diff --git a/epicyon.py b/epicyon.py
index d90b14fb5..62ce6dfa7 100644
--- a/epicyon.py
+++ b/epicyon.py
@@ -3338,8 +3338,9 @@ def _command_options() -> None:
         if domain.endswith('.ipns'):
             port = 80
             http_prefix = 'ipns'
+        password = argb.password.strip()
         create_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix,
-                      True, not argb.noapproval, argb.password.strip())
+                      True, not argb.noapproval, password, debug)
         if is_a_dir(account_dir):
             print('Account created for ' + nickname + '@' + domain)
         else:
@@ -3375,8 +3376,9 @@ def _command_options() -> None:
         if is_a_dir(account_dir):
             print('Group already exists')
             sys.exit()
+        password = argb.password.strip()
         create_group(base_dir, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix,
-                     True, argb.password.strip())
+                     True, password, debug)
         if is_a_dir(account_dir):
             print('Group created for ' + nickname + '@' + domain)
         else:
@@ -3914,16 +3916,15 @@ def _command_options() -> None:
                          str(max_registrations))
 
         create_person(base_dir, 'maxboardroom', domain, port, http_prefix,
-                      True, False, password)
+                      True, False, password, debug)
         create_person(base_dir, 'ultrapancake', domain, port, http_prefix,
-                      True, False, password)
+                      True, False, password, debug)
         create_person(base_dir, 'drokk', domain, port, http_prefix,
-                      True, False, password)
+                      True, False, password, debug)
         create_person(base_dir, 'sausagedog', domain, port, http_prefix,
-                      True, False, password)
-
+                      True, False, password, debug)
         create_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix,
-                      True, False, 'likewhateveryouwantscoob')
+                      True, False, 'likewhateveryouwantscoob', debug)
         set_skill_level(base_dir, nickname, domain, 'testing', 60)
         set_skill_level(base_dir, nickname, domain, 'typing', 50)
         set_role(base_dir, nickname, domain, 'admin')
diff --git a/src/daemon_post_login.py b/src/daemon_post_login.py
index 7a2103b04..bece1b3cd 100644
--- a/src/daemon_post_login.py
+++ b/src/daemon_post_login.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def post_login_screen(self, calling_domain: str, cookie: str,
 
             if not register_account(base_dir, http_prefix, domain, port,
                                     login_nickname, login_password,
-                                    manual_follower_approval):
+                                    manual_follower_approval, debug):
                 self.server.postreq_busy = False
                 login_url = \
                     get_instance_url(calling_domain,
diff --git a/src/person.py b/src/person.py
index 51fa695a4..29446874e 100644
--- a/src/person.py
+++ b/src/person.py
@@ -466,7 +466,8 @@ def _create_person_base(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, port: int,
                         http_prefix: str, save_to_file: bool,
                         manual_follower_approval: bool,
                         group_account: bool,
-                        password: str) -> (str, str, {}, {}):
+                        password: str,
+                        debug: bool) -> (str, str, {}, {}):
     """Returns the private key, public key, actor and webfinger endpoint
     """
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem = generate_rsa_key()
@@ -676,12 +677,17 @@ def _create_person_base(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, port: int,
             password = remove_eol(password).strip()
             store_basic_credentials(base_dir, nickname, password)
 
+    if debug:
+        print('DEBUG: _create_person_base type ' + person_type + ' ' +
+              nickname + '@' + domain)
+
     return private_key_pem, public_key_pem, new_person, webfinger_endpoint
 
 
 def register_account(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str, domain: str, port: int,
                      nickname: str, password: str,
-                     manual_follower_approval: bool) -> bool:
+                     manual_follower_approval: bool,
+                     debug: bool) -> bool:
     """Registers a new account from the web interface
     """
     if _account_exists(base_dir, nickname, domain):
@@ -697,7 +703,7 @@ def register_account(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str, domain: str, port: int,
                            domain, port,
                            http_prefix, True,
                            manual_follower_approval,
-                           password)
+                           password, debug)
     if private_key_pem:
         return True
     return False
@@ -705,14 +711,16 @@ def register_account(base_dir: str, http_prefix: str, domain: str, port: int,
 
 def create_group(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, port: int,
                  http_prefix: str, save_to_file: bool,
-                 password: str) -> (str, str, {}, {}):
+                 password: str,
+                 debug: bool) -> (str, str, {}, {}):
     """Returns a group
     """
     (private_key_pem, public_key_pem,
      new_person, webfinger_endpoint) = create_person(base_dir, nickname,
                                                      domain, port,
                                                      http_prefix, save_to_file,
-                                                     False, password, True)
+                                                     False, password,
+                                                     debug, True)
 
     return private_key_pem, public_key_pem, new_person, webfinger_endpoint
 
@@ -750,7 +758,12 @@ def save_person_qrcode(base_dir: str,
     if is_a_file(qrcode_filename):
         return
     handle = get_full_domain('@' + nickname + '@' + qrcode_domain, port)
-    url = pyqrcode.create(handle)
+    try:
+        url = pyqrcode.create(handle)
+    except UnicodeEncodeError as exc:
+        print('EX: pyqrcode unable to create from handle ' + handle +
+              ' ' + str(exc))
+        return
     try:
         url.png(qrcode_filename, scale)
     except ModuleNotFoundError:
@@ -761,10 +774,13 @@ def create_person(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, port: int,
                   http_prefix: str, save_to_file: bool,
                   manual_follower_approval: bool,
                   password: str,
+                  debug: bool,
                   group_account: bool = False) -> (str, str, {}, {}):
     """Returns the private key, public key, actor and webfinger endpoint
     """
     if not valid_nickname(domain, nickname):
+        if debug:
+            print('DEBUG: create_person invalid nickname')
         return None, None, None, None
 
     # If a config.json file doesn't exist then don't decrement
@@ -775,11 +791,15 @@ def create_person(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, port: int,
         if remaining_config_exists:
             registrations_remaining = int(remaining_config_exists)
             if registrations_remaining <= 0:
+                if debug:
+                    print('DEBUG: create_person no registrations remaining')
                 return None, None, None, None
     else:
         dir_str = data_dir(base_dir)
         if is_a_dir(dir_str + '/news@' + domain):
             # news account already exists
+            if debug:
+                print('DEBUG: create_person news account already exists')
             return None, None, None, None
 
     manual_follower = manual_follower_approval
@@ -791,7 +811,8 @@ def create_person(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, port: int,
                                                            save_to_file,
                                                            manual_follower,
                                                            group_account,
-                                                           password)
+                                                           password,
+                                                           debug)
     if not get_config_param(base_dir, 'admin'):
         if nickname != 'news':
             # print(nickname+' becomes the instance admin and a moderator')
@@ -873,16 +894,18 @@ def create_shared_inbox(base_dir: str, nickname: str, domain: str, port: int,
                         http_prefix: str) -> (str, str, {}, {}):
     """Generates the shared inbox
     """
+    debug = False
     return _create_person_base(base_dir, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix,
-                               True, True, False, None)
+                               True, True, False, None, debug)
 
 
 def create_news_inbox(base_dir: str, domain: str, port: int,
                       http_prefix: str) -> (str, str, {}, {}):
     """Generates the news inbox
     """
+    debug = False
     return create_person(base_dir, 'news', domain, port,
-                         http_prefix, True, True, None)
+                         http_prefix, True, True, None, debug)
 
 
 def person_upgrade_actor(base_dir: str, person_json: {},
diff --git a/src/tests.py b/src/tests.py
index c24c2559b..d19ce6a46 100644
--- a/src/tests.py
+++ b/src/tests.py
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ def _test_http_signed_get(base_dir: str):
     no_recency_check = True
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem, _, _ = \
         create_person(path, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix,
-                      False, False, password)
+                      False, False, password, debug)
     assert private_key_pem
     assert public_key_pem
     message_body_json_str = ''
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ def _test_signature():
     assert total % system == 374
 
 
-def _test_httpsig_base(with_digest: bool, base_dir: str):
+def _test_httpsig_base(with_digest: bool, base_dir: str, nickname: str):
     print('test_httpsig(' + str(with_digest) + ')')
 
     path = base_dir + '/.testHttpsigBase'
@@ -643,10 +643,10 @@ def _test_httpsig_base(with_digest: bool, base_dir: str):
     makedir(path)
     os.chdir(path)
 
+    debug = True
     algorithm = 'rsa-sha256'
     digest_algorithm = 'rsa-sha256'
     content_type = 'application/activity+json'
-    nickname = 'socrates'
     host_domain = 'someother.instance'
     domain = 'argumentative.social'
     http_prefix = 'https'
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ def _test_httpsig_base(with_digest: bool, base_dir: str):
     password = 'SuperSecretPassword'
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem, person, wf_endpoint = \
         create_person(path, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix,
-                      False, False, password)
+                      False, False, password, debug)
     assert private_key_pem
     assert public_key_pem
     assert person
@@ -757,8 +757,10 @@ def _test_httpsig_base(with_digest: bool, base_dir: str):
 
 
 def _test_httpsig(base_dir: str):
-    _test_httpsig_base(True, base_dir)
-    _test_httpsig_base(False, base_dir)
+    for nickname in ('socrates', '有効', 'дійсний', 'גילטיק'):
+        print('\nTesting http signatures with nickname ' + nickname)
+        _test_httpsig_base(True, base_dir, nickname)
+        _test_httpsig_base(False, base_dir, nickname)
 
 
 def _test_cache():
@@ -803,6 +805,7 @@ def create_server_alice(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
         shutil.rmtree(path, ignore_errors=False)
     makedir(path)
     os.chdir(path)
+    debug = True
     shared_items_federated_domains: list[str] = []
     system_language: str = 'en'
     languages_understood: list[str] = [system_language]
@@ -817,7 +820,7 @@ def create_server_alice(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     low_bandwidth: bool = True
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem, person, wf_endpoint = \
         create_person(path, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix, True,
-                      False, password)
+                      False, password, debug)
     assert private_key_pem
     assert public_key_pem
     assert person
@@ -1013,6 +1016,7 @@ def create_server_bob(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
         shutil.rmtree(path, ignore_errors=False)
     makedir(path)
     os.chdir(path)
+    debug = True
     shared_items_federated_domains: list[str] = []
     system_language: str = 'en'
     languages_understood: list = [system_language]
@@ -1028,7 +1032,7 @@ def create_server_bob(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     low_bandwidth: bool = True
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem, person, wf_endpoint = \
         create_person(path, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix, True,
-                      False, password)
+                      False, password, debug)
     assert private_key_pem
     assert public_key_pem
     assert person
@@ -1223,6 +1227,7 @@ def create_server_eve(path: str, domain: str, port: int, federation_list: [],
         shutil.rmtree(path, ignore_errors=False)
     makedir(path)
     os.chdir(path)
+    debug = True
     shared_items_federated_domains: list[str] = []
     nickname: str = 'eve'
     http_prefix: str = 'http'
@@ -1232,7 +1237,7 @@ def create_server_eve(path: str, domain: str, port: int, federation_list: [],
     allow_deletion = True
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem, person, wf_endpoint = \
         create_person(path, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix, True,
-                      False, password)
+                      False, password, debug)
     assert private_key_pem
     assert public_key_pem
     assert person
@@ -1350,6 +1355,7 @@ def create_server_group(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     os.chdir(path)
     shared_items_federated_domains: list[str] = []
     # system_language = 'en'
+    debug = True
     nickname = 'testgroup'
     http_prefix = 'http'
     proxy_type = None
@@ -1360,7 +1366,7 @@ def create_server_group(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     allow_deletion = True
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem, person, wf_endpoint = \
         create_group(path, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix, True,
-                     password)
+                     password, debug)
     assert private_key_pem
     assert public_key_pem
     assert person
@@ -2957,6 +2963,7 @@ def test_group_follow(base_dir: str) -> None:
 
 def _test_followers_of_person(base_dir: str) -> None:
     print('test_followers_of_person')
+    debug = True
     curr_dir = base_dir
     nickname = 'mxpop'
     domain = 'diva.domain'
@@ -2970,15 +2977,15 @@ def _test_followers_of_person(base_dir: str) -> None:
     makedir(base_dir)
     os.chdir(base_dir)
     create_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, port,
-                  http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                  http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
     create_person(base_dir, 'maxboardroom', domain, port,
-                  http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                  http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
     create_person(base_dir, 'ultrapancake', domain, port,
-                  http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                  http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
     create_person(base_dir, 'drokk', domain, port,
-                  http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                  http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
     create_person(base_dir, 'sausagedog', domain, port,
-                  http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                  http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
 
     clear_follows(base_dir, nickname, domain, 'following.txt')
     follow_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, 'maxboardroom', domain,
@@ -3006,6 +3013,7 @@ def _test_followers_of_person(base_dir: str) -> None:
 
 def _test_followers_on_domain(base_dir: str) -> None:
     print('test_followers_on_domain')
+    debug = True
     curr_dir = base_dir
     nickname = 'mxpop'
     domain = 'diva.domain'
@@ -3020,15 +3028,15 @@ def _test_followers_on_domain(base_dir: str) -> None:
     makedir(base_dir)
     os.chdir(base_dir)
     create_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix, True,
-                  False, password)
+                  False, password, debug)
     create_person(base_dir, 'maxboardroom', otherdomain, port,
-                  http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                  http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
     create_person(base_dir, 'ultrapancake', otherdomain, port,
-                  http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                  http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
     create_person(base_dir, 'drokk', otherdomain, port,
-                  http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                  http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
     create_person(base_dir, 'sausagedog', otherdomain, port,
-                  http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                  http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
 
     follow_person(base_dir, 'drokk', otherdomain, nickname, domain,
                   federation_list, False, False, 'following.txt')
@@ -3074,6 +3082,7 @@ def _test_followers_on_domain(base_dir: str) -> None:
 def _test_group_followers(base_dir: str) -> None:
     print('test_group_followers')
 
+    debug = True
     curr_dir = base_dir
     nickname = 'test735'
     domain = 'mydomain.com'
@@ -3087,7 +3096,7 @@ def _test_group_followers(base_dir: str) -> None:
     makedir(base_dir)
     os.chdir(base_dir)
     create_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix, True,
-                  False, password)
+                  False, password, debug)
 
     clear_followers(base_dir, nickname, domain)
     add_follower_of_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, 'badger', 'wild.domain',
@@ -3120,6 +3129,7 @@ def _test_group_followers(base_dir: str) -> None:
 
 def _test_follows(base_dir: str) -> None:
     print('test_follows')
+    debug = True
     curr_dir = base_dir
     nickname: str = 'test529'
     domain: str = 'testdomain.com'
@@ -3133,7 +3143,7 @@ def _test_follows(base_dir: str) -> None:
     makedir(base_dir)
     os.chdir(base_dir)
     create_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix, True,
-                  False, password)
+                  False, password, debug)
 
     clear_follows(base_dir, nickname, domain, 'following.txt')
     follow_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, 'badger', 'wild.com',
@@ -3210,6 +3220,7 @@ def _test_follows(base_dir: str) -> None:
 
 def _test_create_person_account(base_dir: str):
     print('test_create_person_account')
+    debug = True
     system_language: str = 'en'
     languages_understood: list = [system_language]
     curr_dir: str = base_dir
@@ -3227,7 +3238,7 @@ def _test_create_person_account(base_dir: str):
 
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem, person, wf_endpoint = \
         create_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, port,
-                      http_prefix, True, False, password)
+                      http_prefix, True, False, password, debug)
     assert private_key_pem
     assert public_key_pem
     assert person
@@ -4276,6 +4287,7 @@ def _test_web_links():
 
 def _test_addemoji(base_dir: str):
     print('test_addemoji')
+    debug = True
     content: str = "Emoji :lemon: :strawberry: :banana:"
     http_prefix: str = 'http'
     nickname: str = 'testuser'
@@ -4301,7 +4313,7 @@ def _test_addemoji(base_dir: str):
     os.chdir(base_dir)
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem, person, wf_endpoint = \
         create_person(base_dir, nickname, domain, port,
-                      http_prefix, True, False, 'password')
+                      http_prefix, True, False, 'password', debug)
     assert private_key_pem
     assert public_key_pem
     assert person
@@ -5326,6 +5338,21 @@ def _test_valid_nick():
     nickname = 'myvalidnick'
     assert valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
 
+    nickname = 'صالح'
+    assert valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
+
+    nickname = 'वैध'
+    assert valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
+
+    nickname = '有効'
+    assert valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
+
+    nickname = 'גילטיק'
+    assert valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
+
+    nickname = 'дійсний'
+    assert valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
+
     nickname = 'my#invalid#nick'
     assert not valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
 
@@ -5338,10 +5365,6 @@ def _test_valid_nick():
     nickname = 'my invalid nick?'
     assert not valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
 
-    # causes http signature check failures
-    nickname = '你好'
-    assert not valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
-
     nickname = 'abc.def'
     assert valid_nickname(domain, nickname)
 
@@ -7917,7 +7940,7 @@ def _test_httpsig_base_new(with_digest: bool, base_dir: str,
     password = 'SuperSecretPassword'
     private_key_pem, public_key_pem, _, _ = \
         create_person(path, nickname, domain, port, http_prefix,
-                      False, False, password)
+                      False, False, password, debug)
     assert private_key_pem
     if with_digest:
         message_body_json = {
diff --git a/src/utils.py b/src/utils.py
index 62b6ad04b..674e5d9a3 100644
--- a/src/utils.py
+++ b/src/utils.py
@@ -2466,6 +2466,50 @@ def _is_valid_language(text: str) -> bool:
         "Gujarati": [2688, 2816],
         "Oriya": [2816, 2944],
         "Tamil": [2944, 3072],
+        "Japanese_hiragana1": [12353, 12436],
+        "Japanese_hiragana2": [12441, 12446],
+        "Japanese_hiragana3": [12437, 12438],
+        "Japanese_hiragana4": [12447, 12447],
+        "Japanese_KanaA1": [110848, 110878],
+        "Japanese_KanaA2": [110879, 110882],
+        "Japanese_KanaB1": [110576, 110579],
+        "Japanese_KanaB2": [110581, 110587],
+        "Japanese_KanaB3": [110589, 110590],
+        "Japanese_KanaSup1": [110592, 110593],
+        "Japanese_KanaSup2": [110594, 110847],
+        "Japanese_SmallKana1": [110928, 110930],
+        "Japanese_SmallKana2": [110948, 110951],
+        "Japanese_SmallKana3": [110898, 110933],
+        "Japanese_Katakana1": [12449, 12534],
+        "Japanese_Katakana2": [12539, 12542],
+        "Japanese_Katakana3": [12535, 12538],
+        "Japanese_Katakana4": [12448, 12543],
+        "Japanese_KatakanaPhon": [12784, 12799],
+        "CJK1": [19968, 25343],
+        "CJK2": [25344, 30719],
+        "CJK3": [30720, 36095],
+        "CJK4": [36096, 40959],
+        "CJKExtA": [13312, 19903],
+        "CJKExtB1": [131072, 136703],
+        "CJKExtB2": [136704, 143615],
+        "CJKExtB3": [143616, 148991],
+        "CJKExtB4": [148992, 155903],
+        "CJKExtB5": [155904, 161279],
+        "CJKExtB6": [161280, 168191],
+        "CJKExtB7": [168192, 173791],
+        "CJKExtC": [173824, 177983],
+        "CJKExtD": [177984, 178207],
+        "CJKExtE": [178208, 183983],
+        "CJKExtF": [183984, 191471],
+        "CJKExtG": [196608, 201551],
+        "CJKExtH": [201552, 205743],
+        "CJKExtI": [191472, 192095],
+        "CJKExtJ": [205744, 210047],
+        "CJKcompat": [63744, 64255],
+        "CJKcompatLegacy": [13056, 13311],
+        "CJKcompatLegacyForms": [65072, 65103],
+        "CJKcompatLegacyIdeo": [63744, 64255],
+        "CJKcompatLegacyIdeoSupp": [194560, 195103],
         "Telugu": [3072, 3200],
         "Kannada": [3200, 3328],
         "Malayalam": [3328, 3456],
@@ -2495,17 +2539,19 @@ def _is_valid_language(text: str) -> bool:
         "Phonetic Extensions": [7467, 7544],
         "Combining Half Marks": [65070, 65071]
     }
-    for _, lang_range in natural_languages.items():
-        ok_lang = True
-        for char in text:
-            if char.isdigit() or char == '_' or char == '.':
-                continue
-            if ord(char) not in range(lang_range[0], lang_range[1]):
-                ok_lang = False
+    for char in text:
+        # allowed characters
+        if char.isdigit() or char == '_' or char == '.':
+            continue
+        # character should exist in at least one language
+        char_found = False
+        for _, lang_range in natural_languages.items():
+            if ord(char) in range(lang_range[0], lang_range[1]):
+                char_found = True
                 break
-        if ok_lang:
-            return True
-    return False
+        if not char_found:
+            return False
+    return True
 
 
 def _get_reserved_words() -> str: