Originally Posted by Rubber Duck

There is some confusion with Simplified and Traditional Chinese and Japanese.

Unless you actually try to register them, it can be difficult to tell whether they are registered or not. That is because Simplified and Traditional are considered similar to upper and lower cases and duplicate registration is now blocked at the registries. If the Simplified is showing available it is probably because the equivalent in Japanese or Traditional Characters is already taken. You will only know for certain if it is available once you attempt to register it. Not a good system I know.

There has been a massive amount of delay and confusion with IDN. Most of the domains I have dropped because the original registrants wrote off their investments. The change over from RACE to Puny Code and the decision by Network Solutions the original main registrar to discontinue support of IDNs caused much of the confusion. The original registrants either had to transfer their names or loose them.

I think you will find that in reality it is very difficult now to nail a Good Japanese or Chinese name. Even in Arabic and Russian most of the best terms have gone. There are still huge opportunities with Hindi, but that is because there is a general perception amongst domainers that Indians will only use English to access the Internet. I am heavily invested in these as I obviously don't share that view.

Apologies for delay

Dave