Main visual image cited from Mediagene. Information obtained from CoSTORY as of April 1, 2026.
The second crowdfunding campaign for the “Nape Pro” trackball device, co-developed by Keychron and Gizmodo Japan, concluded on March 31, 2026.
According to an announcement by Mediagene, the second campaign raised 119,182,192 yen, bringing the cumulative total—including the first campaign—to over 400 million yen.
Greenkeys OfficeThe number looks huge, but the second round alone raised about ¥119 million.
Keychron plans to launch general sales in the future.
The Nape Pro is a trackball device that originated as a personal development project by a Gizmodo Japan editor and was commercialized through a partnership with Keychron.
Designed to allow cursor operation without moving your hands from the keyboard’s home position, it has been marketed as an input device that balances work efficiency with comfort.
Our site was among the first Japanese media outlets to review the Nape Pro, thanks to a unit provided by Kopek Japan.
The Nape Pro is not a crowdfunding-exclusive device; it is scheduled for general release in the global market and will eventually be available in Japan at the following stores.
Planned Retailers in Japan
- Keychron Official Online Store
- E-commerce Marketplaces
- Major Electronics Retailers Nationwide
The Greenkeys editorial team believes the Nape Pro’s popularity stems from a perfect alignment between its “new input experience” and the specific challenges faced by Japanese users.
In modern computing, it is standard to use both a keyboard and a pointing device.
Japanese input, in particular, involves a high volume of typing with the right hand. Combined with the common habit of frequently switching to a mouse with the same hand, this creates a significant physical strain.
The anticipation for a new experience—being able to operate a mouse without breaking the home position—is likely what drove this massive hit, addressing the daily accumulation of fatigue.
That said, the Nape Pro has only reached a limited number of test users so far.
The real test of whether the “home position-centric input experience” is truly embraced will come once general consumers receive the product and share their feedback.
It will be fascinating to see how the success of the seemingly unconventional Nape Pro helps bridge the gap between niche genres—like trackball mice, split keyboards, and specialized layouts—and the mainstream consumer market.
- Original Post Date: April 5, 2026
- Last Updated: April 5, 2026
- Reporting Method: Based on Mediagene content
- Source/Reference: https://www.mediagene.co.jp/2026/04/19766.html
- Conflicts of Interest: Product Offering: None Monetization Link in this paper: None
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