A name to carry with you for a lifetime.

A monk from a 500-year-old temple will listen to your life story and bestow upon you a kanji name chosen specifically for you.

Find your Zen Name

Explore the three naming plans.

What does that kanji say about you?

Kanji is loved all over the world. But many of them are—

Kanji searched online.
A string of characters from a translation app.
The "cool Japanese" a friend recommended.

Kanji is loved around the world as art and design.
But many of them carry the wrong meaning, distorted in form, or convey a completely unintended message to us.

Once a name is engraved, it cannot be easily erased.

That's why we choose a unique character for you, with a prayer. May this name become a light that guides a lifetime.

What if that name held a prayer?

Zen Name Calligraphy

Correct characters. Deep meaning. Beautiful handwriting.
And above all, the fact that a monk, who had listened to your life story,
chose it with a prayer.

Zen Name is not a translation. It is not generated.
It is a unique name born from your story.

What Zen Name brings you.

選

Kanji rooted in culture.

Not a string of characters generated by AI. Each one is chosen by a monk who understands the history of kanji, the layers of its meaning, and the resonance of its sound.

意

Meaning that reflects your life.

After carefully listening to the story behind your name, your core values, and the turning points in your life, we will create a name for you. Our hope is for this name to be a mirror reflecting your inner self.

永

Brushwork you can carry with pride.

Each stroke, shaped by the calligrapher's hand and spirit, transforms into a unique work of art, perfect for tattoos, displays, or social media. It is a piece custom-made just for you.

History

Unbroken since 1473.

Deep in the mountains of the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture.
Jitoku-san Tokuzoji, a Jodo Shinshu temple founded in the Muromachi period,
has kept the Dharma lamp burning for over 500 years and through 23 generations.

We are a temple that works to bring Buddhist wisdom to modern times, across sectarian lines, and provides "opportunities for anyone to receive ordination," thus upholding tradition while remaining open to the present.

553 years

Since our founding

23 generations

Unbroken Dharma transmission

Each person

Each name chosen personally by a monk.

Process

How your Zen Name comes to life

  1. 1

    STEP 1 — Choose a plan

    Choose your preferred plan and proceed to the product page.

  2. 2

    STEP 2 — Tell us your story

    On the product page, fill in the form with:
    the origin of your name, words you cherish, and your life story.
    (About 10–15 minutes)

  3. 3

    STEP 3 — Purchase and Payment

    Once you have completed the form, proceed to payment.
    We accept credit cards and other major payment methods.

  4. 4

    STEP 4 — Chosen by a Monk, in Prayer

    A monk carefully reads the story you submitted, and
    by combining the meaning of the kanji and Buddhist wisdom,
    chooses a Zen Name made for you alone.

  5. 5

    STEP 5 — Review before Delivery

    We will send you the Kanji, reading, and meaning of your completed Zen Name.
    Only after your approval do we move to final production.
    If it doesn't match your vision, we can remake it once for free after consulting with a monk.

  6. 6

    STEP 6 — Into your hands

    Digital files, original brushwork, or a framed scroll
    —delivered in the form your plan includes.

Estimated delivery after payment:
BASIC is 2-4 weeks, PREMIUM is 3-5 weeks, LEGACY is 4-6 weeks.

Plan

Choose a plan that's right for you

All plans include a digital certificate issued by Tokuzoji Temple.

See all plans →
  • Zen Name — BASIC

    Zen Name — BASIC

    $514.00 USD

    A Zen Name for you, from Tokuzoji Temple. A kanji name chosen just for you —drawn from your story, prayed over by ...

    Select this plan
  • Zen Name — PREMIUM

    Zen Name — PREMIUM

    $1,283.00 USD

    Go deeper into your name's meaning — and entrust the original artwork to the temple. The Kanji chosen for you. Eac...

    Select this plan
  • Zen Name — LEGACY Edition

    Zen Name — LEGACY Edition

    $3,207.00 USD

    As a ritual. As a record.Carve your name into history. Your Zen Name will be recorded on Tokuzoji Temple 's webpag...

    Select this plan

If you are unsure which plan is right for you, or if you have special requests, please feel free to contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is a Zen name? Is it different from a Dharma name?

Inspired by the Japanese Buddhist tradition of "Hōmyō" (Dharma Name), Zen Name is a unique Kanji name chosen just for you. While a Hōmyō is traditionally bestowed as proof of devotion to Buddhism, Zen Name requires no religious affiliation or conversion. It is a "cultural naming experience" where a monk prayerfully selects a name that resonates with your life's story.

Q. Do I have to join a religion?

Not at all. Zen Name is a service that does not require conversion to or belief in a specific religion. Anyone can apply, regardless of their faith or religious background.

What if I'm uncertain about the name I receive?

Before the final production, we offer you the opportunity to check the kanji, reading, and meaning.
If there are any errors in the characters or significant discrepancies from your intentions, you can have it remade once for free after consulting with the monk.

*Please note that Zen Name is a personalized naming service for each individual, and as such, it is not intended to be freely changed solely based on personal preference, unlike typical custom-made products.

Q. Can I use this as a tattoo design?

Yes. Every plan includes a high-resolution scan of the hand-brushed calligraphy, which you can hand directly to your tattoo artist. "Kanji with the correct meaning, written by a professional hand" - this is one of the biggest reasons to choose Zen Name.

*Tattoos are permanent. The tattoo will reflect the preview you approve. We strongly recommend having the content reviewed by an independent native Japanese speaker before the procedure.

Q. How long does it take from order to delivery?

After payment, the estimated delivery time is 2-4 weeks for BASIC, 3-5 weeks for PREMIUM, and 4-6 weeks for LEGACY.
Please note that it takes time for our priests to carefully name each item. Plans that include physical products (scrolls and framed items) may take an additional 1-2 weeks for production and shipping.

Q. Do you ship internationally?

Yes, we do. We welcome inquiries from countries not listed as supported, so please contact us individually for consultation.
* Customs duties, import taxes, and Value Added Tax (VAT) incurred in the country of delivery are the responsibility of the purchaser.

Q. Can I purchase this as a gift?

Yes — gifting is welcome and quite common. Please fill in the recipient's information in the inquiry form on the product page.
*Please ensure that you have obtained the recipient's consent to provide their personal information to us for the purpose of providing this service (GDPR compliant).

To every life, a name.

Zen Name welcomes people from all walks of life. We do not discriminate based on nationality, faith, gender, or sexuality. We honor your journey and provide a name that suits your story.

Your name will shape the next 500 years.

January 2024, Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Tokuzoji Temple suffered extensive damage.

The main hall, which has been protected for over 500 years, and the wooden statue of Prince Shotoku, associated with Ishida Mitsunari, both sustained significant damage.

To preserve this history, Tokuzoji Temple has decided to relocate to a new site.

A portion of every Zen Name supports this relocation and the temple's next 500 years.

By receiving your name, you help shape the temple's future.

For those who wish to provide further support, voluntary donations are also accepted.

Learn more about donations

Your story will become your name.

You're minutes away from receiving a name from a temple 500 years in the making.

Receive a Zen name