Genkouyoushi is a type of Japanese paper used for writing. It is printed with vertical columns of squares, with each square designed to accommodate a single Japanese character or punctuation mark. Genkouyoushi may be used with any type of writing instrument (pencil, pen or ink brush), and with or without a shitajiki. While in the past Genkouyoushi was used for all types of manuscript writing (essays, creative writing, news writing and so on), in most cases the advent of the computer means that this is now the preferred medium, although some Japanese word processing software still includes a Genkouyoushi template. However, Genkouyoushi is still very widely used, especially by students. Primary and secondary students in particular are required to hand in assignments written on Genkouyoushi, and essays for school entrance examinations are also written on the paper, making knowledge of the correct way to use Genkouyoushi essential. Some programs of Japanese as a foreign language also require or encourage their adult students to use Genkouyoushi for practice or formal assignments or both, as use of the paper helps students to learn correct spacing when writing vertically.