehensive coverage of Kanji characters and maintains compatibility with the older JIS code sets.
In conclusion, JIS Kanji code is a standardized character encoding system used in Japan to represent Kanji characters, along with Hiragana and Katakana. It plays a crucial role in enabling the accurate display and processing of Japanese text in electronic devices. The system categorizes Kanji characters based on their frequency of use and uses a two-byte representation for encoding.
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