So is Japanese writing usually vertical or horizontal?

Ok Danbooru, my comment was actually a serious question. Can you not hide it so that I can get an answer? thanks~*

Nerniply said:

So is Japanese writing usually vertical or horizontal?

I'm no expert, but it seems to depend on what's written: vertical for most books/manga, formal papers and letters; and usually horizontal for online content and personal notes/diaries.. Horizontal writing is the more modern of the two

melco said:

I'm no expert, but it seems to depend on what's written: vertical for most books/manga, formal papers and letters; and usually horizontal for online content and personal notes/diaries.. Horizontal writing is the more modern of the two

I see. It also looks like horizontal writing is read from left to right. Does that mean books written horizontally flip their pages to the left? Or do they flip their pages right and are just read from left to right?

Nerniply said:

I see. It also looks like horizontal writing is read from left to right. Does that mean books written horizontally flip their pages to the left? Or do they flip their pages right and are just read from left to right?

Yes! For my limited experience, in books with horizontal-text the pages are also turned left to right, same as English. it makes more sense to read that way .

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melco said:

Yes! For my limited experience, in books with horizontal-text the pages are also turned left to right, same as English. it makes more sense to read that way .

wait...Okay so how do you know what side of the book to start from before opening it?

Nerniply said:

wait...Okay so how do you know what side of the book to start from before opening it?

The cover would clue you in , no ?