The Unicode block for Kana Supplement is U+1B000–U+1B0FF: The Unicode block for Kana Extended-A is U+1B100–U+1B12F: Development of the hiragana syllabic n The hiragana syllabic n () derives from a cursive form of the character 无, and originally signified , the same as む. The spelling reform of 1900 separated the two uses, declaring that could only be used for and could only be used for syllable-final Previously, in the absence of a character for the syllable-final , the sound was spelled (but not pronounced) identically to , and readers had to rely on context to determine what was intended. This ambiguity has led to some modern expressions based on what are, in effect, spelling pronunciations. Modern usage Hentaigana are considered obsolete, but a few marginal uses remain. For example, otemoto (chopsticks), is written in hentaigana on some wrappers and many soba shops use hentaigana to spell kisoba on their signs. (See also: "Ye Olde" for "the old" on English signs.) Hentaigana are used in some formal handwritten documents, particularly in certificates issued by classical Japanese cultural groups (e.g., martial art schools, etiquette schools, religious study groups, etc.). Also, they are occasionally used in reproductions of classic Japanese texts, akin to the use of blackletter in English and other Germanic languages to give an archaic flair. Modern poems may be composed and printed in hentaigana for visual effect. However, most Japanese people are unable to read hentaigana nowadays, only recognizing a few from their common use in shop signs, or figuring them out from context. Gallery Some of the following hentaigana are cursive forms of the same kanji as their standard hiragana counterparts, but simplified differently. Others descend from unrelated kanji that represent the same sound. See also Furigana Romaji Notes References External links Chart of hentaigana calligraphy from O'Neill's A Reader of Handwritten Japanese A chart of hentaigana hosted by Jim Breen of the WWWJDIC Chart of kana from Engelbert Kaempfer circa 1693 Hentaigana on signs L2/15-239 Proposal for Japanese HENTAIGANA - Unicode Kana Japanese writing system