Lofree Flow Lite JIS Review｜Japan-specific model specializing in Japanese-language layout x silent linear

Here is “what keyboard fans have been waiting for”.

On July 30, 2025, Lofree Japan (Sanyo Godo Kaisha, Tokyo) began general sales of Flow Lite JIS, a Japanese-language model of Lofree Flow Lite.

The Flow Lite is a lower-priced version of the Lofree Flow, a low-profile mechanical keyboard that was a big hit. The Lofree Flow is a low-cost version of the Lofree Flow.

Another attraction of Flow Lite is that, unlike Flow, it supports keymap changes.

However, since Flow Lite was only available in English-language models, many keyboard enthusiasts found it difficult to use.

The new “Flow Lite JIS” model is the long-awaited JIS model (Japanese alignment model), which is eagerly awaited for “innovation” such as the adoption of a “split space bar” while maintaining the functions of the existing Flow Lite model.

This article reviews the appeal of the Flow Lite JIS, which is expected to become the “new standard for low-profile mechanical keyboards.

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What are the features of Flow Lite JIS?

Flow Lite JIS has the following features

Flow Lite JIS is a Japanese keyboard whose layout was supervised by Ryosuke Kawamura, Greenkeys operator and GreenEchoes Studio representative.

While aiming for a standard, easy-to-use Japanese keyboard, we have divided the space bar of Japanese keyboards, which usually adopt 4.25u size, into “2.0u” and “2.25u” in order to add a “high spice of convenience” different from others.

This creates new possibilities for the space bar and enables a “new and efficient typing experience.

According to a survey conducted by Lofree Japan, approximately 70% of respondents press the space bar with their “left thumb.

This suggests a new possibility: “When a long space bar is split, the keys on the right side can be reassigned to the others.

Flow Lite JIS allows you to change the keymap, so you can assign any key you like to the split half of the spacebar.

Thus, it can be said that Flow Lite JIS advocates a “new standard keyboard” that dispels stereotypes of key layout.

Lofree Flow Lite JIS keystroke sound

The silain linear key switch makes almost no typing noise.

When listening with headphones on, only a slight “thumping” sound can be heard.

Lofree Flow Lite JIS Review

Let’s take a look at some photos of the actual Lofree Flow Lite JIS.

It comes in a simple looking box.

The right half with the words Flow Lite on it is in sleep and slid in from the side.

The box has a molded key layout.

It is nice to see that it is firmly Japanese aligned.

This time we chose vintage gray.

The contents consist of a simple instruction manual, USB cable (Type A to C), and the main unit.

As for size, it is similar to the Lofree Flow Lite 84 in ANSI layout, measuring 316.8 mm wide, 138 mm long, and 23.5 mm thick.

The height to the key tops on the front side is about 2 cm, which is a good height that does not hurt the wrist.

The back of the unit has four rubber feet and a tilt leg, and the left bottom of the unit houses a USB dongle for 2.4GHz connectivity.

The wired port is located near the right side of the main unit and is a Type-C port.

To its left is a 3-way selector for wireless and wired switching.

The default tilt angle is set at about 3 degrees, and when the tilt leg is out, the tilt angle is about 6 degrees.

Let’s take a look at the Japanese-language layout by comparing it with the conventional model.

Beyond the differences in assigned keys, there are several physical layout differences between Japanese and English layouts.

This is noticeable in three areas: the bottom row, around the Enter key, and around the Arrow key.

As for the bottom row, each key is small and the number of keys is large because many keys peculiar to Japanese layout are arranged.

The layout differs significantly from the ANSI layout in that, from left to right, the distinctive keys are lined up: Ctrl / Win / Alt / “no-conversion,” “two short space bars,” “conversion,” and “katakana,” each unique to the Japanese layout.

As for the Enter key area, the 2u-sized backspace key has been split into two, and the “\ |” and “Enter” keys below it have been combined to form “ISO Enter”.

It also has one more key next to the Enter key.

As for the area around the arrow keys, the right Shift key is reduced to 1u size due to the “\ _ (ろ)” key, which is unique to the Japanese layout, being right next to the “/ ? key is right next to the “/ ?” key, the right Shift key is reduced to 1u size.

Due to the fact that “RO” is packed into the right layout, the Z line is shifted 0.25u to the left of the ANSI layout.

The “Full/Half-width” key, which is indispensable for Windows users, is also included.

If a Mac user presses this key, it becomes “~ ‘.

Other features include the “split space bar,” which is a key feature, and the vertical rotary encoder, which was also popular in Flow Lite.

Let’s also look at the keyswitch and keycap area.

The material of the top plate is not specified, but I have the impression that a relatively soft POM-based material is probably used.

The keyswitch is the new Silent Linear Switch “Void” and there is no other choice.

The diffuser lens that diffuses LEDs has been installed to improve the diffusion of LED lights compared to the previous model.

The pressing pressure is also just the right weight at 40 gf, and compared to the old Silent Linear, the major difference is that it has a solid bottoming out feeling.

Let’s look at keycaps next.

The keycap material is PBT and is printed with a double shot of polycarbonate material.

Therefore, only this part of the lettering allows the backlight to penetrate, resulting in very beautiful lighting.

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Advantages of Lofree Flow Lite JIS

The advantages of Lofree Flow Lite JIS that I have found are as follows

Other Benefits

• Comfortable typing without wrist rest
• Ideal for office use
• Ultra-low latency (1000 Hz polling rate over wired/2.4 GHz bandwidth)
• BT connection allows seamless multi-device switching
• 2000 mAh battery runs for 80 hours – can be fully recharged in 3 hours

Comfortable and effortless to use with Japanese layout

The greatest advantage of Flow Lite JIS is that it has a Japanese-language layout.

The majority of keyboards used in Japan have this “Japanese layout,” but from a larger perspective, the Japanese layout is a “super-minority” layout.

The global standard layout is “ANSI (English alignment)”, and the standard layout used in China as well as in English-speaking countries is also an English layout.

These days, mechanical keyboard brands are very strong in China and are used in many countries, which is why most mechanical keyboards coming into Japan have an English layout.

However, since the Japanese had never used an English layout, the “mechanical keyboard” only caught on with a few keyboard enthusiasts.

This is where “Flow Lite JIS” comes in.

Under the leadership of Sanyo Godo Kaisha, Lofree’s distributor in Japan, the layout of Flow Lite JIS was built from scratch as a “keyboard for Japanese people.

The Japanese-language layout, which is different from conventional foreign-made keyboards, is a major attraction.

Discover a new typing experience with keymap changes x split spaces

Flow Lite JIS has a “keymap change function” that allows users to rearrange keys other than specific keys to their preferred locations, while providing a split space bar.

This allows you to rearrange the keys in your “easy-to-use” location.

After all, the “split space bar” is the fun part of customization.

By assigning the left side to “space” and the right side to “backspace,” the burden on the right pinky finger can be greatly reduced when erasing characters in case of a mistouch.

Great keystroke feel

Flow Lite JIS uses a structure called a “gasket mount”.

This structure is designed to float the “switch plate” in which the keyswitch is inserted within the case, thereby softening the impact of keystrokes.

The synergistic effect of this “soft key feel” mechanism and pre-lubricated, smooth-operating keyswitches results in a key feel like nothing you have ever experienced before.

You will be shocked at the difference, especially if you have only typed on a laptop keyboard.

Quiet keystrokes and easy to use

Many people are sure to have an image of a mechanical keyboard as being noisy when they hear it.

Until now, most key switches on mechanical keyboards were designed to make noise, because the mainstream trend has been to “enjoy including auditory feedback while typing”.

On the other hand, as the mechanical keyboard movement gradually spread around the world, a need arose to use mechanical keyboards in the business world.

The “silent switch” was developed to meet such needs.

Among its quiet switches, this “Void” is so complete that you don’t have to worry about your surroundings even when you are typing strenuously.

You can type with such a low sound.

Listen to the keystroke sound (YouTube) ▷▷▷

Coloring to match any location

Flow Lite JIS is based on the development concept of “office use.

To suit office use, the lineup includes only quiet linear switches, and a basic color lineup so that users will not feel uncomfortable using the product in a business environment.

The coloring can be selected from “White” or “Vintage Gray”.

This coloring can be used in any situation without hindrance.

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Disadvantages of Lofree Flow Lite JIS

The advantages of Lofree Flow Lite JIS that I have found are as follows

Slightly overpriced for an “ordinary keyboard.”

Lofree Flow Lite JIS is priced at 19,800 yen (tax included).

The price range of keyboards displayed in Japanese electronics retail stores is often in the “under 5,000 yen” range, with those rarely exceeding 10,000 yen.

The low-profile mechanical keyboard “MX MECHANICAL Mini” from Logitech, which is listed as a competitor and is well known to some extent in Japan, has a list price of 22,200 yen (including tax).

After all, the brand value of “Lofree” is still small in Japan, and many people may consider it difficult to choose compared to “famous and inexpensive brands in the Japanese keyboard industry,” such as Elecom and Buffalo.

Need to wait for re-release of web-based keymap change software

Flow Lite and Flow Lite JIS use the dedicated application “Lofree Keymapper (Windows only)” to change the keymap.

Therefore, Mac users could not change the keymap.

In response to this situation, Lofree released a web version of its keymap change application at the end of July 2025, but has suspended its release due to the discovery of a serious bug.

Therefore, it will be some time before Mac users can freely change keymaps.

Replacement keycap options are not available at this time.

Lofree Flow Lite JIS is a “dedicated Japanese-language keyboard” specially ordered by Lofree Japan.

Keycaps for Lofree Flow have been released, but they are all “for English layout” and keycaps for Japanese layout are not available at this time.

This is a disadvantage for those who want to enjoy keycap customization.

Also note that even if another manufacturer, such as NuPhy, releases replacement keycaps in the future, they will not necessarily share the same stabilizer location.

A little heavy to carry.

Lofree Flow Lite JIS may be named “light,” but it is not that light.

It weighs approximately 600 g, which is heavier than a single plastic bottle.

It may be easily carried by those carrying a large backpack, but may feel a bit heavy in a hand-held briefcase.

No black coloring.

This was a bit disappointing, but there is no black coloring.

The image is like this.

This will surely catch on.

Summary｜Don’t miss the new standard for Japanese keyboards.

This is my review of Lofree Flow Lite JIS.

The author personally has often felt the “paucity of Japanese-language keyboards” while reviewing and covering many keyboards.

Many Japanese manufacturers focus on “cheapness” in their keyboards, and Japanese-language keyboards that are designed for the high-end market face significant challenges in terms of price to become popular…

The inexpensive, high-quality foreign-made keyboards are only available with English layouts.

It is no exaggeration to say that the reason why the mechanical keyboard movement has not gained momentum in Japan, despite the fact that it is growing worldwide, is “the lack of cost-effective Japanese keyboards.

We believe that the Lofree Flow Lite JIS was conceived with the image of fitting perfectly into such a position.

We invite you to experience the “New Standard of Japanese Array”.

10 % off with coupon code “ryo10″ / ＼＼”.