One of Java's many strengths is that it has in built Unicode support. All Copernicus files (user, settings and language packs) are encoded in the Unicode UTF-8 format. Subsiquentally one can use Copernicus with several different character sets (even at the same time). For example, Copernicus has a Chinese user interface translation.
Setting Java up to use a unicode font is currently a little tricky. Please continue with these instructions if you know how to unzip files, install fonts and edit configuration text files.