Japanese characters are the written symbols used in the Japanese language. There are three main types: 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 consists of characters borrowed from Chinese and represents whole words or concepts. Each kanji has its own meaning and can have multiple pronunciations. Together, these three scripts create a unique writing system that reflects the rich history and culture of Japan.