Braille　is　one　of　the　few　reading　systems　where　tactile　perception　is　used.　However,　one　important　issue　of　Braille　is　that　that　is　difficult　to　learn,　especially　for　elderly.　Thus,　there　is　a　need　to　develop　a　new　reading　system　which　presents　letters　directly　for　blind　people.　The　aim　of　present　study　is　to　investigate　the　human　characteristics　of　katakana　recognition　by　active　touch　for　tactile　reading　system　development.　In　present　experiment,　ten　healthy　young　subjects　were　asked　to　recognize　46　Japanese　katakana　by　active　touch.　The　raised-Japanese　katakana　characters　were　made　of　Duralumin,　and　the　height　of　these　stimuli　were　10mm.　Subjects　were　instructed　to　touch　the　katakana　stimuli　with　their　right　index　finger　without　large　submovement.　The　mean　accuracy　of　all　young　subjects　was　over　80%,　and　the　mean　reaction　time　was　about　27.3　s.　Our　results　indicated　that　the　mean　accuracy　was　decreased　with　similarity　increased.　However,　several　differences　with　regard　to　high　accuracy　under　high　similarity　pair　conditions　need　to　be　considered.　©　2010　Springer-Verlag.