Japanese writing consists of three main scripts: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Hiragana is a phonetic script used for native Japanese words and grammatical elements, while katakana is used primarily for foreign words and names. Kanji are characters borrowed from Chinese that represent whole words or concepts, making the writing system complex but rich. Each script serves a unique purpose, allowing for a flexible and expressive way to convey meaning. In written Japanese, you often see a combination of all three scripts in a single sentence, showcasing the language's depth and versatility.