Author's note

Retra by Tomoyuki Watanabe is a free Japanese display font with a calligraphic, kana-inspired rhythm. The letters lean on sweeping brushlike strokes and tight hooked curls, giving the font a lively, hand-drawn motion that feels ornamental without turning fussy.

It fits poster work, restaurant branding, album covers, game title cards, and packaging where a distinctly Japanese mood needs to come through fast; as a free font, it also makes sense for event flyers and short cover lines. The curling finishes and tapered movement suit brief display settings best, especially when you want the lettering to feel fluid, cultural, and a little theatrical.

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Retra font character map

Please use the pulldown menu to view different character maps contained in this font.
Retra font character map: Basic Latin, page 1

Glyphs in the Retra font — Basic Latin, page 1

Basic font information

Copyright notice
(C)2003 Teawat, Tomoyuki Watanabe This is Typography
Font family
Retra
Font subfamily
Regular
Unique subfamily identification
Macromedia Fontographer 4.1.5 Retra
Full font name
Retra
Name table version
Macromedia Fontographer 4.1.5 13/12/03
Postscript font name
Retra

Extended font information

Platforms supported

PlatformEncoding
UnicodeUnicode 1.0 semantics
MacintoshRoman
MicrosoftUnicode BMP only

Font details

Revision1
Glyph count98
Units per Em1000
Embedding rightsLicensed font (protected)
Family classNo classification
WeightSemi-light
WidthMedium (normal)
Mac styleBold
DirectionOnly strongly left to right glyphs + contains neutrals
Pattern natureRegular
PitchNot monospaced