For Foreign Brands: Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Keyboard/Keycap Design

This document is a guideline for foreign brands to create Japanese keyboards and Japanese keycaps.

Before creating a Japanese language array, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of the “Japanese input mechanism,” which is quite different from that of English-speaking Latin languages.

The Japanese language has a complex structure and a multi-level input system, which strongly influences the key layout, number of keys, key engraving, and space bar length.

This paper systematically explains the essential points for foreign brands to design Japanese sequences correctly.

This document is part of the JIS Layout Alliance (JLA).

This page contains advertisements. Products and links provided by manufacturers may be included, but will be fairly verified and clearly disclosed in accordance with our editorial policy.

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1. Deepen your understanding of the Japanese language

Perhaps the most widely used language in the world has its roots in “Latin”.

Many countries around the world use the “Latin alphabet” for typing in their own language.

The division between the Latin alphabet and Japanese is as follows.

	Latin alphabet	Japanese (language)
language family	Indo-European	Japonic / Japanese language family
character family	Latin alphabet	Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana, Latin alphabet
input method	The typed characters are almost always the final form.	Enter reading sound in Latin alphabet → system presents suggestions → user chooses

1-1. Japanese is a non-Latin language with a complex writing system

Languages based on the Latin alphabet, such as English, are based on the “direct input method,” in which characters are entered as they are when keys are pressed.

Japanese, on the other hand, uses the following four character systems together.

• hiragana
• katakana
• kanji
• Latin alphabet

In particular, there are thousands of kanji characters, which cannot be entered using the one-key-one-character structure.

For this reason, Japanese input is an indirect input method that involves multiple processes.

However, when entering alphabets in context, they do not go through this process, but use the direct input method as in English-speaking countries, so the main feature of this system is a very difficult input style that uses the indirect input method as its main axis and also uses the direct input method.

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1-2. Japanese typing is a “multi-step process”.

When typing Japanese, the following process is used to type characters.

This process is very different from the simple “press a key and you’re done” method of English, where the user is always interspersed with “converting” the Latin alphabet to the desired Kanji characters.

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1-3. The presence of homonyms makes the conversion process mandatory.

The Japanese language has a large number of homonyms.

Although homophones also exist in English, Japanese is characterized by an overwhelming number of words with the same pronunciation.

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in this way

• Call up conversion candidates
• select a candidate
• Fix.

is indispensable for inputting Japanese.

This plethora of homonyms is the reason for the structure of the Japanese layout and the existence of dedicated keys.

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2. Physical layout of the keyboard used by the Japanese

Most Japanese know only Japanese sequences.

Most people probably do not know that a keyboard with an English layout exists.

There are no exact data, but probably 99% of people use Japanese keyboards.

Almost all keyboards sold at electronics retailers have a Japanese layout, and only some foreign-brand gaming keyboards have an English layout.

Therefore, only keyboard geeks or gamers would use English keyboards.

3. “IME (Input Method Editor)” that supports Japanese input

An IME (Input Method Editor) is a system for converting Latin characters to Japanese.

When the IME is on, Japanese input (indirect input method) is used; when it is off, English input (direct input method) is used.

3-1. Japanese language users switch IMEs frequently

In Japanese text, Japanese, English, and numbers are mixed as shown below.

• Japanese (e.g., konnichiwa)
• English words (e.g. keyboard, URL)
• Numbers (e.g., 2025, 123)
• Symbols (e.g., @, #, /)

Therefore, switching the IME on (Japanese input) / off (alphanumeric input) is done on a daily basis.

condition	Characters to be entered
IME ON	Japanese (converted to Hiragana/Kanji)
IME Off	English/numbers/general alphabetic symbols

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3-2. Japanese layout has dedicated keys for IME operation

Input in Japanese is very frequently turned on and off by the IME.

Therefore, there is a dedicated “IME on/off key” rather than a combination shortcut key.

IME on/off toggle key used in Windows

• Halfwidth/Fullwidth key (press to toggle on/off)
• Conversion key (IME on)
• Non-Conversion key (IME Off)

Common keys on Mac

• Alphanumeric key (IME off)
• Kana key (IME on)

IME can be turned on and off even with English layout.

The IME can be turned on and off even with an English keyboard.

Use the following shortcut combo to switch.

• Windows: Alt + ` (back 2 quotes)
• Mac: Control + Space

Some Japanese users prefer English sequences, but they switch IMEs with this kind of combo typing.

However, this combo shortcut is largely unknown to the public.

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4. differences in physical layout between Japanese and English layouts

In addition to the aforementioned IME-related keys, the placement of symbol keys in the Japanese layout differs significantly from the English layout.

The Japanese JIS sequence is a proprietary system that is not simply compatible with the ANSI sequence.

In addition to the physical layout, the sublegend is also very different.

Also, depending on the reference OS, there are subtle differences in key layouts specific to Japanese-language layouts.

Please look at the diagram carefully to see the difference between English and Japanese layouts.

Windows-based layout (example)

Examples of main symbols that differ from the English sequence

• @
• :
• ;
• ^
• _
• ¥
• 「」『』

Key bindings when recognized as Japanese layout

Physical location (numeric sequence)	JIS key printing (unshifted / shifted)	English (US) key printing (unshifted / shifted)
2 key	2 / "	2 / @
6 key	6 / &	6 / ^
7 key	7 / '	7 / &
8 Keys	8 / (	8 / *
Key on 9	9 / )	9 / (
Key of 0	0 / (no symbol)	0 / )
0 right “-” key	- / =	- / _
Further right “^” key	^ / ~	= / +

physical location	JIS key printing (unshifted / shifted)	English (US) key printing (unshifted / shifted)
P right (first) of the	@ / `	[ / {
To the right of it (the second one)	[ / {	] / }
L right (first) of the	; / +	; / :
To the right of it (the second one)	: / *	' / "

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Examples of key bindings that differ from the English layout

Japanese-style array	English alignment key bindings	Japanese-style array
Halfwidth/Fullwidth	‘ (single quote)	IME on/off
backslash (character)	(None)	\
¥	\	¥
(unable to type)	`(backquote)	(None)

5. Advice on keycap creation

This section contains notes on creating Japanese keycaps.

• The keycap production cannot divert the layout of the English version and will require a complete revision of the sublegend.
• Since double-shot molding involves higher tooling costs, sublimation printing or UV printing is a more cost-effective way to create Japanese-language keycaps.
• The engraving of some keys specific to Japanese-language layout differs depending on the operating system.
• The length of the left and right shift keys differs between the 75%/65% key layout and the 80%/96%/100% layout.
• In Japanese-language keyboards, 60% layouts without arrow keys are almost non-existent.
• As for the modifier keys in the re-bottom row, it is recommended to have multiple sizes for versatility, as different keyboard brands have different sizes.

5-1. Why is the space bar so short?

It is assumed that the space bar on the Japanese layout is shorter than on the English layout for the following reasons.

• Because the keys at both ends of the space bar are used to turn the IME on and off frequently, the shorter keys have a smaller range of motion of the thumb.
• Because a shorter space bar provides better key response

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5-2. Engraving circumstances specific to Japanese keycaps

• It is true that a certain amount of demand exists for kana engraving.
• The kana engraving is a remnant of when kana input was once the mainstream.
• Almost meaningless since “romanized” input using the Latin alphabet is now the mainstream.
• Even without kana, there is little hindrance in Japanese input.
• The position of the “hiragana” sublegend used overseas differs from the original Japanese sequence.
• Symbol engraving differs from US layout, so upper engraving (Shift engraving) is required

For Windows｜Japanese key layout

For Mac｜Japanese key layout

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10. summary of points where foreign brands are prone to error

Common Misconceptions	Correct understanding
Japanese layout if adjusted based on US layout.	JIS is a proprietary system; US modification is basically not viable.
Conversion/non-conversion keys are not required	Conversion key is required due to many homonyms
Space bar should be long	4.5/4.25u recommended
Symbols should be the same as US	JIS has a completely different symbol arrangement.

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11. “Consideration” required when designing Japanese sequences

• Do not omit IME-related keys
• Maintain proper spacebar length and key placement around it
• Symbol placement (especially in the Shift column) to be JIS compliant
• Consider the presence or absence of kana imprinting, depending on the user base.
• No simplified JIS based on ANSI (will break down)