Cmatrix Japanese Font

pip3 install unimatrix

Create a script cmatrix_jp.sh:

#!/bin/bash
# Generate random Japanese characters on the fly
while true; do
printf "%s" "$(printf '\u30A0\u30A1\u30A2\u30A3\u30A4\u30A5\u30A6\u30A7\u30A8\u30A9\u30AA\u30AB\u30AC\u30AD\u30AE\u30AF\u30B0\u30B1\u30B2\u30B3\u30B4\u30B5\u30B6\u30B7\u30B8\u30B9\u30BA\u30BB\u30BC\u30BD\u30BE\u30BF\u30C0\u30C1\u30C2\u30C3\u30C4\u30C5\u30C6\u30C7\u30C8\u30C9\u30CA\u30CB\u30CC\u30CD\u30CE\u30CF\u30D0\u30D1\u30D2\u30D3\u30D4\u30D5\u30D6\u30D7\u30D8\u30D9\u30DA\u30DB\u30DC\u30DD\u30DE\u30DF\u30E0\u30E1\u30E2\u30E3\u30E4\u30E5\u30E6\u30E7\u30E8\u30E9\u30EA\u30EB\u30EC\u30ED\u30EE\u30EF\u30F0\u30F1\u30F2\u30F3')"
sleep 0.01
done | cmatrix -u 4 -s

Make it executable and run:

chmod +x cmatrix_jp.sh
./cmatrix_jp.sh

If katakana look incorrect, switch to a different monospaced CJK-capable font and confirm the terminal is using UTF-8.

You must install a font that supports "CJK" (Chinese, Japanese, Korean). Here are the best options for a terminal environment:

cmatrix allows you to define a custom character set using the -c flag or by modifying the source, but the easiest method is to use input redirection. cmatrix japanese font

Create a text file with Japanese characters:

echo "アイウエオカキクケコサシスセソタチツテトナニヌネノハヒフヘホマミムメモヤユヨラリルレロワヲン" > jp_chars.txt

Add some kanji for a denser look:

echo "日本語漢字行列雨デジタル東京サイバーパンク" >> jp_chars.txt

Now, run cmatrix with that file as input: pip3 install unimatrix

cat jp_chars.txt | cmatrix -u 4

Note: The -u 4 flag sets UTF-8 mode and uses random characters from stdin.

cmatrix is a classic terminal program that simulates the iconic green "digital rain" from The Matrix movies. By default, it uses standard ASCII characters. But what if you want to make it look more authentic to the films’ Japanese-inspired on-screen code? Or just want a cooler, more complex visual effect?

In this guide, you’ll learn how to make cmatrix display Japanese characters (kanji, hiragana, katakana) instead of just letters and numbers. Create a script cmatrix_jp

If you want a thin, cyberpunk look, Iosevka allows you to build a version with Japanese fallback.