Japanese Katakana characters – custom text in wood

Guests stop in front of your wall and ask what it says. And you tell them the story behind it. Japanese characters in wood turn a name or a favourite word into lettering made for your room. You choose your characters from the Katakana alphabet. We laser-cut them from poplar plywood. And your blank wall becomes your word.

What changes for you

• You design your own text instead of buying ready-made decor. You choose freely from the 46 syllables of the basic Katakana alphabet.
• Your lettering stands out clearly on dark walls and surfaces. The light beige of the untreated poplar wood creates contrast without any paint.
• You can put the characters up with little effort. At just 3 mm thick, they stay light and can be glued or drilled.
• You can match the letters to your interior. The natural wood takes paint, oil or stick-on decorations without any trouble.
• You get clean, crisp outlines. Every character is laser-cut and has the typical brown edge that frames the lettering.

Why these Katakana characters make a difference every day

Wooden lettering changes a room more quietly than a poster. It looks like a fixed part of the furnishings. Japanese script brings calm and clear shapes to your wall. Above the bed, in the hallway or in your tea corner. And because you choose the text yourself, what hangs there isn't just any motif. It's your word.

Material & finish

The characters are made from poplar plywood, laser-cut in our own production at Bütic in Pößneck. The laser cut gives precise edges and the distinctive brown edge that adds depth to each character. The wood stays natural. Fine grain and slight variations in colour are part of the natural material and make every piece one of a kind. You can use the letters straight away or paint, oil or decorate them as you like.

Dimensions & technical details

• Material: poplar plywood, untreated (natural)
• Material thickness: 3 mm
• Script: Japanese Katakana alphabet with 46 basic syllables, numbers and special characters also available
• Choice of height: 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm or 20 cm
• Colour: beige (natural wood), laser-cut edges with a brown rim
• Each letter is supplied individually; some characters consist of several parts
• Please note: character heights vary due to the script. To keep the original proportions, some characters may be a few millimetres smaller than the size you order

How to use the Katakana letters

• As wall decor in the living room or bedroom: your name or a favourite word in Japanese characters on the wall. A combination that exists only once.
• For crafting and decorating: you paint, oil or decorate the natural characters. And your lettering matches your interior exactly.
• As a gift for Japan fans: a name in Japanese script made of wood. More personal than any shop-bought card, and a gift that lasts.
• In a shop or restaurant: Katakana lettering on the wall or in the shop window suits the theme of a sushi bar, tea shop or Asian restaurant. Thanks to the thin material, it goes up quickly.
• Our tip for dark walls: On dark surfaces, the light beige of the untreated poplar wood stands out clearly. No extra paint needed.

Good to know about Katakana

If you're searching for a "Japanese script, 3 letters", you usually mean "Kana". It's the umbrella term for the two Japanese syllabic scripts, Hiragana and Katakana. In Japan, Katakana is mainly used for foreign words and names. That's exactly why this script works so well for writing your own name or a custom text in Japanese characters.

Care & durability

There's not much to do: an occasional dusting is enough. As the poplar wood is untreated, it doesn't like constant moisture. In a dry indoor room, your lettering keeps its light, natural surface for a long time. If you paint or oil the characters, they become more resistant.

Options & what's included

• Available in four heights: 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm
• Choose freely from the 46 syllables of the basic Katakana alphabet, plus numbers and special characters for your lettering
• Each letter is supplied individually; some characters consist of several parts
• Mounting material is not included; the characters can be glued or drilled

Frequently asked questions

Are all characters exactly the same height? No. The heights come from the typeface and are not adjusted, so the original proportions are kept. Some characters may therefore be a few millimetres smaller than the size you order.

Can I paint or oil the letters? Yes. The poplar plywood is natural and can be painted, oiled or decorated. This lets you match the lettering to your interior.

How do I put the characters up? You can glue or drill them. At just 3 mm thick, they are light and easy to fix to a wall, door or sign.

Is every character made in one piece? Not all of them. Due to the script, some Katakana characters consist of several parts, which you put up individually.

Are the letters suitable for outdoor use? The wood is untreated and is therefore intended for dry indoor rooms. For sheltered outdoor areas, we recommend a protective surface treatment.

Plywood and millimetres are only part of it. What counts is the moment someone stops in front of your wall and wants to know what your lettering means. Simply choose your characters and the right height. We'll laser-cut them for you.