The Japanese writing system is quite flexible and can be written in a variety of orientations. Japanese can be written horizontally (yokogaki ‘横書き’) in either direction. For most learning courses and textbooks, its characters are placed from left to right. Right-to-left text was once popular, but is now used to convey a retro or old-timey feel. Vertical writing, or tategaki (縦書き) is just as widespread as yokogaki. Either form can be used at your discretion. Symbols are written top to bottom, and from right to left.