I am wondering if it is a necessary skill to learn how to read and write
kuzushiji in modern japanese.
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2015-09-01T03:55:41.260
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2015-09-01T12:58:12.117
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question
words handwriting
Is kuzushiji considered archaic?
I don't know whether it's technically considered archaic, but unless you're
working at a museum, I don't think you'd even need to know how to read
kuzushi-ji, let alone write it. It would be a cool skill to have, but you'll
never need it in day-to-day life. I lived over there for about a year and have
worked as a translator for seven, and the only kuzushi-ji I've seen so far was
on a plaque on an old monument.
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2015-09-01T06:56:09.547
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2015-09-01T06:56:09.547
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answer
Moderate _kuzushiji_ style based on modern orthographical standard (like
[this](http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201001/01/47/b0172747_19595829.jpg) or
[this](http://blog-fino.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/uncategorized/photo_23.jpg))
is widely accepted and well understood. Some people are actually fond of
writing in such style, so maybe you'll need to learn how to read them in
private letters and fancy cards.

Meanwhile, hardcore historical _kuzushiji_ stored in archives and museums
(like [this](http://su-cultural-history.up.n.seesaa.net/su-cultural-
history/image/P1030717.JPG?d=a48) or [this](https://ks.c.yimg.jp/res/chie-
que-10135/10/135/309/910/i320)) is totally different and basically
incomprehensible to today's people without proper training. Students of
Japanese history or philology have to start with learning to decipher those
characters. They are, like old German handwriting, definitely archaic.
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2015-09-01T12:58:12.117
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2015-09-01T12:58:12.117
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answer