matplotlib-fontja
matplotlibを日本語表示に対応させます。
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need Japanese text in matplotlib plots. Install friction is minimal, the license is permissive, and there are no known vulnerabilities. The aging maintenance status (477 days since last release) is a minor concern for long-term compatibility, but the package is stable and tested across Python 3.7–3.13 and matplotlib 3.0–3.10. Suitable for educational and scientific use where Japanese labeling is required.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- matplotlib must be installed first; font configuration from other libraries (e.g., seaborn) may override the japanization and require calling matplotlib_fontja.japanize() after such calls.
- Low friction; pure Python wheel with only matplotlib as a runtime dependency.
- Maintenance status is aging (477 days since last release), but the package is marked stable and has received recent commits.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT AND IPA (permissive) — Dual-licensed under MIT and IPA Font License. The permissive MIT covers the code; the IPA license governs the bundled IPAexGothic font (Ver.004.01) and requires acceptance of its terms.
last release 2025-04-24 (477 days) · last repo commit 2025-11-17 · 85 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 196,974 downloads/mo, #9,772 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install matplotlib-fontja
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib_fontja
plt.plot([1, 2, 3, 4])
plt.xlabel('日本語')
plt.show()- Whether the package works reliably with matplotlib versions beyond 3.10 (fact sheet shows testing up to 3.10 but classifiers list support for later versions).
- Current maintenance cadence and likelihood of future updates for new Python/matplotlib releases.
What it is and what it does
matplotlib-fontja is a fork of japanize-matplotlib that configures matplotlib to display Japanese text correctly by automatically setting the IPAexGothic font. It is designed for Python 3.7 through 3.13 and works with matplotlib 3.0 and later. The package bundles the IPAexGothic font (Ver.004.01) and applies it when imported, allowing developers to label axes, titles, and annotations in Japanese without manual font configuration.
The typical workflow is to import matplotlib_fontja after matplotlib but before drawing, which registers the font and updates matplotlib's configuration. The package handles the common case where Japanese labels would otherwise render as boxes or missing characters. It is most useful in scientific and educational contexts where plots need bilingual or Japanese-only labeling.
Use it for
- Label axes and titles in Japanese on scientific plots without manual font setup.
- Create educational visualizations with Japanese text for Japanese-speaking audiences.
- Generate reports or publications with matplotlib charts that include Japanese annotations.
- Quickly prototype data visualizations in Jupyter notebooks with Japanese labels.
- Render Japanese legends and text in seaborn plots after calling japanize().
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need Japanese text in matplotlib plots.
Install friction is minimal, the license is permissive, and there are no known vulnerabilities. The aging maintenance status (477 days since last release) is a minor concern for long-term compatibility, but the package is stable and tested across Python 3.7–3.13 and matplotlib 3.0–3.10. Suitable for educational and scientific use where Japanese labeling is required.
Install
matplotlib-fontja on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction; pure Python wheel with only matplotlib as a runtime dependency. Maintenance status is aging (477 days since last release), but the package is marked stable and has received recent commits.
matplotlib must be installed first; font configuration from other libraries (e.g., seaborn) may override the japanization and require calling matplotlib_fontja.japanize() after such calls.
License in practice
Dual-licensed under MIT and IPA Font License. The permissive MIT covers the code; the IPA license governs the bundled IPAexGothic font (Ver.004.01) and requires acceptance of its terms.
Quickstart
pip install matplotlib-fontja
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import matplotlib_fontja
plt.plot([1, 2, 3, 4])
plt.xlabel('日本語')
plt.show()Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably with matplotlib versions beyond 3.10 (fact sheet shows testing up to 3.10 but classifiers list support for later versions).
- Current maintenance cadence and likelihood of future updates for new Python/matplotlib releases.
Package facts
| License | MIT AND IPA permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagematplotlib |
| Maintenance | Aging 477 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 196,974 / month, #9,772 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableFramework :: MatplotlibIntended Audience :: EducationIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseNatural Language :: JapaneseProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Visualization |
Evidence: matplotlib_fontja-1.1.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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