Dear IP members, For Japanese language, we have concept of variants. But it is different from Chinese language's. In Japanese language, variants are used simultaneously by intention of the person who uses them. Followings are examples of such usage in Japanese .JP domain names. 慶応大学.jp 慶應大学.jp Those are name of Keio university and registered by the university. 応 and 應 are considered as variants in new form Kanji and old form Kanji. 学 has variant 學 in that sense, but Keio university does not have 慶應大學.jp which is consist of both old form Kanji. Followings are another examples. 国学院大学.jp 國學院大學.jp Those are name of Kokugakuin university and registered by the university. 国 and 國 are new form Kanji and old form Kanji respectively. Unlike Keio university, Kokugakuin university does not have 國學院大学.jp. These cases are unpredictable, and very much depends on applicant's intention. The interesting thing is, a subsidiary of Kokugakuin university has following domain name. 学校法人國學院大學栃木学園.jp Here, 学 and 學 are used simultaneously, and it doesn't have 学校法人国学院大学栃木学園.jp. This is reality of Japanese language. Regards, -- Yoshiro YONEYA <yoshiro.yoneya@jprs.co.jp>