Seimei Handan Calculator (姓名判断)
Enter a Japanese family name and given name in kanji to calculate the traditional five-pillar stroke-count fortune. Below, learn how each pillar is calculated with a worked example.
UpdatedThe Five Pillars of Seimei Handan
Seimei Handan adds up kanji stroke counts into five totals, called the five pillars (五格, gokaku). Here is the calculation for the example name 田中太郎 (Tanaka Tarō):
| Pillar | Calculation | Example | Result | Traditionally governs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenkaku (天格)Heaven | Family name strokes | 田 5 + 中 4 = 9 | Growth potential | Ancestry and family heritage |
| Jinkaku (人格)Person | Last kanji of family name + first kanji of given name | 中 4 + 太 4 = 8 | 吉 Kichi (good fortune) | Core personality and working life |
| Chikaku (地格)Earth | Given name strokes | 太 4 + 郎 9 = 13 | 大吉 Dai-kichi (great fortune) | Childhood and inner nature |
| Gaikaku (外格)Outer | Total − Person | 22 − 8 = 14 | 中吉 Chū-kichi (moderate fortune) | Relationships and social life |
| Soukaku (総格)Total | All strokes in the full name | 9 + 13 = 22 | Growth potential | Overall life path, especially later life |
Lucky Stroke Numbers
Each total is reduced to the traditional cycle of 1–81 and looked up in a fortune table. This calculator uses the following ratings:
- 大吉 Dai-kichi (great fortune): 1, 3, 5, 6, 11, 13, 15, 16, 21, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 41, 45, 47, 52, 61, 63, 65, 67, 81
- 吉 Kichi (good fortune): 7, 8, 17, 18, 25, 29, 35, 37, 39, 48, 57, 58, 68
- 中吉 Chū-kichi (moderate fortune): 2, 14, 27, 30, 38, 40, 42, 51, 53, 55, 60, 71, 73, 75
Other numbers are shown as "growth potential". Seimei Handan is a cultural tradition shared for interest, not a prediction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Seimei Handan?
Seimei Handan (姓名判断, "name judgment") is a Japanese fortune-telling tradition that reads a name's luck from the stroke counts of its kanji. It was popularized in the early 20th century by Kumasaki Kenō, and many Japanese parents still check it when choosing a baby name.
What are the luckiest stroke counts?
In the table this calculator uses, the great-fortune (大吉) numbers are 1, 3, 5, 6, 11, 13, 15, 16, 21, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 41, 45, 47, 52, 61, 63, 65, 67, 81.
Why do different Seimei Handan sites give different results?
Schools of Seimei Handan count strokes differently. Some use modern character forms, while others use traditional forms or count radicals by their original characters (for example 氵 as 4 strokes, from 水). This calculator uses modern forms. See our methodology for details.
Should I choose a name based on Seimei Handan?
Seimei Handan is a cultural tradition, not a scientific prediction. Many families treat it as one consideration among meaning, sound and family wishes.