Japanese keyboard

The Japanese keyboard in Windows 11 usually uses the same physical keys as an English 101/102-key keyboard. To type Japanese, switch from the English layout to Japanese Microsoft IME, then change the input mode from A to あ.

1. Open Settings > Time & language > Language & region.
2. If needed, add Japanese with Add a language and install it.
3. On the taskbar, use the language indicator, or press Windows logo key + Spacebar until Japanese Microsoft IME is selected.
4. After switching, the tray shows A for English input mode. Select A to change it to あ for Hiragana input.
   • On an English 101/102-key keyboard, Alt + Backquote (`) also turns Japanese input on or off.
5. Type the word phonetically in romaji. The IME converts it to Japanese characters.
   • Example: type haru to get はる.
6. Press Spacebar to convert the current input to kanji candidates.
7. Use these keys in the candidate window:
   • Up/Down Arrow: move through candidates
   • Tab: expand the candidate list
   • Number keys: choose a candidate quickly
   • Enter: confirm the selected candidate
   • Esc: close the candidate window

To change input style, right-click the IME icon in the system tray and choose:

• Hiragana
• Full-width Katakana
• Full-width Alphanumeric
• Half-width Katakana
• Half-width Alphanumeric

Useful shortcuts on an English keyboard:

• Alt + Backquote (`): turn Japanese input on/off
• Ctrl + Caps Lock: switch to Hiragana
• F6: convert to Hiragana
• F7: convert to Full-width Katakana
• F8: convert to Half-width Katakana
• F9: convert to Full-width Alphanumeric
• F10: convert to Half-width Alphanumeric

The key point is that the keyboard does not need different printed characters. Windows uses the Microsoft IME to convert normal key presses into hiragana, katakana, and kanji.

References:

• Japanese IME
• Microsoft Japanese IME
• Advanced input methods for East Asian languages