while true; do printf "%s" "$(printf '\u30A0\u30A1\u30A2\u30A3\u30A4\u30A5\u30A6\u30A7\u30A8\u30A9\u30AA\u30AB\u30AC\u30AD\u30AE\u30AF\u30B0\u30B1\u30B2\u30B3\u30B4\u30B5\u30B6\u30B7\u30B8\u30B9\u30BA\u30BB\u30BC\u30BD\u30BE\u30BF\u30C0\u30C1\u30C2\u30C3\u30C4\u30C5\u30C6\u30C7\u30C8\u30C9\u30CA\u30CB\u30CC\u30CD\u30CE\u30CF\u30D0\u30D1\u30D2\u30D3\u30D4\u30D5\u30D6\u30D7\u30D8\u30D9\u30DA\u30DB\u30DC\u30DD\u30DE\u30DF\u30E0\u30E1\u30E2\u30E3\u30E4\u30E5\u30E6\u30E7\u30E8\u30E9\u30EA\u30EB\u30EC\u30ED\u30EE\u30EF\u30F0\u30F1\u30F2\u30F3')" sleep 0.01 done | cmatrix -u 4 -s
If you are on Windows Terminal or WSL, MS Gothic is pre-installed and handles Katakana perfectly.
Would you like a shorter version for social media, or a ready-to-run script that automates the font setup?
The most common frustration reported by users is executing cmatrix -c only to be met with a blank screen or boxes. You are not alone. This happens because your terminal lacks the specific font mappings required to render the specific Unicode range cmatrix is calling for. Here is the definitive guide to fixing this. cmatrix japanese font
If cmatrix -c results in a blank screen, it usually means your terminal doesn't know which font to use for Japanese characters.
This will make the screen rain only 0 s and 1 s. For a more technical look:
However, simply running this command often results in a blank screen or missing symbols if your system lacks the necessary configuration and fonts. Prerequisites for Japanese Font Support You are not alone
jp2a --width=80 --height=24 some_cyberpunk_image.jpg | cmatrix -u 4 -s
If you are using a package manager that didn't compile cmatrix with Wide Character Support ( ncursesw ), you might need to compile it yourself, or edit the Makefile . git clone https://github.com Open the Makefile and ensure LIBS includes -lncursesw . LIBS = -lncursesw Use code with caution. Run: ./configure && make && sudo make install
Once you have the fonts working, you can really have fun with the command-line options. Here are some powerful combinations to try: If cmatrix -c results in a blank screen,
You will need to modify two main files in the cmatrix source code:
sudo curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/will8211/unimatrix/master/unimatrix.py -o /usr/local/bin/unimatrix sudo chmod a+rx /usr/local/bin/unimatrix unimatrix Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Pro Tip for Designers How to install Japanese font for cmatrix - Ask Ubuntu
After installing, ensure your terminal emulator (like GNOME Terminal, Alacritty, or Kitty) is set to use a font that supports these characters. Technical Troubleshooting: Unicode and Ncurses
