Abstract: A system and method to search for items characterized by Japanese text using a mobile device. The search system receives keyed user input and converts the input into a set of search terms. After generating search terms, the system searches Japanese text fields for matching items accessible by the mobile device. One or more natural starting points in the text fields are identified for each matching item. Starting points may include, for example, the beginning of a text field and the locations of punctuation or changes in character set in the text field. After determining starting points, the system determines the distance between the matching text and a starting point. The system then provides an ordered set of search results based on the calculated distance and potentially other factors, such as the alignment of the match and the type of item.