Makoto Gadgets
A Tokyo side street at night

Japanese that means what you think it means.

Your name, spelled the way Japan would write it. A word or a line whose meaning you can stand behind — with an honest look at how it reads in Japan before you print. Printed one at a time in Japan, shipped to your door.

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US prices include import duties — nothing to pay at the door.

Woman wearing a denim-blue Leave on Time T-shirt
Man wearing a red Oil Tycoon — not really T-shirt

舞蹴留

Michael

spelled by sound

Words worth wearing. A shirt worth keeping.

The part you don't see

Premium heavyweight cotton fabric

A tee you'd keep anyway

Heavyweight 190 g/m² ring-spun cotton — opaque, holds its shape, no side seams to rub. Tote bags in sturdy canvas. Nothing you'd retire after one summer.

DTG printing process

Printed one at a time in Japan

Each order is printed in Tokyo after you place it, checked by hand, and shipped from here. Sharp edges on small text, and it survives the wash.

Pencilled readings above the kanji of a name

Readings chosen by Japanese speakers

Every phrase is written by Japanese speakers, and names use readings they chose: each character keeps its everyday sound. No kanji-tattoo mistakes.

選Ready-madeQuickestPick a finished design意From a meaningBrowse words by what they mean作Design your ownYour words, font and color名Your name in kanjiSpelled the way Japan would

See how it reads in Japan before you print

Every phrase comes with the typical reaction from six age-and-gender groups in Japan. Not just “cool” or “cute” — you'll see the honest “hmm” and “a bit much” too, so nothing on your shirt reads as odd Japanese by accident.

  • One honest line from each of six age-and-gender groups
  • Scores for humor, cool and cute — and for cringe
  • On every ready-made shirt and on the design page
Try it with a phrase
Example: how “Leave on Time” (定時で帰る) reads in Japan — a line and scores from each of six groups

Featured

Funny Japanese

Cool kanji, gloriously silly meaning.

Leaving the shops in a red tee reading “Oil Tycoon — not really”

石油王

ではない / OIL TYCOON — not really

By the sea in a purple tee reading “Back home, I’m royalty”

王族

本国では / BACK HOME, I’M ROYALTY

In a café in a blue tee reading “Leave on time”

定時で帰る

LEAVE ON TIME

Close-up: “Oil Tycoon” with a tiny “not really” under it

The joke here lives in the fine print. A bold claim — Royalty, Oil Tycoon — with a tiny “back home,” or “not really,” tucked beside it turns a brag into a wink. That small line is the punchline, and every mock-up below keeps it exactly as printed.

酔っ払い

Drunkard

酔っ払い

Buy it as shown →
石油王ではない

Not an Oil Baron

石油王ではない

Buy it as shown →
休憩部長

Director of Breaks

休憩部長

Buy it as shown →
取扱注意

Handle With Care

取扱注意

Buy it as shown →
Read the collectionMake one

Featured

Words That Stay With You

Not a joke — a quiet line that stays with you. Something to wear for yourself, or to give to someone.

Person wearing a “The Light Is Within” T-shirt

光は内にある

The Light Is Within

Person wearing a “Before Dawn” T-shirt

夜明け前

Before Dawn

Person wearing a “The Path Is in the Journey” T-shirt

道は途中にある

The Path Is in the Journey

Also: Waiting for Spring · Quiet Light · Gratitude · Hope

Read the collectionMake one

Say exactly what you mean

Pick one of our phrases or type your own, then choose the font, the color, and whether it goes on the front or the back. For our phrases, you see how people in Japan are likely to react before you order.

Start Designing
Phone case with kanji design
T-shirt with katakana design
Person wearing kanji T-shirt
Person wearing bushido kanji T-shirt

Michael

マイケル

Your Name in Japanese

Japanese writes names from other languages in katakana. Type yours to see how it's spelled in Japan and hear how it sounds. It reads as your name, not as a translation of it.

Search Your Name

Express Your Name in Kanji

Your name, sounded out in kanji — pick how it feels: Soft, Standard, or Hardcore. It's spelled by sound, so each character's meaning is a bonus; every character is used with its normal reading. The bolder the style, the more unusual the characters. Not in the dictionary, or want a person to do it? Our translator can.

Conversion is free — or have a person translate it for you

Try Kanji Conversion

Michael

Soft

真衣家流

truth + clothing + house, family + flow

Standard

舞蹴留

dance + kick + stay

Hardcore

魔威蹴流

demon, magic + authority + kick + flow

Names are spelled by sound — the Japanese ateji tradition. The characters' meanings are a bonus. Every character is used with its normal reading for that sound (the bolder the style, the more unusual the characters get).

Printed in Tokyo, shipped from Japan

We ship from Japan by Japan Post (international small packet) or FedEx, and email you the day your order leaves. Shipping is a flat $9.90 anywhere in the world, once per order, however many items are in it. Orders of $100 or more ship free.

About 2–3 weeks from order — for gifts, order 3+ weeks ahead

We email you the day it ships

US orders ship duty-paid — nothing to pay at the door

FAQ

How long does shipping take?
About 2–3 weeks from order: roughly 1 week to print your shirt in Tokyo, then 1–2 weeks in transit. We email you the day it ships. If it's a gift, order at least 3 weeks ahead.
Can I return or exchange items?
If there's a defect, please contact us within 7 days of arrival. We'll arrange an exchange or refund.
What payment methods are available?
Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club), Apple Pay, Google Pay and Link — all through Stripe's secure checkout. Apple Pay and Google Pay appear on supported devices and browsers.
What if my name can't be converted to kanji?
For names not in our dictionary, you can submit a conversion request and our expert staff will help.
How do the T-shirts fit? Should I size up or down?
Our T-shirts use heavyweight cotton with a slightly relaxed fit. If you prefer a fitted look, we recommend ordering your usual size. For a looser fit, size up one. Check our size guide on each product page for detailed measurements.
Will the print fade after washing?
Our high-definition prints are designed to last. Turn the garment inside out before washing, use cold water (30°C or below), and avoid tumble drying. With proper care, the print stays vibrant for years.
Can I change my design after placing an order?
Since production begins shortly after your order is confirmed, design changes are only possible within 2 hours of placing the order. Please contact us at support@makoto-gadgets.com as soon as possible.
Can I send an order as a gift?
Yes. Choose "Send as a gift" at checkout and we'll leave out the packing slip, so nothing in the parcel shows a price. You can add a free message card too. We don't offer gift wrapping.
Can I choose the meaning of the kanji for my name?
Yes! Our kanji conversion offers multiple variations with different meanings. You can pick the one you like best. For fully custom meanings, use our custom conversion request service and our native Japanese staff will work with you.
Where are orders shipped from?
All orders are printed and shipped from Japan, by Japan Post (international small packet) or FedEx. We email you the day your order ships. Japan Post small packets don't come with a tracking number; if yours goes by FedEx, the email includes one.
Will I have to pay import duties or customs fees?
US orders ship duty-paid (DDP): we pay the import duties, so nothing is collected when your parcel arrives. For other countries, local import duties or taxes may apply and can be collected by the carrier on delivery — they depend on your country's rules.

Start Designing

Your name the way Japan writes it, or a word you can stand behind. Printed one at a time in Tokyo, shipped to your door.

Start Designing