Character Encoding Converter
Convert and restore garbled Japanese text
Features
Generate all 9 common patterns at once
Comprehensive coverage of UTF-8, Shift_JIS, EUC-JP source data and 4 misreadings
Automatic restoration by pasting
Automatically searches for original Japanese candidates and displays them in readable order
Exclude uncertain results through validation
Only displays candidates that pass bidirectional verification for accurate results
Includes common scenarios and prevention methods
Explains typical situations and how to prevent each type of garbling
How to use
Select a mode
Switch between "Create garbled text" and "Restore garbled text" using tabs
Paste text
Paste the target text in the input field and conversion runs automatically
Check results
Copy what you need from the results list using copy buttons
Use cases
Decode garbled Excel CSV
Read corrupted cell contents and recover the correct data
Decode garbled email text
Restore unreadable email messages from business partners
Investigate character code configuration errors
Identify which character codes mismatched and prevent recurrence
Create sample garbled text for display testing
Prepare intentionally garbled strings to verify layout integrity
Basics
Why does character corruption occur?
Character corruption is a phenomenon where characters are replaced with meaningless symbols like "縺ゅ→" due to misinterpretation of character codes or similar causes.
- Character code mismatch：Character code mismatch occurs when the character code used when saving (such as UTF-8 or Shift_JIS) differs from the interpretation when opening the file, and it is the most common cause of character corruption.
- Use of platform-dependent characters：Platform-dependent characters are characters like circled numerals (①) that are only correctly displayed in specific environments and appear corrupted in other environments.
- File corruption：File corruption occurs when data is partially lost due to transfer or storage errors, and in this case, the file cannot be restored even if the character code is corrected.
How to fix character corruption yourself
Corrupted text can be restored by matching the character code used when opening the file to the one used when saving.
- Reopen in an editor：In text editors like Notepad, you can display the text correctly by switching the character code when opening to UTF-8 or Shift_JIS and reopening the file.
- Use import for Excel：If a CSV file appears corrupted when opened in Excel, you can prevent this by using the import function to specify the character code instead of double-clicking.
What is a character code?
- Character code：A character code is a rule that maps characters to numerical values for computer processing. In Japanese, UTF-8 and Shift_JIS are commonly used.
- UTF-8：UTF-8 is the most widely adopted character code today that can represent characters from around the world in a single system, and the majority of web pages are written in this format.
Safety and privacy
Runs entirely in your browser
Your input data is processed only within your browser and is never sent externally.
Processing only in your browser
Conversion process is processed entirely within your browser, and input data is not sent to any server.
Communications encrypted with HTTPS
Page loading is also encrypted by TLS, and content cannot be read by third parties.
No transmission to third parties
Input content is not sent to external services such as ad networks or trackers.
No automatic saving of results
Input text and conversion results and input suggestions are not stored on the server.
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Updates
- update #121
Added new tool that can reproduce and automatically restore garbled characters
Featured Tools
RAKKOTOOLS is free to use!
Available free of charge for individuals and corporations, commercial and non-commercial use alike.No prior permission or usage application is required. Feel free to use it in various situations.
Use in streaming and videos
Use various tools such as lottery draws and raffles in live streams and videos.
Use in schools, work, and events
Can be used in various situations such as classes, team division, internal work, and events.
Introduction on Web, books, and SNS
Feel free to introduce it as a useful tool on web media, books, SNS, and other platforms.
Commercial use
Can be used for commercial purposes such as research, calculation, processing, and conversion in business and production.
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If using in streaming and videos
Link to RAKKOTOOLS in the description, or Mention or display that you are using RAKKOTOOLS in the stream or video.
Credit example for the description
Usage guidelinesYou are free to use it for normal purposes. However, use for purposes that violate laws, infringe on third-party rights, impose significant load on the service, or otherwise interfere with service operation is prohibited.
We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information and calculation results obtained from each tool.
This notice is a translation of the original Japanese text. If there is any discrepancy between the translation and the original, the Japanese original takes precedence.