Japanese IME on Windows: switch back to romaji input method

Question

There are apparently two ways to work a Japanese keyboard:

type alphabetic characters (romaji) and translate them. ( t+a = ta, t+e = te, and so on)
every key is assigned a single kana (q = ta, w = te and so on).

No one I know uses the second method.

Somehow the IME (on Windows XP) got switched into the second method.

How can I switch it back?

Update: I have restarted the computer in the mean-time, and that put it back to normal.

did you press double-shift or any of the weird, annoying keyboard change locks? — caliban, Sep 07 '09 at 14:14
@scoopdreams: with a toddler in the house, this is totally possible. — Thilo, Sep 08 '09 at 01:10
@Thilo san, you have installed a US Keyboard, and after that connect a Japanese Keyboard, for this you need to configure Windows to recognize the new keyboard, see "Caliban" answer — antonio, Aug 17 '20 at 02:45

pelms · Accepted Answer · 2009-09-08T09:25:16.773

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Try Alt + ` to toggle direct kana input.

On a Japanese keyboard, try Alt + the カタカナ|ひらがな|ローマ字 key (to the right of the space key).
With Windows 7 you get a confirmation dialog in case you accidentally hit this key combination.

edited Sep 08 '09 at 09:25

answered Sep 07 '09 at 20:52

pelms

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That does not seem to do anything. Maybe I am doing it wrong. I have a Japanese keyboard. Does Alt+' mean (Alt-Shift-7) or (Alt-Shift-@)? – Thilo Sep 08 '09 at 01:18
The ` Key on an US Keyboard is the Top-Leftmost key (Just under the Esc Key). Try pressing that. Otherwise (Alt-Shift-@) looks correct – unixman83 Sep 12 '11 at 09:20
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Alt+` toggles between alphabetic and hiragana input mode, not between direct-kana. There is a little button on the language bar reading [kana] which is only visible in the 'restored' state (not in the start bar) which you should depress to get rid of it. I'm still looking for the key combination for this button as it often turns on apparently by itself and it is very irritating top keep restoring and re-docking it the langauage bar. – Mark Jeronimus Dec 21 '12 at 16:13

Thilo · Answer 2 · 2009-09-08T03:50:41.143

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Okay, figured it out　(had to bring it up in a conference call, though):

Alt + [カタカナ] (the key next to the right Alt)

Also, the language/IME toolbar has small toggle buttons (CAPS and KANA), which can be used to toggle Caps-Lock and direct kana input.

edited Sep 08 '09 at 03:50

answered Sep 08 '09 at 02:23

Thilo

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score 3 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 29 '21 at 04:34

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It's Ctrl + Shift + Caps Lock.

I have to type more to let me post, so I'll wish you a nice day.

edited Mar 29 '21 at 04:34

Giacomo1968

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answered Mar 03 '18 at 23:09

anonymous

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This is the only solution for a non-Japanese keyboard that works on the Lock Screen (a devilish place to accidentally toggle KANA mode in Win 7 as it has no language toolbar). Shame to see it voted down. – Exp HP Jul 25 '18 at 23:01
Doesn't seem to work for me, though I acknowledge my keyboard customizations are a bit more extreme than normal. – MXMLLN Mar 20 '21 at 13:06
This is also the only solution that worked for me, as I was stuck in kana input even when the IME properties screen said I was in romaji! – Meshaal May 15 '21 at 01:34

score 2 · Answer 4 · edited Apr 02 '17 at 08:40

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You can also do this by clicking Tools on the language bar, then clicking Properties, and finally choose "Romaji Input" under "Input Method".

In Windows 8, Click on the language bar - Language Preferences - For Japanese select Options - Input Method - Microsoft IME Options - Advanced - Input Method - Romaji Input.

edited Apr 02 '17 at 08:40

Chindraba

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answered Aug 20 '12 at 20:30

ChaosFreak

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see anonymous answer "CTRL+SHIFT+CapsLock" too works! – antonio Aug 17 '20 at 02:40

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Mar 29 '21 at 04:34

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It's long time since then but for those who still need a countermeasure: You can press combination of Ctrl + Shift + Caps Lock ==> this will switch between Kana input and Romaji input that you may push them accidentally and get angry with the facing situation: Japanese keyboard but no-Japanese typing.

edited Mar 29 '21 at 04:34

Giacomo1968

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answered Mar 29 '21 at 04:16

user1291374

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score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Oct 19 '11 at 03:52

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Under Start > Control Panel > Regional and Language Options

Go to the "Language" tab, click on "Details".

Make sure the settings for Japanese are the same as the settings in the screenshot below.

alt text

edited Oct 19 '11 at 03:52

Gaff

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answered Sep 07 '09 at 12:55

caliban

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Yeah, it is set like that. Did not help. I think it was set like that even before it went into the weird "direct-kana-input-mode".. – Thilo Sep 07 '09 at 13:29
try clicking on properties to see what you can find there? – caliban Sep 07 '09 at 14:13
Sorry, cannot post screen captures right now. There are lots of properties, and they are all in Japanese. – Thilo Sep 08 '09 at 01:20

Japanese IME on Windows: switch back to romaji input method

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