Korea Embraces MBTI, Japan Turns to Character Code

Recently released in Japan, Character Code is rapidly spreading among Generation Z, especially teenagers. It is being recognized not just as a simple personality test, but as a recommended piece of content shared among friends and as a new language for self-expression on social media platforms.

According to the Sasakawa Sports Foundation, Japan’s official statistical agency, the current teenage population in Japan is approximately 10.93 million, with more than 2 million teenage users of Character Code. This means that one out of every five teenagers has experienced it firsthand, a figure that is drawing attention within the industry.

This widespread adoption has occurred through voluntary sharing on social media, rather than large-scale advertising or campaigns. When a YouTuber in Japan with over 4 million subscribers featured Character Code, the video garnered hundreds of thousands of views. On TikTok, posts sharing Character Code results with related hashtags are rapidly increasing. Comments such as "Are you NIFT?" and "I'm DOFC and it really fits me" are spreading, showing how communication among users is fueling its growth.

The Japanese marketing industry is also paying close attention to this trend. An official from an advertising agency commented, "While MBTI has become a language for interpreting inner personality in Korea, in Japan, Character Code is establishing itself as a 'visual-based self-awareness code' that describes outward atmosphere and style. Generation Z prefers image-based expressions over text, and Character Code aligns with this trend."

A representative from Character Code also stated, "Even within a short period, Character Code is spreading as a new means of self-expression among Japanese teenagers," adding, "We plan to offer more experiences by expanding content that reflects local culture and the ways users communicate."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.