This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about Japanese typography in the context of the AP Japanese course, from the technical differences between Hiragana and Kanji rendering to the best fonts for study and how to ensure your computer is ready for exam day.

The official exam software (which transitions to Bluebook for 2024-2025 and beyond) requires all student-written responses (typed during the presentational writing and interpersonal writing sections) to adhere to a specific visual standard. The font used is universally recognized as a variation of (Windows) or Hiragino Kaku Gothic (Mac) — both of which are Gothic-style (sans-serif) fonts.