Nape Pro is a trackball device that originated from a personal development project by Koichiro Tsunafuji of the Gizmodo Japan editorial team and was brought to market through joint development with Keychron.
Two crowdfunding campaigns conducted in Japan achieved a combined total of over 400 million yen in purchases.
Following its exhibition at CES 2026, general global sales were officially confirmed.
The X post highlights features such as “OctaShift,” which allows the device to be oriented in eight directions, six customizable buttons, and a programmable control dial.
While a global product page, pricing, and specific release date are not yet available, the editorial team views Keychron’s international outreach as a sign that preparations for general sales are gaining momentum.
The origin of Nape Pro lies in the “Nape” project, which was personally developed by Koichiro Tsunafuji of the Gizmodo Japan editorial team.
It was later realized as a commercial product featuring a 25mm trackball through joint development with Keychron.
The fact that an individual’s idea was brought to the finished product market through Keychron’s manufacturing and development capabilities is also an important aspect of Nape Pro’s story.
Domestic Crowdfunding Surpasses 400 Million Yen in Total
The first crowdfunding campaign, launched in November 2025, surpassed 100 million yen in total purchases within 12 hours of launch.
By the end of the campaign, total purchases exceeded 300 million yen, with over 20,000 backers.
The second campaign, conducted from February 2026, raised approximately 119.18 million yen, bringing the combined total from both campaigns to over 400 million yen.
The strong support gathered through domestic crowdfunding is believed to have helped propel Nape Pro beyond a Japan-only project toward general sales and international expansion.
This post from Keychron’s official X account appears to signal that the already confirmed global expansion is now entering the active promotional phase.
A Japan-Born Input Device Goes Global
While Nape Pro was created for users in Japan, the underlying concept of “operating the pointer without moving your hands far from the keyboard” is universal, regardless of language or layout.
Starting from personal development, it progressed through joint development with Keychron, surpassed 400 million yen in combined domestic crowdfunding, won an award at CES 2026, and is now being introduced to the world through Keychron’s global account.
An idea that has been embraced by a subset of keyboard and trackball enthusiasts may now reach a broader finished product market through Keychron’s global distribution network.
How will an input experience that may seem niche at first glance be received internationally?
Attention is focused on how an input device rooted in Japanese personal development will be perceived abroad.
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