Support & FAQ

Google Docs does not support vertical writing out of the box. Once you install the TateGaki add-on, you can use vertical writing — including manuscript paper and blank canvas modes — directly inside Google Docs. TateGaki is free to install from the Google Workspace Marketplace.

Google Docs is built around horizontal writing, so vertical input isn't part of its standard feature set. TateGaki is an add-on that fills this gap: you can type vertically inside a dialog and export the result back into your Google Doc.

Open Google Docs™, then choose Extensions → TateGaki → Open vertical editor from the menu. The vertical editor opens as a dialog where you can type in vertical layout.

Use the toolbar at the top of the editor to switch between "400-character", "200-character", "Blank vertical", and "Blank horizontal" modes. The 400-character grid is landscape (20×20) and the 200-character grid is portrait (10×20).

Because Blank (vertical) mode is built on a textarea, it does not support scroll-follow or page splitting when printing. If your goal is writing long documents or printing, we recommend using manuscript paper mode with the grid lines turned OFF. Manuscript paper mode also supports page splitting when printing.

In manuscript paper mode (400 or 200 character), click the ruby field on the right side of any column to open the ruby input modal. Once entered, the ruby is shown in reduced size next to the base characters. Ruby is not available in blank canvas mode.

Use the save button in the toolbar to save into a TateGaki folder under My Drive on Google Drive™. Use "Save as" to create a new file; if you already have an existing file open, you can also save over it.

It writes the editor's content into your Google Docs™ document as a grid table (one cell per character), preserving the kinsoku-shori (line-breaking) layout. Before exporting, a confirmation prompt warns you that the existing content of your Google Doc will be cleared.

TateGaki's core features (manuscript paper modes, ruby, kinsoku shori, export to Google Docs table, Google Drive save, and more) are free, and the free features will stay free. In addition, an optional paid plan — TateGaki Pro (¥500/month or ¥1,500/year, tax included) — offers extra features such as custom layouts matched to book trim sizes.

TateGaki Pro is ¥500/month (tax included) or ¥1,500/year (tax included), paid by credit card via Stripe. You can cancel anytime, and your card statement shows "TATEGAKI". The annual plan works out to ¥125 per month.

Yes. We offer a site license for organizations with invoice billing (no credit card required). For details, see the For Schools & Organizations page (Japanese).

Word supports vertical writing natively, but you have to leave Google Workspace. TateGaki works entirely inside Google Docs, so you keep collaborative editing, cloud storage, and the convenience of add-ons.

The Suite tool converts vertical text into an image and costs ¥1,650/year. TateGaki lets you edit vertical writing and manuscript-paper layouts directly inside Google Docs, and its core features are free (Pro ¥500/month or ¥1,500/year, tax incl.).

Kodomo Suite is specialized for education. TateGaki spans education, publishing, and general use, and supports five book trim sizes (Pro).

Tategaki-kun is a web tool outside Google Docs that only rearranges characters vertically. TateGaki is Docs-native and supports manuscript paper, ruby (furigana), and kinsoku shori.

If your browser's pop-up blocker is on, the dialog may fail to appear. Allow pop-ups for the Google Docs™ domain, then reload the page and try again.

On first launch, the Noto Serif JP font may take a few seconds to load. Check your internet connection and wait a moment. If the problem persists, close the dialog and reopen it.

Saved files live in the "TateGaki" folder at the root of My Drive on Google Drive. Open Google Drive and check that folder. The file extension is .tategaki.json.

Google Chrome is recommended. Other browsers may work, but full feature compatibility isn't guaranteed.

The add-on is designed for the desktop (web) version of Google Docs™. The mobile Google Docs app has limited add-on support.

From the Google Docs™ menu, choose Extensions → Add-ons → Manage add-ons, open the "⋮" menu next to TateGaki, and select Uninstall. Files saved in your Google Drive will not be deleted.

Yes. Hover over the bottom edge of the editor (dialog) and drag it to increase the window height. This is helpful when the text is cut off at the bottom. If you don't see this feature, please reload your Google Doc and reopen TateGaki to get the latest version. For better visibility, you can also reduce your browser zoom (Windows: Ctrl and "-" / Mac: Cmd and "-") or switch to a different paper format (manuscript size).