A method and program for providing a Japanese language user interface for a messaging system which transfers messages among users on the system based upon addresses represented in an address format such as ASCII. The method includes the steps of storing a plurality of addresses in an address directory, each address being represented in kana, kanji, and address format; and sorting the address directory in a first order based upon the kana form of the addresses and in a second order based upon the address format of the addresses. Sorting can be accomplished by indexing the directory and sorting the index. When creating a new message, a user of the application program selects a given address from the address directory by inputting the given address in kana form. The directory is searched for the input address in kana form and, when found, the address format of the address is retrieved. The new message is then transferred using the address format. When a message is received by the user, the kanji form of the address of the sender of the message is retrieved from the directory and displayed along with the address format.
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