When I switch to Japanese using Windows key + Space, it gives me the Japanese keyboard but in English mode. There is an "A" in the bottom-right corner of my screen, then I have to click it so that it changes to an "あ" to make the keyboard actually write in Japanese.
Does anyone know how I can do this…
Windows key + space: Japanese
Windows key + space: English
NOT
Windows key + space: English mode in a Japanese keyboard
Windows key + space: English
I am begging someone to help me, as this is driving me insane lol.
by Relevant-String-959
11 comments
not sure how to switch it with a single shortcut directly to Japanese, but instead of clicking on the “A” in the bottom of the screen you can use “Ctrl + Capslock” to switch to hiragana mode
Afaik there’s no way to change it unfortunately or I would use it for over 10 years now.
There are some shortcuts, though: [https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/japanese-ime-hiragana-toggle-keys/3b2ffa3e-29ee-4d5a-b65b-dc67c9c869fc](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/japanese-ime-hiragana-toggle-keys/3b2ffa3e-29ee-4d5a-b65b-dc67c9c869fc)
When you are already in Japanese mode, Press Shift + Capslock to cycle between Romaji and kana
It’s so annoying going from my mac where its 1 keyboard shortcut to windows where you have to press the A lmao
If you right click the A in the corner and hit settings I believe you can hot keys there it there
Not sure if it remembers IME choices per window or if it just uses the order you have them listed in (IE oh english is at the top so we prefer to go to english first on a new window or if it goes Oh english was last used here lets use english)
I’m happy you got your answer OP and maybe I just don’t get the reason why. But IMO its stupid as fuck, why can’t I choose the default like everything else in the world, and why would the default be fucking English mode when **switching** to Japanese.
FWIW, [Google IME](https://www.google.co.jp/ime/) has better autocomplete, and the shortcut (I like Alt+Shift) defaults to hiragana input.
Shift+Caps for hira
Alt+Caps for kata
Get Google’s Japanese keyboard for Windows, it doesn’t completely eliminate the problem but it remembers your choices so you switch less. Also it’s not a whole separate keyboard, it’s just an IME so it integrates seamlessly with your other languages.
https://preview.redd.it/tkidvaff1xhe1.png?width=621&format=png&auto=webp&s=23cc36395a14224d9f96e9bead959b46c9f50744
I think the problem is that you’re thinking of “English Mode” and “Japanese IME” as the two things to switch between. The most orthodox way to go about it is to stay in Japanese IME mode and switch back and forth between Japanese and Direct Input. I’ve been translating for 15 years and I never even touch the “WIN+Space” function (J-IME on/off), unless for whatever reason it’s off.
Once the IME is on, Alt+tilde [should say 半角／全角 漢字 on a Japanese keyboard–top-leftmost key] will toggle between Hiragana (which is essentially the only Japanese input mode you should need 99% of the time for obvious reasons), and Direct Input [which is to say, “English mode”]. Once you have Alt+tilde switching between あ and Ａ… that’s it. Love is all you need.
This is the kind of question that’s well suited for ChatGPT, as opposed to asking it to explain Japanese grammar like some people do.