# KAKASI

> free software

**Wikidata**: [Q11227457](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11227457)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kakasi

## Summary
KAKASI is a free Japanese morphological analysis tool distributed under the GNU General Public License v2.0+. It converts Japanese text written in kanji to hiragana, katakana, or romanized form, making it essential for text processing and language learning applications.

## Key Facts
- Licensed under GNU General Public License version 2.0 or later
- Available as packages in major Linux distributions: Debian (kakasi), Ubuntu (kakasi), FreeBSD (japanese/kakasi), and Gentoo (app-i18n/kakasi)
- Source code available via CVS repository at cvs.namazu.org
- Official websites available in both Japanese and English
- Listed in Repology package tracking system as "kakasi"
- Has Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/1238mcwm

## FAQs
### Q: What does KAKASI do?
A: KAKASI is a morphological analysis tool that converts Japanese kanji text into hiragana, katakana, or romanized (Latin alphabet) form. This conversion helps with text processing, search indexing, and language learning applications.

### Q: Is KAKASI free to use?
A: Yes, KAKASI is free software released under the GNU General Public License version 2.0 or later. You can freely use, modify, and redistribute it according to the license terms.

### Q: How can I install KAKASI?
A: KAKASI can be installed through standard package managers on most Linux systems. It's available as 'kakasi' in Debian/Ubuntu repositories, 'japanese/kakasi' in FreeBSD ports, and 'app-i18n/kakasi' in Gentoo portage.

## Why It Matters
KAKASI plays a crucial role in Japanese text processing by solving the fundamental challenge of kanji conversion. Japanese text processing requires handling multiple writing systems (kanji, hiragana, katakana) that can represent the same words differently. KAKASI's ability to convert between these systems enables developers to build applications that can properly index, search, and analyze Japanese text. As free software, it provides an accessible tool for researchers, developers, and language learners who need to process Japanese text without proprietary restrictions. Its availability across multiple platforms and distributions demonstrates its importance in the open-source Japanese text processing ecosystem.

## Notable For
- One of the few free software tools specifically designed for Japanese morphological analysis
- Long-standing presence in Unix-like systems with dedicated packages in major distributions
- Maintains both Japanese and English documentation, making it accessible to international users
- Distributed under GPL v2.0+, ensuring it remains free and open-source
- Available through multiple installation methods including package managers and Homebrew

## Body
### Overview
KAKASI (形態素解析ツールKAKASI) is a Japanese morphological analysis tool that serves as a critical component in Japanese text processing workflows. The software specializes in converting Japanese text between different writing systems, particularly from kanji to phonetic representations.

### Technical Details
The software operates as a command-line tool that processes Japanese text input and outputs converted text in the desired format. Its primary function involves analyzing Japanese text at the morphological level, identifying word boundaries and converting kanji characters to their phonetic equivalents in hiragana, katakana, or romanized form.

### Distribution and Availability
KAKASI demonstrates widespread adoption through its inclusion in major operating system repositories. The software maintains dedicated packages across different platforms, indicating its established position in the Japanese text processing toolchain. Users can access the software through traditional package managers or build from source via the CVS repository.

### Development and Maintenance
The project maintains active development through the CVS repository hosted at cvs.namazu.org. The codebase is accessible to developers who wish to contribute or modify the software according to their needs, consistent with the principles of free software.

## References

1. [Source](http://cvs.namazu.org/Development/kakasi/README?revision=1.2&view=markup)