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# Text Transliteration
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Japanese text transliteration functionality for converting Hiragana and Katakana characters to romanized text using the modified Hepburn system. Essential for processing Japanese text in applications that need ASCII representation.
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## Capabilities
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### Japanese Transliteration
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Converts Japanese Hiragana and Katakana text to romanized characters using the modified Hepburn system with comprehensive rules for accurate transliteration.
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```javascript { .api }
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/**
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 * Japanese text transliteration using modified Hepburn system
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 * Converts Hiragana and Katakana to roman characters
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 * Based on CLDR transform rule set with fixes for missing characters and edge cases
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 */
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class TransliterateJa {
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  /** Transliterate Japanese text to romanized form */
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  static transliterate(text: string): string;
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}
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```
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**Features:**
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- Supports both Hiragana and Katakana character sets
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- Handles long vowel marks (ー) correctly
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- Processes small tsu (っ/ッ) for consonant doubling
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- Manages complex character combinations and diphthongs
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- Includes support for katakana middle dot (・)
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- Handles final small tsu and iteration marks
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- Supports modern extensions like small vowels and special combinations
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**Usage Examples:**
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```javascript
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const natural = require('natural');
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// Basic transliteration
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const result1 = natural.TransliterateJa.transliterate('こんにちは');
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console.log(result1); // 'konnichiwa'
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const result2 = natural.TransliterateJa.transliterate('カタカナ');
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console.log(result2); // 'katakana'
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// Complex examples with long vowels
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const result3 = natural.TransliterateJa.transliterate('おとうさん');
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console.log(result3); // 'otōsan'
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const result4 = natural.TransliterateJa.transliterate('きょう');
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console.log(result4); // 'kyō'
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// Small tsu handling
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const result5 = natural.TransliterateJa.transliterate('がっこう');
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console.log(result5); // 'gakkō'
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// Mixed Hiragana and Katakana
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const result6 = natural.TransliterateJa.transliterate('ひらがなとカタカナ');
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console.log(result6); // 'hiragana to katakana'
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// Modern extensions
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const result7 = natural.TransliterateJa.transliterate('ファイル・システム');
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console.log(result7); // 'fairu shisutemu'
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```
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**Transliteration Rules:**
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The system follows the modified Hepburn romanization with these key features:
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- **Long vowels**: Marked with macrons (ā, ī, ū, ē, ō)
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- **Double consonants**: Small tsu creates doubled consonants (kk, ss, tt, etc.)
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- **N handling**: Special rules for 'n' before vowels and certain consonants
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- **Voiced marks**: Properly handles dakuten (゛) and handakuten (゜)
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- **Modern sounds**: Supports katakana extensions for foreign words
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**Character Support:**
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- All standard Hiragana characters (あ-ん)
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- All standard Katakana characters (ア-ン)
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- Small characters (ぁぃぅぇぉ, ァィゥェォ, etc.)
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- Combination characters (きゃ, キャ, etc.)
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- Long vowel mark (ー)
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- Katakana middle dot (・)
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- Iteration marks and special symbols