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Komonjo Kentei

Old Document Reading Test

Komonjo Kaidoku Kentei Association · JA tests Japanese

UpcomingOfficial site ↗

  • Nov142026

    Venue test for 準1級 and 1級 (17th)

    13:45–14:45 at venues across Japan. Official schedule.

    Test date
  • Feb152027

    January 2027 postal test (3級–2級): answers due

    Questions are sent in mid-January; answer sheets must arrive by 15 February.

    Test date
  • May152027

    Venue test for 準1級 and 1級 (May 2027)

    Expected date: May 2027 is announced, and the venue test is usually on the third Saturday.

    Test date
  • Aug152027

    July 2027 postal test (3級–2級): answers due

    Questions are sent in mid-July; answer sheets must arrive by 15 August.

    Test date

Dates are from the organisation's official announcements. Always confirm on the official site before you apply.

Taking the test

Fee
¥5,000–¥9,000 depending on level from January 2027 (students ¥3,000–¥4,500 for 3級–2級).
How often
The postal test (3級–2級) runs in January and July; the venue test (準1級・1級) in May and November.
Format
You transcribe old handwritten documents into standard characters. Levels 3 to 2 are done at home by post; Pre-1 and 1 are a one-hour test at a venue.
Run by
Komonjo Kaidoku Kentei Association
Apply
Official site ↗

Levels

LevelWhat it means
Level 1Top level. Venue test. Open to those who passed Pre-1.
Level Pre-1Venue test. Open to those who passed Level 2.
Level 2Postal test. Open to those who passed Pre-2.
Level Pre-2Postal test. Open to those who passed Level 3.
Level 3Entry level. Postal test. Everyone starts here.

Passing is relative: you need to rank in roughly the top 70% of all candidates at 3級, 60% at 準2級, 50% at 2級, about 40% at 準1級 and about 30% at 1級. These are the official targets from January 2027 (they were stricter below Level 1 before), not published statistics, and may shift a little. No pass-rate statistics are published; from January 2027 the association aims to pass about the top 70% at Level 3, 60% at Pre-2, 50% at Level 2, 40% at Pre-1 and 30% at Level 1.

What it tests

Tested

  • Reading cursive old script (kuzushiji)
  • Reading kanji

Not tested

  • Classical Japanese
  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Writing

You only transcribe the documents into standard characters. There is no translation into modern Japanese, listening or speaking.

Languages and where to take it

Test language
Entirely in Japanese.
Instructions
Instructions and all information are in Japanese only.
Where
Levels 3 to 2 by post from home; Pre-1 and 1 at about 12–13 venues across Japan.
How long it counts

What it's recognised for

No official recognition for admissions, jobs or credits is stated. Passers get a certificate, and top Level 1 scorers can earn the title 古文書解読師範, meant to help them teach local beginner courses.

About the exam

Who it's for
Reading old handwritten Japanese documents in cursive script (kuzushiji). Mostly taken by self-taught hobbyists, local history groups and university students.
Levels and scores
Five levels: 3級, 準2級, 2級, 準1級 and 1級 (hardest). Everyone starts at 3級 and moves up one level per pass.