diff --git a/flang/lib/Semantics/check-io.cpp b/flang/lib/Semantics/check-io.cpp
--- a/flang/lib/Semantics/check-io.cpp
+++ b/flang/lib/Semantics/check-io.cpp
@@ -556,10 +556,6 @@
       if (HasVectorSubscript(*expr)) {
         context_.Say(parser::FindSourceLocation(*var), // C1201
             "Internal file must not have a vector subscript"_err_en_US);
-      } else if (!ExprTypeKindIsDefault(*expr, context_)) {
-        // This may be too restrictive; other kinds may be valid.
-        context_.Say(parser::FindSourceLocation(*var), // C1202
-            "Invalid character kind for an internal file variable"_err_en_US);
       }
     }
     SetSpecifier(IoSpecKind::Unit);
diff --git a/flang/runtime/connection.h b/flang/runtime/connection.h
--- a/flang/runtime/connection.h
+++ b/flang/runtime/connection.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
   Access access{Access::Sequential}; // ACCESS='SEQUENTIAL', 'DIRECT', 'STREAM'
   std::optional<bool> isUnformatted; // FORM='UNFORMATTED' if true
   bool isUTF8{false}; // ENCODING='UTF-8'
+  unsigned char internalIoCharKind{0}; // 0->external, 1/2/4->internal
   std::optional<std::int64_t> openRecl; // RECL= on OPEN
 
   bool IsRecordFile() const {
@@ -39,13 +40,18 @@
     // For wide CHARACTER kinds, always use UTF-8 for formatted I/O.
     // For single-byte CHARACTER, encode characters >= 0x80 with
     // UTF-8 iff the mode is set.
-    return sizeof(CHAR) > 1 || isUTF8;
+    return internalIoCharKind == 0 && (sizeof(CHAR) > 1 || isUTF8);
   }
 };
 
 struct ConnectionState : public ConnectionAttributes {
   bool IsAtEOF() const; // true when read has hit EOF or endfile record
   bool IsAfterEndfile() const; // true after ENDFILE until repositioned
+
+  // All positions and measurements are always in units of bytes,
+  // not characters.  Multi-byte character encodings are possible in
+  // both internal I/O (when the character kind of the variable is 2 or 4)
+  // and external formatted I/O (when the encoding is UTF-8).
   std::size_t RemainingSpaceInRecord() const;
   bool NeedAdvance(std::size_t) const;
   void HandleAbsolutePosition(std::int64_t);
@@ -68,13 +74,13 @@
 
   std::int64_t currentRecordNumber{1}; // 1 is first
 
-  // positionInRecord is the 0-based offset in the current recurd to/from
-  // which the next data transfer will occur.  It can be past
+  // positionInRecord is the 0-based bytes offset in the current recurd
+  // to/from which the next data transfer will occur.  It can be past
   // furthestPositionInRecord if moved by an X or T or TR control edit
   // descriptor.
   std::int64_t positionInRecord{0};
 
-  // furthestPositionInRecord is the 0-based offset of the greatest
+  // furthestPositionInRecord is the 0-based byte offset of the greatest
   // position in the current record to/from which any data transfer has
   // occurred, plus one.  It can be viewed as a count of bytes processed.
   std::int64_t furthestPositionInRecord{0}; // max(position+bytes)
diff --git a/flang/runtime/edit-input.cpp b/flang/runtime/edit-input.cpp
--- a/flang/runtime/edit-input.cpp
+++ b/flang/runtime/edit-input.cpp
@@ -19,18 +19,19 @@
 template <int LOG2_BASE>
 static bool EditBOZInput(
     IoStatementState &io, const DataEdit &edit, void *n, std::size_t bytes) {
-  std::optional<int> remaining;
-  std::optional<char32_t> next{io.PrepareInput(edit, remaining)};
+  // Skip leading white space & zeroes
+  std::optional<int> remaining{io.CueUpInput(edit)};
+  auto start{io.GetConnectionState().positionInRecord};
+  std::optional<char32_t> next{io.NextInField(remaining, edit)};
   if (next.value_or('?') == '0') {
     do {
+      start = io.GetConnectionState().positionInRecord;
       next = io.NextInField(remaining, edit);
     } while (next && *next == '0');
   }
   // Count significant digits after any leading white space & zeroes
   int digits{0};
-  int chars{0};
   for (; next; next = io.NextInField(remaining, edit)) {
-    ++chars;
     char32_t ch{*next};
     if (ch == ' ' || ch == '\t') {
       continue;
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@
     return false;
   }
   // Reset to start of significant digits
-  io.HandleRelativePosition(-chars);
+  io.HandleAbsolutePosition(start);
   remaining.reset();
   // Make a second pass now that the digit count is known
   std::memset(n, 0, bytes);
@@ -99,7 +100,8 @@
 // Returns true if there's a '-' sign.
 static bool ScanNumericPrefix(IoStatementState &io, const DataEdit &edit,
     std::optional<char32_t> &next, std::optional<int> &remaining) {
-  next = io.PrepareInput(edit, remaining);
+  remaining = io.CueUpInput(edit);
+  next = io.NextInField(remaining, edit);
   bool negative{false};
   if (next) {
     negative = *next == '-';
@@ -384,10 +386,13 @@
   if (edit.modes.scale != 0) {
     return false;
   }
+  const ConnectionState &connection{io.GetConnectionState()};
+  if (connection.internalIoCharKind > 1) {
+    return false; // reading non-default character
+  }
   const char *str{nullptr};
   std::size_t got{io.GetNextInputBytes(str)};
-  if (got == 0 || str == nullptr ||
-      !io.GetConnectionState().recordLength.has_value()) {
+  if (got == 0 || str == nullptr || !connection.recordLength.has_value()) {
     return false; // could not access reliably-terminated input stream
   }
   const char *p{str};
@@ -569,8 +574,8 @@
         edit.descriptor);
     return false;
   }
-  std::optional<int> remaining;
-  std::optional<char32_t> next{io.PrepareInput(edit, remaining)};
+  std::optional<int> remaining{io.CueUpInput(edit)};
+  std::optional<char32_t> next{io.NextInField(remaining, edit)};
   if (next && *next == '.') { // skip optional period
     next = io.NextInField(remaining, edit);
   }
@@ -740,6 +745,18 @@
         chunk = 1;
       }
       --remaining;
+    } else if (connection.internalIoCharKind > 1) {
+      // Reading from non-default character internal unit
+      chunk = connection.internalIoCharKind;
+      if (skipping) {
+        --skip;
+      } else {
+        char32_t buffer{0};
+        std::memcpy(&buffer, input, chunk);
+        *x++ = buffer;
+        --length;
+      }
+      --remaining;
     } else if constexpr (sizeof *x > 1) {
       // Read single byte with expansion into multi-byte CHARACTER
       chunk = 1;
diff --git a/flang/runtime/edit-output.cpp b/flang/runtime/edit-output.cpp
--- a/flang/runtime/edit-output.cpp
+++ b/flang/runtime/edit-output.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 //===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
 
 #include "edit-output.h"
+#include "emit-encoded.h"
 #include "utf.h"
 #include "flang/Common/uint128.h"
 #include <algorithm>
@@ -69,17 +70,17 @@
   int subTotal{leadingZeroes + significant};
   int leadingSpaces{std::max(0, editWidth - subTotal)};
   if (editWidth > 0 && leadingSpaces + subTotal > editWidth) {
-    return io.EmitRepeated('*', editWidth);
+    return EmitRepeated(io, '*', editWidth);
   }
-  if (!(io.EmitRepeated(' ', leadingSpaces) &&
-          io.EmitRepeated('0', leadingZeroes))) {
+  if (!(EmitRepeated(io, ' ', leadingSpaces) &&
+          EmitRepeated(io, '0', leadingZeroes))) {
     return false;
   }
   // Emit remaining digits
   while (bytes > 0) {
     if (get == 0) {
       char ch{static_cast<char>(digit >= 10 ? 'A' + digit - 10 : '0' + digit)};
-      if (!io.Emit(&ch, 1)) {
+      if (!EmitAscii(io, &ch, 1)) {
         return false;
       }
       get = LOG2_BASE;
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@
   int subTotal{signChars + leadingZeroes + digits};
   int leadingSpaces{std::max(0, editWidth - subTotal)};
   if (editWidth > 0 && leadingSpaces + subTotal > editWidth) {
-    return io.EmitRepeated('*', editWidth);
+    return EmitRepeated(io, '*', editWidth);
   }
   if (edit.IsListDirected()) {
     int total{std::max(leadingSpaces, 1) + subTotal};
@@ -167,9 +168,9 @@
     }
     leadingSpaces = 1;
   }
-  return io.EmitRepeated(' ', leadingSpaces) &&
-      io.Emit(n < 0 ? "-" : "+", signChars) &&
-      io.EmitRepeated('0', leadingZeroes) && io.Emit(p, digits);
+  return EmitRepeated(io, ' ', leadingSpaces) &&
+      EmitAscii(io, n < 0 ? "-" : "+", signChars) &&
+      EmitRepeated(io, '0', leadingZeroes) && EmitAscii(io, p, digits);
 }
 
 // Formats the exponent (see table 13.1 for all the cases)
@@ -218,9 +219,9 @@
     length += prefixLength + suffixLength;
     ConnectionState &connection{io_.GetConnectionState()};
     return (!connection.NeedAdvance(length) || io_.AdvanceRecord()) &&
-        io_.Emit(" (", prefixLength);
+        EmitAscii(io_, " (", prefixLength);
   } else if (width > length) {
-    return io_.EmitRepeated(' ', width - length);
+    return EmitRepeated(io_, ' ', width - length);
   } else {
     return true;
   }
@@ -228,9 +229,10 @@
 
 bool RealOutputEditingBase::EmitSuffix(const DataEdit &edit) {
   if (edit.descriptor == DataEdit::ListDirectedRealPart) {
-    return io_.Emit(edit.modes.editingFlags & decimalComma ? ";" : ",", 1);
+    return EmitAscii(
+        io_, edit.modes.editingFlags & decimalComma ? ";" : ",", 1);
   } else if (edit.descriptor == DataEdit::ListDirectedImaginaryPart) {
-    return io_.Emit(")", 1);
+    return EmitAscii(io_, ")", 1);
   } else {
     return true;
   }
@@ -307,7 +309,7 @@
         Convert(significantDigits, edit.modes.round, flags)};
     if (IsInfOrNaN(converted)) {
       return EmitPrefix(edit, converted.length, editWidth) &&
-          io_.Emit(converted.str, converted.length) && EmitSuffix(edit);
+          EmitAscii(io_, converted.str, converted.length) && EmitSuffix(edit);
     }
     if (!IsZero()) {
       converted.decimalExponent -= scale;
@@ -354,7 +356,7 @@
         expoLength};
     int width{editWidth > 0 ? editWidth : totalLength};
     if (totalLength > width || !exponent) {
-      return io_.EmitRepeated('*', width);
+      return EmitRepeated(io_, '*', width);
     }
     if (totalLength < width && digitsBeforePoint == 0 &&
         zeroesBeforePoint == 0) {
@@ -365,14 +367,14 @@
       width = totalLength;
     }
     return EmitPrefix(edit, totalLength, width) &&
-        io_.Emit(converted.str, signLength + digitsBeforePoint) &&
-        io_.EmitRepeated('0', zeroesBeforePoint) &&
-        io_.Emit(edit.modes.editingFlags & decimalComma ? "," : ".", 1) &&
-        io_.EmitRepeated('0', zeroesAfterPoint) &&
-        io_.Emit(
-            converted.str + signLength + digitsBeforePoint, digitsAfterPoint) &&
-        io_.EmitRepeated('0', trailingZeroes) &&
-        io_.Emit(exponent, expoLength) && EmitSuffix(edit);
+        EmitAscii(io_, converted.str, signLength + digitsBeforePoint) &&
+        EmitRepeated(io_, '0', zeroesBeforePoint) &&
+        EmitAscii(io_, edit.modes.editingFlags & decimalComma ? "," : ".", 1) &&
+        EmitRepeated(io_, '0', zeroesAfterPoint) &&
+        EmitAscii(io_, converted.str + signLength + digitsBeforePoint,
+            digitsAfterPoint) &&
+        EmitRepeated(io_, '0', trailingZeroes) &&
+        EmitAscii(io_, exponent, expoLength) && EmitSuffix(edit);
   }
 }
 
@@ -401,7 +403,7 @@
         Convert(extraDigits + fracDigits, rounding, flags)};
     if (IsInfOrNaN(converted)) {
       return EmitPrefix(edit, converted.length, editWidth) &&
-          io_.Emit(converted.str, converted.length) && EmitSuffix(edit);
+          EmitAscii(io_, converted.str, converted.length) && EmitSuffix(edit);
     }
     int expo{converted.decimalExponent + edit.modes.scale /*kP*/};
     int signLength{*converted.str == '-' || *converted.str == '+' ? 1 : 0};
@@ -463,22 +465,22 @@
         trailingZeroes};
     int width{editWidth > 0 ? editWidth : totalLength};
     if (totalLength > width) {
-      return io_.EmitRepeated('*', width);
+      return EmitRepeated(io_, '*', width);
     }
     if (totalLength < width && digitsBeforePoint + zeroesBeforePoint == 0) {
       zeroesBeforePoint = 1;
       ++totalLength;
     }
     return EmitPrefix(edit, totalLength, width) &&
-        io_.Emit(converted.str, signLength + digitsBeforePoint) &&
-        io_.EmitRepeated('0', zeroesBeforePoint) &&
-        io_.Emit(edit.modes.editingFlags & decimalComma ? "," : ".", 1) &&
-        io_.EmitRepeated('0', zeroesAfterPoint) &&
-        io_.Emit(
-            converted.str + signLength + digitsBeforePoint, digitsAfterPoint) &&
-        io_.EmitRepeated('1', trailingOnes) &&
-        io_.EmitRepeated('0', trailingZeroes) &&
-        io_.EmitRepeated(' ', trailingBlanks_) && EmitSuffix(edit);
+        EmitAscii(io_, converted.str, signLength + digitsBeforePoint) &&
+        EmitRepeated(io_, '0', zeroesBeforePoint) &&
+        EmitAscii(io_, edit.modes.editingFlags & decimalComma ? "," : ".", 1) &&
+        EmitRepeated(io_, '0', zeroesAfterPoint) &&
+        EmitAscii(io_, converted.str + signLength + digitsBeforePoint,
+            digitsAfterPoint) &&
+        EmitRepeated(io_, '1', trailingOnes) &&
+        EmitRepeated(io_, '0', trailingZeroes) &&
+        EmitRepeated(io_, ' ', trailingBlanks_) && EmitSuffix(edit);
   }
 }
 
@@ -594,15 +596,16 @@
 
 bool ListDirectedLogicalOutput(IoStatementState &io,
     ListDirectedStatementState<Direction::Output> &list, bool truth) {
-  return list.EmitLeadingSpaceOrAdvance(io) && io.Emit(truth ? "T" : "F", 1);
+  return list.EmitLeadingSpaceOrAdvance(io) &&
+      EmitAscii(io, truth ? "T" : "F", 1);
 }
 
 bool EditLogicalOutput(IoStatementState &io, const DataEdit &edit, bool truth) {
   switch (edit.descriptor) {
   case 'L':
   case 'G':
-    return io.EmitRepeated(' ', std::max(0, edit.width.value_or(1) - 1)) &&
-        io.Emit(truth ? "T" : "F", 1);
+    return EmitRepeated(io, ' ', std::max(0, edit.width.value_or(1) - 1)) &&
+        EmitAscii(io, truth ? "T" : "F", 1);
   case 'B':
     return EditBOZOutput<1>(io, edit,
         reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char *>(&truth), sizeof truth);
@@ -635,7 +638,7 @@
       if (connection.NeedAdvance(1)) {
         ok = ok && io.AdvanceRecord();
       }
-      ok = ok && io.EmitEncoded(&ch, 1);
+      ok = ok && EmitEncoded(io, &ch, 1);
     }};
     EmitOne(modes.delim);
     for (std::size_t j{0}; j < length; ++j) {
@@ -658,15 +661,18 @@
     // Undelimited list-directed output
     ok = ok && list.EmitLeadingSpaceOrAdvance(io, length > 0 ? 1 : 0, true);
     std::size_t put{0};
-    std::size_t oneIfUTF8{connection.useUTF8<CHAR>() ? 1 : length};
+    std::size_t oneAtATime{
+        connection.useUTF8<CHAR>() || connection.internalIoCharKind > 1
+            ? 1
+            : length};
     while (ok && put < length) {
       if (std::size_t chunk{std::min<std::size_t>(
-              std::min<std::size_t>(length - put, oneIfUTF8),
+              std::min<std::size_t>(length - put, oneAtATime),
               connection.RemainingSpaceInRecord())}) {
-        ok = io.EmitEncoded(x + put, chunk);
+        ok = EmitEncoded(io, x + put, chunk);
         put += chunk;
       } else {
-        ok = io.AdvanceRecord() && io.Emit(" ", 1);
+        ok = io.AdvanceRecord() && EmitAscii(io, " ", 1);
       }
     }
     list.set_lastWasUndelimitedCharacter(true);
@@ -702,8 +708,8 @@
         edit.descriptor);
     return false;
   }
-  return io.EmitRepeated(' ', std::max(0, width - len)) &&
-      io.EmitEncoded(x, std::min(width, len));
+  return EmitRepeated(io, ' ', std::max(0, width - len)) &&
+      EmitEncoded(io, x, std::min(width, len));
 }
 
 template bool EditIntegerOutput<1>(
diff --git a/flang/runtime/emit-encoded.h b/flang/runtime/emit-encoded.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flang/runtime/emit-encoded.h
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+//===-- runtime/emit-encoded.h ----------------------------------*- C++ -*-===//
+//
+// Part of the LLVM Project, under the Apache License v2.0 with LLVM Exceptions.
+// See https://llvm.org/LICENSE.txt for license information.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
+//
+//===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
+
+// Templates for emitting CHARACTER values with conversion
+
+#ifndef FORTRAN_RUNTIME_EMIT_ENCODED_H_
+#define FORTRAN_RUNTIME_EMIT_ENCODED_H_
+
+#include "connection.h"
+#include "environment.h"
+#include "utf.h"
+
+namespace Fortran::runtime::io {
+
+template <typename CONTEXT, typename CHAR>
+bool EmitEncoded(CONTEXT &to, const CHAR *data, std::size_t chars) {
+  ConnectionState &connection{to.GetConnectionState()};
+  if (connection.useUTF8<CHAR>()) {
+    using UnsignedChar = std::make_unsigned_t<CHAR>;
+    const UnsignedChar *uData{reinterpret_cast<const UnsignedChar *>(data)};
+    char buffer[256];
+    std::size_t at{0};
+    while (chars-- > 0) {
+      auto len{EncodeUTF8(buffer + at, *uData++)};
+      at += len;
+      if (at + maxUTF8Bytes > sizeof buffer) {
+        if (!to.Emit(buffer, at)) {
+          return false;
+        }
+        at = 0;
+      }
+    }
+    return at == 0 || to.Emit(buffer, at);
+  } else {
+    std::size_t internalKind = connection.internalIoCharKind;
+    if (internalKind == 0 || internalKind == sizeof(CHAR)) {
+      const char *rawData{reinterpret_cast<const char *>(data)};
+      return to.Emit(rawData, chars * sizeof(CHAR), sizeof(CHAR));
+    } else {
+      // CHARACTER kind conversion for internal output
+      while (chars-- > 0) {
+        char32_t buffer = *data++;
+        char *p{reinterpret_cast<char *>(&buffer)};
+        if constexpr (!isHostLittleEndian) {
+          p += sizeof(buffer) - internalKind;
+        }
+        if (!to.Emit(p, internalKind)) {
+          return false;
+        }
+      }
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+template <typename CONTEXT>
+bool EmitAscii(CONTEXT &to, const char *data, std::size_t chars) {
+  ConnectionState &connection{to.GetConnectionState()};
+  if (connection.internalIoCharKind <= 1) {
+    return to.Emit(data, chars);
+  } else {
+    return EmitEncoded(to, data, chars);
+  }
+}
+
+template <typename CONTEXT>
+bool EmitRepeated(CONTEXT &to, char ch, std::size_t n) {
+  if (n <= 0) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  ConnectionState &connection{to.GetConnectionState()};
+  if (connection.internalIoCharKind <= 1) {
+    while (n-- > 0) {
+      if (!to.Emit(&ch, 1)) {
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    while (n-- > 0) {
+      if (!EmitEncoded(to, &ch, 1)) {
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+} // namespace Fortran::runtime::io
+#endif // FORTRAN_RUNTIME_EMIT_ENCODED_H_
diff --git a/flang/runtime/format-implementation.h b/flang/runtime/format-implementation.h
--- a/flang/runtime/format-implementation.h
+++ b/flang/runtime/format-implementation.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #ifndef FORTRAN_RUNTIME_FORMAT_IMPLEMENTATION_H_
 #define FORTRAN_RUNTIME_FORMAT_IMPLEMENTATION_H_
 
+#include "emit-encoded.h"
 #include "format.h"
 #include "io-stmt.h"
 #include "flang/Common/format.h"
@@ -130,6 +131,10 @@
     break;
   case 'X':
     if (!next) {
+      ConnectionState &connection{context.GetConnectionState()};
+      if (connection.internalIoCharKind > 1) {
+        n *= connection.internalIoCharKind;
+      }
       context.HandleRelativePosition(n);
       return;
     }
@@ -146,7 +151,14 @@
     break;
   case 'T': {
     if (!next) { // Tn
-      context.HandleAbsolutePosition(n - 1); // convert 1-based to 0-based
+      --n; // convert 1-based to 0-based
+    }
+    ConnectionState &connection{context.GetConnectionState()};
+    if (connection.internalIoCharKind > 1) {
+      n *= connection.internalIoCharKind;
+    }
+    if (!next) { // Tn
+      context.HandleAbsolutePosition(n);
       return;
     }
     if (next == 'L' || next == 'R') { // TLn & TRn
@@ -300,7 +312,7 @@
       } else {
         --chars;
       }
-      context.Emit(format_ + start, chars);
+      EmitAscii(context, format_ + start, chars);
     } else if (ch == 'H') {
       // 9HHOLLERITH
       if (!repeat || *repeat < 1 || offset_ + *repeat > formatLength_) {
@@ -308,7 +320,7 @@
             maybeReversionPoint);
         return 0;
       }
-      context.Emit(format_ + offset_, static_cast<std::size_t>(*repeat));
+      EmitAscii(context, format_ + offset_, static_cast<std::size_t>(*repeat));
       offset_ += *repeat;
     } else if (ch >= 'A' && ch <= 'Z') {
       int start{offset_ - 1};
@@ -350,7 +362,7 @@
     } else if (ch == '\t' || ch == '\v') {
       // Tabs (extension)
       // TODO: any other raw characters?
-      context.Emit(format_ + offset_ - 1, 1);
+      EmitAscii(context, format_ + offset_ - 1, 1);
     } else {
       ReportBadFormat(
           context, "Invalid character in FORMAT", maybeReversionPoint);
diff --git a/flang/runtime/format.h b/flang/runtime/format.h
--- a/flang/runtime/format.h
+++ b/flang/runtime/format.h
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 
 namespace Fortran::runtime::io {
 
+class IoStatementState;
+
 enum EditingFlags {
   blankZero = 1, // BLANK=ZERO or BZ edit
   decimalComma = 2, // DECIMAL=COMMA or DC edit
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@
 template <typename CONTEXT> class FormatControl {
 public:
   using Context = CONTEXT;
-  using CharType = typename Context::CharType;
+  using CharType = char; // formats are always default kind CHARACTER
 
   FormatControl() {}
   FormatControl(const Terminator &, const CharType *format,
diff --git a/flang/runtime/internal-unit.h b/flang/runtime/internal-unit.h
--- a/flang/runtime/internal-unit.h
+++ b/flang/runtime/internal-unit.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 public:
   using Scalar =
       std::conditional_t<DIR == Direction::Input, const char *, char *>;
-  InternalDescriptorUnit(Scalar, std::size_t);
+  InternalDescriptorUnit(Scalar, std::size_t chars, int kind);
   InternalDescriptorUnit(const Descriptor &, const Terminator &);
   void EndIoStatement();
 
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
     return descriptor().template ZeroBasedIndexedElement<char>(
         currentRecordNumber - 1);
   }
+  void BlankFill(char *, std::size_t);
   void BlankFillOutputRecord();
 
   StaticDescriptor<maxRank, true /*addendum*/> staticDescriptor_;
diff --git a/flang/runtime/internal-unit.cpp b/flang/runtime/internal-unit.cpp
--- a/flang/runtime/internal-unit.cpp
+++ b/flang/runtime/internal-unit.cpp
@@ -16,23 +16,27 @@
 
 template <Direction DIR>
 InternalDescriptorUnit<DIR>::InternalDescriptorUnit(
-    Scalar scalar, std::size_t length) {
+    Scalar scalar, std::size_t length, int kind) {
+  internalIoCharKind = kind;
   recordLength = length;
   endfileRecordNumber = 2;
   void *pointer{reinterpret_cast<void *>(const_cast<char *>(scalar))};
-  descriptor().Establish(TypeCode{CFI_type_char}, length, pointer, 0, nullptr,
-      CFI_attribute_pointer);
+  descriptor().Establish(TypeCode{TypeCategory::Character, kind}, length * kind,
+      pointer, 0, nullptr, CFI_attribute_pointer);
 }
 
 template <Direction DIR>
 InternalDescriptorUnit<DIR>::InternalDescriptorUnit(
     const Descriptor &that, const Terminator &terminator) {
-  RUNTIME_CHECK(terminator, that.type().IsCharacter());
+  auto thatType{that.type().GetCategoryAndKind()};
+  RUNTIME_CHECK(terminator, thatType.has_value());
+  RUNTIME_CHECK(terminator, thatType->first == TypeCategory::Character);
   Descriptor &d{descriptor()};
   RUNTIME_CHECK(
       terminator, that.SizeInBytes() <= d.SizeInBytes(maxRank, true, 0));
   new (&d) Descriptor{that};
   d.Check();
+  internalIoCharKind = thatType->second;
   recordLength = d.ElementBytes();
   endfileRecordNumber = d.Elements() + 1;
 }
@@ -73,8 +77,8 @@
       bytes = std::max(std::int64_t{0}, furthestAfter - positionInRecord);
       ok = false;
     } else if (positionInRecord > furthestPositionInRecord) {
-      std::fill_n(record + furthestPositionInRecord,
-          positionInRecord - furthestPositionInRecord, ' ');
+      BlankFill(record + furthestPositionInRecord,
+          positionInRecord - furthestPositionInRecord);
     }
     std::memcpy(record + positionInRecord, data, bytes);
     positionInRecord += bytes;
@@ -118,14 +122,30 @@
   return true;
 }
 
+template <Direction DIR>
+void InternalDescriptorUnit<DIR>::BlankFill(char *at, std::size_t bytes) {
+  switch (internalIoCharKind) {
+  case 2:
+    std::fill_n(reinterpret_cast<char16_t *>(at), bytes / 2,
+        static_cast<char16_t>(' '));
+    break;
+  case 4:
+    std::fill_n(reinterpret_cast<char32_t *>(at), bytes / 4,
+        static_cast<char32_t>(' '));
+    break;
+  default:
+    std::fill_n(at, bytes, ' ');
+    break;
+  }
+}
+
 template <Direction DIR>
 void InternalDescriptorUnit<DIR>::BlankFillOutputRecord() {
   if constexpr (DIR == Direction::Output) {
     if (furthestPositionInRecord <
         recordLength.value_or(furthestPositionInRecord)) {
-      char *record{CurrentRecord()};
-      std::fill_n(record + furthestPositionInRecord,
-          *recordLength - furthestPositionInRecord, ' ');
+      BlankFill(CurrentRecord() + furthestPositionInRecord,
+          *recordLength - furthestPositionInRecord);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/flang/runtime/io-stmt.h b/flang/runtime/io-stmt.h
--- a/flang/runtime/io-stmt.h
+++ b/flang/runtime/io-stmt.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 
 template <Direction, typename CHAR = char>
 class InternalFormattedIoStatementState;
-template <Direction, typename CHAR = char> class InternalListIoStatementState;
+template <Direction> class InternalListIoStatementState;
 template <Direction, typename CHAR = char>
 class ExternalFormattedIoStatementState;
 template <Direction> class ExternalListIoStatementState;
@@ -87,11 +87,7 @@
   // Completes an I/O statement and reclaims storage.
   int EndIoStatement();
 
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t, std::size_t elementBytes);
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t);
-  bool Emit(const char16_t *, std::size_t chars);
-  bool Emit(const char32_t *, std::size_t chars);
-  template <typename CHAR> bool EmitEncoded(const CHAR *, std::size_t);
+  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t elementBytes = 0);
   bool Receive(char *, std::size_t, std::size_t elementBytes = 0);
   std::size_t GetNextInputBytes(const char *&);
   bool AdvanceRecord(int = 1);
@@ -127,15 +123,10 @@
   // Vacant after the end of the current record
   std::optional<char32_t> GetCurrentChar(std::size_t &byteCount);
 
-  bool EmitRepeated(char, std::size_t);
-  bool EmitField(const char *, std::size_t length, std::size_t width);
-
-  // For fixed-width fields, initialize the number of remaining characters.
-  // Skip over leading blanks, then return the first non-blank character (if
-  // any).
-  std::optional<char32_t> PrepareInput(
-      const DataEdit &edit, std::optional<int> &remaining) {
-    remaining.reset();
+  // For fixed-width fields, return the number of remaining characters.
+  // Skip over leading blanks.
+  std::optional<int> CueUpInput(const DataEdit &edit) {
+    std::optional<int> remaining;
     if (edit.IsListDirected()) {
       std::size_t byteCount{0};
       GetNextNonBlank(byteCount);
@@ -145,7 +136,7 @@
       }
       SkipSpaces(remaining);
     }
-    return NextInField(remaining, edit);
+    return remaining;
   }
 
   std::optional<char32_t> SkipSpaces(std::optional<int> &remaining) {
@@ -255,11 +246,8 @@
   int EndIoStatement() { return GetIoStat(); }
 
   // These are default no-op backstops that can be overridden by descendants.
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t, std::size_t elementBytes);
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t);
-  bool Emit(const char16_t *, std::size_t chars);
-  bool Emit(const char32_t *, std::size_t chars);
-  bool Receive(char *, std::size_t, std::size_t elementBytes = 0);
+  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t elementBytes = 0);
+  bool Receive(char *, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t elementBytes = 0);
   std::size_t GetNextInputBytes(const char *&);
   bool AdvanceRecord(int);
   void BackspaceRecord();
@@ -330,22 +318,19 @@
   bool imaginaryPart_{false};
 };
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR = char>
+template <Direction DIR>
 class InternalIoStatementState : public IoStatementBase,
                                  public IoDirectionState<DIR> {
 public:
-  using CharType = CHAR;
   using Buffer =
-      std::conditional_t<DIR == Direction::Input, const CharType *, CharType *>;
+      std::conditional_t<DIR == Direction::Input, const char *, char *>;
   InternalIoStatementState(Buffer, std::size_t,
       const char *sourceFile = nullptr, int sourceLine = 0);
   InternalIoStatementState(
       const Descriptor &, const char *sourceFile = nullptr, int sourceLine = 0);
   int EndIoStatement();
 
-  using IoStatementBase::Emit;
-  bool Emit(
-      const CharType *data, std::size_t chars /* not necessarily bytes */);
+  bool Emit(const char *data, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t elementBytes = 0);
   std::size_t GetNextInputBytes(const char *&);
   bool AdvanceRecord(int = 1);
   void BackspaceRecord();
@@ -361,11 +346,11 @@
 
 template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
 class InternalFormattedIoStatementState
-    : public InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>,
+    : public InternalIoStatementState<DIR>,
       public FormattedIoStatementState<DIR> {
 public:
   using CharType = CHAR;
-  using typename InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CharType>::Buffer;
+  using typename InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::Buffer;
   InternalFormattedIoStatementState(Buffer internal, std::size_t internalLength,
       const CharType *format, std::size_t formatLength,
       const char *sourceFile = nullptr, int sourceLine = 0);
@@ -382,17 +367,16 @@
 
 private:
   IoStatementState ioStatementState_; // points to *this
-  using InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CharType>::unit_;
+  using InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::unit_;
   // format_ *must* be last; it may be partial someday
   FormatControl<InternalFormattedIoStatementState> format_;
 };
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-class InternalListIoStatementState : public InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>,
+template <Direction DIR>
+class InternalListIoStatementState : public InternalIoStatementState<DIR>,
                                      public ListDirectedStatementState<DIR> {
 public:
-  using CharType = CHAR;
-  using typename InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CharType>::Buffer;
+  using typename InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::Buffer;
   InternalListIoStatementState(Buffer internal, std::size_t internalLength,
       const char *sourceFile = nullptr, int sourceLine = 0);
   InternalListIoStatementState(
@@ -402,7 +386,7 @@
 
 private:
   IoStatementState ioStatementState_; // points to *this
-  using InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CharType>::unit_;
+  using InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::unit_;
 };
 
 class ExternalIoStatementBase : public IoStatementBase {
@@ -431,10 +415,7 @@
   MutableModes &mutableModes() { return mutableModes_; }
   void CompleteOperation();
   int EndIoStatement();
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t, std::size_t elementBytes);
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t);
-  bool Emit(const char16_t *, std::size_t chars /* not bytes */);
-  bool Emit(const char32_t *, std::size_t chars /* not bytes */);
+  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t elementBytes = 0);
   std::size_t GetNextInputBytes(const char *&);
   bool AdvanceRecord(int = 1);
   void BackspaceRecord();
@@ -498,10 +479,7 @@
   ExternalFileUnit *GetExternalFileUnit() const;
   void CompleteOperation();
   int EndIoStatement();
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t, std::size_t elementBytes);
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t);
-  bool Emit(const char16_t *, std::size_t chars /* not bytes */);
-  bool Emit(const char32_t *, std::size_t chars /* not bytes */);
+  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t elementBytes = 0);
   std::size_t GetNextInputBytes(const char *&);
   void HandleRelativePosition(std::int64_t);
   void HandleAbsolutePosition(std::int64_t);
@@ -696,10 +674,7 @@
 public:
   InquireIOLengthState(const char *sourceFile = nullptr, int sourceLine = 0);
   std::size_t bytes() const { return bytes_; }
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t, std::size_t elementBytes);
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t);
-  bool Emit(const char16_t *, std::size_t chars);
-  bool Emit(const char32_t *, std::size_t chars);
+  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t elementBytes = 0);
 
 private:
   std::size_t bytes_{0};
@@ -735,12 +710,5 @@
   ExternalFileUnit *unit_{nullptr};
 };
 
-extern template bool IoStatementState::EmitEncoded<char>(
-    const char *, std::size_t);
-extern template bool IoStatementState::EmitEncoded<char16_t>(
-    const char16_t *, std::size_t);
-extern template bool IoStatementState::EmitEncoded<char32_t>(
-    const char32_t *, std::size_t);
-
 } // namespace Fortran::runtime::io
 #endif // FORTRAN_RUNTIME_IO_STMT_H_
diff --git a/flang/runtime/io-stmt.cpp b/flang/runtime/io-stmt.cpp
--- a/flang/runtime/io-stmt.cpp
+++ b/flang/runtime/io-stmt.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include "io-stmt.h"
 #include "connection.h"
+#include "emit-encoded.h"
 #include "format.h"
 #include "tools.h"
 #include "unit.h"
@@ -25,12 +26,6 @@
   return false;
 }
 
-bool IoStatementBase::Emit(const char *, std::size_t) { return false; }
-
-bool IoStatementBase::Emit(const char16_t *, std::size_t) { return false; }
-
-bool IoStatementBase::Emit(const char32_t *, std::size_t) { return false; }
-
 std::size_t IoStatementBase::GetNextInputBytes(const char *&p) {
   p = nullptr;
   return 0;
@@ -82,34 +77,33 @@
       decode ? decode : "(cannot decode)");
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::InternalIoStatementState(
+template <Direction DIR>
+InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::InternalIoStatementState(
     Buffer scalar, std::size_t length, const char *sourceFile, int sourceLine)
-    : IoStatementBase{sourceFile, sourceLine}, unit_{scalar, length} {}
+    : IoStatementBase{sourceFile, sourceLine}, unit_{scalar, length, 1} {}
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::InternalIoStatementState(
+template <Direction DIR>
+InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::InternalIoStatementState(
     const Descriptor &d, const char *sourceFile, int sourceLine)
     : IoStatementBase{sourceFile, sourceLine}, unit_{d, *this} {}
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-bool InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::Emit(
-    const CharType *data, std::size_t chars) {
+template <Direction DIR>
+bool InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::Emit(
+    const char *data, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t /*elementBytes*/) {
   if constexpr (DIR == Direction::Input) {
     Crash("InternalIoStatementState<Direction::Input>::Emit() called");
     return false;
   }
-  return unit_.Emit(data, chars * sizeof(CharType), *this);
+  return unit_.Emit(data, bytes, *this);
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-std::size_t InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::GetNextInputBytes(
-    const char *&p) {
+template <Direction DIR>
+std::size_t InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::GetNextInputBytes(const char *&p) {
   return unit_.GetNextInputBytes(p, *this);
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-bool InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::AdvanceRecord(int n) {
+template <Direction DIR>
+bool InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::AdvanceRecord(int n) {
   while (n-- > 0) {
     if (!unit_.AdvanceRecord(*this)) {
       return false;
@@ -118,13 +112,11 @@
   return true;
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-void InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::BackspaceRecord() {
+template <Direction DIR> void InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::BackspaceRecord() {
   unit_.BackspaceRecord(*this);
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-int InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::EndIoStatement() {
+template <Direction DIR> int InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::EndIoStatement() {
   if constexpr (DIR == Direction::Output) {
     unit_.EndIoStatement(); // fill
   }
@@ -135,31 +127,28 @@
   return result;
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-void InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::HandleAbsolutePosition(
-    std::int64_t n) {
+template <Direction DIR>
+void InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::HandleAbsolutePosition(std::int64_t n) {
   return unit_.HandleAbsolutePosition(n);
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-void InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::HandleRelativePosition(
-    std::int64_t n) {
+template <Direction DIR>
+void InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::HandleRelativePosition(std::int64_t n) {
   return unit_.HandleRelativePosition(n);
 }
 
 template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
 InternalFormattedIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::InternalFormattedIoStatementState(
-    Buffer buffer, std::size_t length, const CHAR *format,
+    Buffer buffer, std::size_t length, const CharType *format,
     std::size_t formatLength, const char *sourceFile, int sourceLine)
-    : InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>{buffer, length, sourceFile,
-          sourceLine},
+    : InternalIoStatementState<DIR>{buffer, length, sourceFile, sourceLine},
       ioStatementState_{*this}, format_{*this, format, formatLength} {}
 
 template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
 InternalFormattedIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::InternalFormattedIoStatementState(
-    const Descriptor &d, const CHAR *format, std::size_t formatLength,
+    const Descriptor &d, const CharType *format, std::size_t formatLength,
     const char *sourceFile, int sourceLine)
-    : InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>{d, sourceFile, sourceLine},
+    : InternalIoStatementState<DIR>{d, sourceFile, sourceLine},
       ioStatementState_{*this}, format_{*this, format, formatLength} {}
 
 template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
@@ -175,20 +164,19 @@
 template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
 int InternalFormattedIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::EndIoStatement() {
   CompleteOperation();
-  return InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::EndIoStatement();
+  return InternalIoStatementState<DIR>::EndIoStatement();
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-InternalListIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::InternalListIoStatementState(
+template <Direction DIR>
+InternalListIoStatementState<DIR>::InternalListIoStatementState(
     Buffer buffer, std::size_t length, const char *sourceFile, int sourceLine)
-    : InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CharType>{buffer, length, sourceFile,
-          sourceLine},
+    : InternalIoStatementState<DIR>{buffer, length, sourceFile, sourceLine},
       ioStatementState_{*this} {}
 
-template <Direction DIR, typename CHAR>
-InternalListIoStatementState<DIR, CHAR>::InternalListIoStatementState(
+template <Direction DIR>
+InternalListIoStatementState<DIR>::InternalListIoStatementState(
     const Descriptor &d, const char *sourceFile, int sourceLine)
-    : InternalIoStatementState<DIR, CharType>{d, sourceFile, sourceLine},
+    : InternalIoStatementState<DIR>{d, sourceFile, sourceLine},
       ioStatementState_{*this} {}
 
 ExternalIoStatementBase::ExternalIoStatementBase(
@@ -354,36 +342,6 @@
   return unit().Emit(data, bytes, elementBytes, *this);
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR>
-bool ExternalIoStatementState<DIR>::Emit(const char *data, std::size_t bytes) {
-  if constexpr (DIR == Direction::Input) {
-    Crash("ExternalIoStatementState::Emit(char) called for input statement");
-  }
-  return unit().Emit(data, bytes, 0, *this);
-}
-
-template <Direction DIR>
-bool ExternalIoStatementState<DIR>::Emit(
-    const char16_t *data, std::size_t chars) {
-  if constexpr (DIR == Direction::Input) {
-    Crash(
-        "ExternalIoStatementState::Emit(char16_t) called for input statement");
-  }
-  return unit().Emit(reinterpret_cast<const char *>(data), chars * sizeof *data,
-      sizeof *data, *this);
-}
-
-template <Direction DIR>
-bool ExternalIoStatementState<DIR>::Emit(
-    const char32_t *data, std::size_t chars) {
-  if constexpr (DIR == Direction::Input) {
-    Crash(
-        "ExternalIoStatementState::Emit(char32_t) called for input statement");
-  }
-  return unit().Emit(reinterpret_cast<const char *>(data), chars * sizeof *data,
-      sizeof *data, *this);
-}
-
 template <Direction DIR>
 std::size_t ExternalIoStatementState<DIR>::GetNextInputBytes(const char *&p) {
   return unit().GetNextInputBytes(p, *this);
@@ -465,45 +423,9 @@
 }
 
 bool IoStatementState::Emit(
-    const char *data, std::size_t n, std::size_t elementBytes) {
+    const char *data, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t elementBytes) {
   return common::visit(
-      [=](auto &x) { return x.get().Emit(data, n, elementBytes); }, u_);
-}
-
-bool IoStatementState::Emit(const char *data, std::size_t n) {
-  return common::visit([=](auto &x) { return x.get().Emit(data, n); }, u_);
-}
-
-bool IoStatementState::Emit(const char16_t *data, std::size_t chars) {
-  return common::visit([=](auto &x) { return x.get().Emit(data, chars); }, u_);
-}
-
-bool IoStatementState::Emit(const char32_t *data, std::size_t chars) {
-  return common::visit([=](auto &x) { return x.get().Emit(data, chars); }, u_);
-}
-
-template <typename CHAR>
-bool IoStatementState::EmitEncoded(const CHAR *data0, std::size_t chars) {
-  // Don't allow sign extension
-  using UnsignedChar = std::make_unsigned_t<CHAR>;
-  const UnsignedChar *data{reinterpret_cast<const UnsignedChar *>(data0)};
-  if (GetConnectionState().useUTF8<CHAR>()) {
-    char buffer[256];
-    std::size_t at{0};
-    while (chars-- > 0) {
-      auto len{EncodeUTF8(buffer + at, *data++)};
-      at += len;
-      if (at + maxUTF8Bytes > sizeof buffer) {
-        if (!Emit(buffer, at)) {
-          return false;
-        }
-        at = 0;
-      }
-    }
-    return at == 0 || Emit(buffer, at);
-  } else {
-    return Emit(data0, chars);
-  }
+      [=](auto &x) { return x.get().Emit(data, bytes, elementBytes); }, u_);
 }
 
 bool IoStatementState::Receive(
@@ -534,11 +456,12 @@
 }
 
 void IoStatementState::CompleteOperation() {
-  common::visit([](auto &x) { x.get().CompleteOperation(); }, u_);
+  common::visit([this](auto &x) { x.get().CompleteOperation(); }, u_);
 }
 
 int IoStatementState::EndIoStatement() {
-  return common::visit([](auto &x) { return x.get().EndIoStatement(); }, u_);
+  return common::visit(
+      [this](auto &x) { return x.get().EndIoStatement(); }, u_);
 }
 
 ConnectionState &IoStatementState::GetConnectionState() {
@@ -578,7 +501,8 @@
     byteCount = 0;
     return std::nullopt;
   } else {
-    if (GetConnectionState().isUTF8) {
+    const ConnectionState &connection{GetConnectionState()};
+    if (connection.isUTF8) {
       std::size_t length{MeasureUTF8Bytes(*p)};
       if (length <= bytes) {
         if (auto result{DecodeUTF8(p)}) {
@@ -588,38 +512,19 @@
       }
       GetIoErrorHandler().SignalError(IostatUTF8Decoding);
       // Error recovery: return the next byte
+    } else if (connection.internalIoCharKind > 1) {
+      byteCount = connection.internalIoCharKind;
+      if (byteCount == 2) {
+        return *reinterpret_cast<const char16_t *>(p);
+      } else {
+        return *reinterpret_cast<const char32_t *>(p);
+      }
     }
     byteCount = 1;
     return *p;
   }
 }
 
-bool IoStatementState::EmitRepeated(char ch, std::size_t n) {
-  return common::visit(
-      [=](auto &x) {
-        for (std::size_t j{0}; j < n; ++j) {
-          if (!x.get().Emit(&ch, 1)) {
-            return false;
-          }
-        }
-        return true;
-      },
-      u_);
-}
-
-bool IoStatementState::EmitField(
-    const char *p, std::size_t length, std::size_t width) {
-  if (width <= 0) {
-    width = static_cast<int>(length);
-  }
-  if (length > static_cast<std::size_t>(width)) {
-    return EmitRepeated('*', width);
-  } else {
-    return EmitRepeated(' ', static_cast<int>(width - length)) &&
-        Emit(p, length);
-  }
-}
-
 std::optional<char32_t> IoStatementState::NextInField(
     std::optional<int> &remaining, const DataEdit &edit) {
   std::size_t byteCount{0};
@@ -755,7 +660,7 @@
     return io.AdvanceRecord();
   }
   if (space) {
-    return io.Emit(" ", 1);
+    return EmitAscii(io, " ", 1);
   }
   return true;
 }
@@ -928,21 +833,6 @@
   return child_.parent().Emit(data, bytes, elementBytes);
 }
 
-template <Direction DIR>
-bool ChildIoStatementState<DIR>::Emit(const char *data, std::size_t bytes) {
-  return child_.parent().Emit(data, bytes);
-}
-
-template <Direction DIR>
-bool ChildIoStatementState<DIR>::Emit(const char16_t *data, std::size_t chars) {
-  return child_.parent().Emit(data, chars);
-}
-
-template <Direction DIR>
-bool ChildIoStatementState<DIR>::Emit(const char32_t *data, std::size_t chars) {
-  return child_.parent().Emit(data, chars);
-}
-
 template <Direction DIR>
 std::size_t ChildIoStatementState<DIR>::GetNextInputBytes(const char *&p) {
   return child_.parent().GetNextInputBytes(p);
@@ -1509,23 +1399,8 @@
     const char *sourceFile, int sourceLine)
     : NoUnitIoStatementState{*this, sourceFile, sourceLine} {}
 
-bool InquireIOLengthState::Emit(const char *, std::size_t n, std::size_t) {
-  bytes_ += n;
-  return true;
-}
-
-bool InquireIOLengthState::Emit(const char *p, std::size_t n) {
-  bytes_ += sizeof *p * n;
-  return true;
-}
-
-bool InquireIOLengthState::Emit(const char16_t *p, std::size_t n) {
-  bytes_ += sizeof *p * n;
-  return true;
-}
-
-bool InquireIOLengthState::Emit(const char32_t *p, std::size_t n) {
-  bytes_ += sizeof *p * n;
+bool InquireIOLengthState::Emit(const char *, std::size_t bytes, std::size_t) {
+  bytes_ += bytes;
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -1537,10 +1412,4 @@
   return IoStatementBase::EndIoStatement();
 }
 
-template bool IoStatementState::EmitEncoded<char>(const char *, std::size_t);
-template bool IoStatementState::EmitEncoded<char16_t>(
-    const char16_t *, std::size_t);
-template bool IoStatementState::EmitEncoded<char32_t>(
-    const char32_t *, std::size_t);
-
 } // namespace Fortran::runtime::io
diff --git a/flang/runtime/namelist.cpp b/flang/runtime/namelist.cpp
--- a/flang/runtime/namelist.cpp
+++ b/flang/runtime/namelist.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include "namelist.h"
 #include "descriptor-io.h"
+#include "emit-encoded.h"
 #include "io-stmt.h"
 #include "flang/Runtime/io-api.h"
 #include <algorithm>
@@ -34,17 +35,17 @@
   // Internal functions to advance records and convert case
   const auto EmitWithAdvance{[&](char ch) -> bool {
     return (!connection.NeedAdvance(1) || io.AdvanceRecord()) &&
-        io.Emit(&ch, 1);
+        EmitAscii(io, &ch, 1);
   }};
   const auto EmitUpperCase{[&](const char *str) -> bool {
     if (connection.NeedAdvance(std::strlen(str)) &&
-        !(io.AdvanceRecord() && io.Emit(" ", 1))) {
+        !(io.AdvanceRecord() && EmitAscii(io, " ", 1))) {
       return false;
     }
     for (; *str; ++str) {
       char up{*str >= 'a' && *str <= 'z' ? static_cast<char>(*str - 'a' + 'A')
                                          : *str};
-      if (!io.Emit(&up, 1)) {
+      if (!EmitAscii(io, &up, 1)) {
         return false;
       }
     }
@@ -141,7 +142,6 @@
 static bool HandleSubscripts(IoStatementState &io, Descriptor &desc,
     const Descriptor &source, const char *name) {
   IoErrorHandler &handler{io.GetIoErrorHandler()};
-  io.HandleRelativePosition(1); // skip '('
   // Allow for blanks in subscripts; they're nonstandard, but not
   // ambiguous within the parentheses.
   SubscriptValue lower[maxRank], upper[maxRank], stride[maxRank];
@@ -251,7 +251,6 @@
   SubscriptValue chars{static_cast<SubscriptValue>(desc.ElementBytes()) / kind};
   // Allow for blanks in substring bounds; they're nonstandard, but not
   // ambiguous within the parentheses.
-  io.HandleRelativePosition(1); // skip '('
   std::optional<SubscriptValue> lower, upper;
   std::size_t byteCount{0};
   std::optional<char32_t> ch{io.GetNextNonBlank(byteCount)};
@@ -304,7 +303,6 @@
 static bool HandleComponent(IoStatementState &io, Descriptor &desc,
     const Descriptor &source, const char *name) {
   IoErrorHandler &handler{io.GetIoErrorHandler()};
-  io.HandleRelativePosition(1); // skip '%'
   char compName[nameBufferSize];
   if (GetLowerCaseName(io, compName, sizeof compName)) {
     const DescriptorAddendum *addendum{source.Addendum()};
@@ -436,6 +434,7 @@
       do {
         Descriptor &mutableDescriptor{staticDesc[whichStaticDesc].descriptor()};
         whichStaticDesc ^= 1;
+        io.HandleRelativePosition(byteCount); // skip over '(' or '%'
         if (*next == '(') {
           if (!hadSubstring && (hadSubscripts || useDescriptor->rank() == 0)) {
             mutableDescriptor = *useDescriptor;
@@ -449,9 +448,11 @@
                                 "NAMELIST group '%s'",
                 name, group.groupName);
             return false;
-          } else if (!HandleSubscripts(
-                         io, mutableDescriptor, *useDescriptor, name)) {
-            return false;
+          } else {
+            if (!HandleSubscripts(
+                    io, mutableDescriptor, *useDescriptor, name)) {
+              return false;
+            }
           }
           hadSubscripts = true;
         } else {
@@ -488,7 +489,7 @@
         "No '/' found after NAMELIST group '%s'", group.groupName);
     return false;
   }
-  io.HandleRelativePosition(1);
+  io.HandleRelativePosition(byteCount);
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/flang/test/Semantics/io03.f90 b/flang/test/Semantics/io03.f90
--- a/flang/test/Semantics/io03.f90
+++ b/flang/test/Semantics/io03.f90
@@ -55,10 +55,7 @@
       decimal='comma', end=9, eor=9, err=9, id=id, iomsg=msg, iostat=stat2, &
       pad='no', round='processor_defined', size=kk) jj
 
-  !ERROR: Invalid character kind for an internal file variable
   read(internal_file2, *) jj
-
-  !ERROR: Invalid character kind for an internal file variable
   read(internal_file4, *) jj
 
   !ERROR: Internal file must not have a vector subscript
diff --git a/flang/unittests/Runtime/Format.cpp b/flang/unittests/Runtime/Format.cpp
--- a/flang/unittests/Runtime/Format.cpp
+++ b/flang/unittests/Runtime/Format.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 //===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
 
 #include "CrashHandlerFixture.h"
+#include "../runtime/connection.h"
 #include "../runtime/format-implementation.h"
 #include "../runtime/io-error.h"
 #include <string>
@@ -24,33 +25,25 @@
 public:
   using CharType = char;
   TestFormatContext() : IoErrorHandler{"format.cpp", 1} {}
-  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t);
-  bool Emit(const char16_t *, std::size_t);
-  bool Emit(const char32_t *, std::size_t);
+  bool Emit(const char *, std::size_t, std::size_t = 0);
   bool AdvanceRecord(int = 1);
   void HandleRelativePosition(std::int64_t);
   void HandleAbsolutePosition(std::int64_t);
   void Report(const DataEdit &);
   ResultsTy results;
   MutableModes &mutableModes() { return mutableModes_; }
+  ConnectionState &GetConnectionState() { return connectionState_; }
 
 private:
   MutableModes mutableModes_;
+  ConnectionState connectionState_;
 };
 
-bool TestFormatContext::Emit(const char *s, std::size_t len) {
+bool TestFormatContext::Emit(const char *s, std::size_t len, std::size_t) {
   std::string str{s, len};
   results.push_back("'"s + str + '\'');
   return true;
 }
-bool TestFormatContext::Emit(const char16_t *, std::size_t) {
-  Crash("TestFormatContext::Emit(const char16_t *) called");
-  return false;
-}
-bool TestFormatContext::Emit(const char32_t *, std::size_t) {
-  Crash("TestFormatContext::Emit(const char32_t *) called");
-  return false;
-}
 
 bool TestFormatContext::AdvanceRecord(int n) {
   while (n-- > 0) {