Keyboard Market Tokyo 2026 was held on March 28, 2026 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center, Hamamatsucho Building, 4th floor.
Keyboard Market Tokyo 2026 (Key Kett) is an exhibition and sale of keyboards and other input devices.
This was the third time the event was held, and the venue was moved for the first time to the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho Building.
According to the official information, 71 circles and 16 companies exhibited this year, bringing together a wide range of exhibits related to the input experience, from unique works created by individuals to commercial products by companies.
The management staff told us that more than 2,000 people attended the event that day, and the venue was filled with the enthusiasm of keyboard fans.
Compared to the previous event, the management has been more creative in ensuring that there is always enough space to move around for the constant crowds at the booths.
The context that has been continuously supported in the homebrew keyboard community, such as 17mm pitch, left-right split, column staggered layout, trackball inclusion, and low profile, continued to have a strong presence in this edition of the KeyKet 2026.
On the other hand, it was also impressive that the presence of finished keyboards that incorporate such ideas and enthusiasm and are commercialized into products, as well as such “homebrew contexts themselves,” increased more than ever this year.
In this article, we will pick out the most impressive exhibits and booths from among those we were able to photograph and cover on the day, as well as discuss the changes we have seen through Kequette 2026.
Corporate booth section
- WORKAHOLIC｜Enjoy the chemical reaction between desk, chair, and keyboard
- DIGIART booth｜Lofree, NuPhy, KeyTok, etc.
- ELECOM｜Trackball Present is very popular!
- LEOPOLD｜NumLock non-interlocking numeric keypad is a hot topic.
- VORTEX｜New Keyboard Exhibit Draws Attention
- Jezail Funder Japan｜Preliminary Exhibition of New Keyswitch “MIST
WORKAHOLIC｜Enjoy the chemical reaction between desk, chair, and keyboard
WORKAHOLIC is a work chair specialty store that proposes the most suitable chair.
It was impressive to see the collaboration with various companies at this year’s stall.
The desk and chair are always present in the scene where the keyboard is used.
In other words, Greenkeys believes that the “typing experience,” including the keyboard, consists of a “desk” on which the keyboard is placed, a “chair” in which you lean, a “keyboard” as an input device, a “pointing device,” a PC, and a monitor, and that it is completed by the combination of these elements. Greenkeys believes that the combination of these elements completes the system.
Very close to this philosophy is the idea of the workaholic.
“Paying attention to the current desk work environment will build a better future where there is success and health.”
Cited from: https://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/of9/page/identity.html
Based on this idea, from the perspective of work chairs and desks, the booth was an interesting way to experience the keyboard event from a different aspect in the context of preparing the desk work environment and supporting the typing environment from below.
KawamuraAt the booth, visitors were also able to experience a simplified “chair setting that fits your body.
Workaholics can make an appointment to have a chair that is suited to their needs (for a fee). (There is a fee for this service.)
DIGIART booth｜Lofree, NuPhy, KeyTok, etc.
At the DIGIART booth (Sanyo LLC), keyboards such as Lofree and NuPhy were displayed in “custom models” that were converted to the company’s keycaps.
Also catching the eye were Lofree’s new “Lipstick” series of numeric keypads and keyboards, which are available in a variety of colors and sizes, including black and white, black and white, and black and white.
I get the impression that most keyboard lovers are male, but this keyboard is for any person.
ELECOM｜Trackball Present is very popular!
The Elecom booth was impressive with its array of trackball mice.
The booth was always full of people, in part because of a campaign that offered exchange balls for answering a survey.
The 34mm and 25mm replacement balls, which are commonly used in home-made keyboards, have gone out early.
KawamuraI also filled out a survey and received a replacement ball.
Red ball (52mm) for HUGE PLUS.
The Leggero series is the one we would like to focus on as editorial department.
It is a mechanical keyboard with a low actual price, and is available in two types: 80% TKL (91 keys) and 100% full size (108 keys).
The clean look of the keytop looks without kana printing, and its simple appearance goes well with any desk.
Although it is not hot-swappable, it is a great introduction to mechanical keyboards, with a good key feel due in part to the use of TTC mechanical key switches.
The “JLA-425” labeling, which serves as a guide for keycap replacement, and the compatibility with “replacement keycaps” that are expected to appear in the Japanese keyboard market in the future, make this a machine of interest to our editorial staff as a base machine for keycap customization.
LEOPOLD｜NumLock non-interlocking numeric keypad is a hot topic.
The Leopold booth exhibited the FC210TP, a numeric keypad that can be switched without NumLock, which is scheduled to be available from late April to mid-May.
It was also exhibited and covered at the “Tenkaichi Keyboard Waiwai Kai Vol. 9” held on November 18, 2025, and is now in the form of a full-fledged sale.
What is Numlock mode? When turned on, the built-in numeric keypad can be used to type numbers. It can be used as a cursor key or an edit key (sublegend function). On notebook PCs, when turned on, some of the keys on the main unit may become numeric, and you may not be able to type. This is no exception when using an external numeric keypad, and in some cases, the alpha key cannot be used when using the numeric keypad when “NumLock linked” is used. However, this specification differs depending on the PC manufacturer.
When using a NumLock-linked type numeric keypad on a Windows PC that is linked to NumLock, the NumLock ON may cause the J/K/L/U/I/O, etc. on the main unit to be converted to numbers, and the user may not be able to type letters.
In such cases, the advantage of being able to use the external numeric keypad as a “numeric keypad” and type the alpha key without any problem when this “Numlock non-interlock mode” is turned on is likely to be useful for spreadsheet software.
This one is also noteworthy.
VORTEX｜New Keyboard Exhibit Draws Attention
At Vortex, new keyboards are the main focus of the exhibit.
Many people gathered at the booth to check out the texture of the new Race Plus, Race90, and M50 products featured in Greenkeys News.
Interest in the new M50 was particularly high, with many people checking out the feel of the keystroke and trackball.
KawamuraAs for the M50 in particular, it is not yet a finished product in its current state, leaving room for many updates.
I was able to speak with the sales representative in detail, so please check the content below for more information.
Vortex Keboard official website
Jezail Funder Japan｜Preliminary Exhibition of New Keyswitch “MIST
The Jezail Funder Japan booth was busy with the advance display and free distribution of the new quiet switch, MIST.
The final pressure seemed to be set at 37gf, and the light and quiet keystroke feel was very comfortable.
KawamuraIt was less rubbery at the bottom than the DeepSea Island MINI Pink that was displayed as a comparison.
Right: Kailh choc v2 MIST
The Jiffy75 exhibit, which is currently undergoing crowdfunding, also attracted a lot of attention.
Long Lines at SO-SHO
At the Yousha Kobo booth, there was a long line of people waiting to try out the SO-SHO, which went on sale the same day.
When we went to see them, they were already sold out and the next production is scheduled for May.
Although the products were sold at the Yusha Kobo booth, the manufacturing and sales themselves seem to be carried out by “ELECIT”.
ELECKIT is a group company of Kase Radio Holdings, the same company as Yusha Kobo, and our editorial team has the impression that synergies are being created among the group companies.
We have also mentioned this in a news article about it.
Through company booth coverage
What was particularly striking to me while observing this year’s event was that the ideas and experiences nurtured in the world of home-built keyboards are steadily spreading to the finished keyboard side.
For example, values such as compact layouts, unique arrays, optimizing the input experience, and portability have originally grown thick in the homebrew keyboard scene.
And this time, it seemed that products incorporating such contexts are beginning to have a presence as manufacturer’s products, not just as niche entities.
Although homebrew and finished products are often talked about as two separate worlds, we may be in a transitional period now where the two are gradually coming closer together to form a new input experience.
Individual Booths
- Admiration for Snug on｜Multi-button mouse
- Seaside Works｜An Intoxicating Unified Worldview
- A’skey｜New keyboard with index finger-operated trackball
- GIMMICK KEEB Studio｜Sequel to Keyboard with Folding Mechanism
- | Unique keycap with excellent design
- Artisan keycap made of metal and different materials
- All Japan Miniature Keyboard Federation｜Composite booth with minimalism, woodworking, and transparent resin that shines
Admiration for Snug on｜Multi-button mouse
Snug on was led by the Snugon MO1, a wired multi-button mouse with a cute triangular shape.
The official sales page informs that it has 12 switches and one wheel, requires no drivers, and has over 20 layered functions, while the manual page informs that it has over 60 functions in a single unit with 32 layer utilization.
The triangles that fit the shape of the grip were modeled in 3D CAD based on a clay model.
The experience of being able to press switches not only with the fingertips but also with the belly of the fingers was very refreshing.
KawamuraThe fact that it can also be used as a macro device while operating the mouse is great, since layer keys can also be set.
Reference: https://snugonshop.meihonet.co.jp/products/snugon-mo1
Seaside Works｜An Intoxicating Unified Worldview
The Seaside Works booth was impressive for its unified world view.
The popular “SeaGlass” model, the “SesSideX” Keyball customization kit, and the “SeaMless” reference exhibit, all in ivory and sea blue colors, made for an impressive display of products.
A’skey｜New keyboard with index finger-operated trackball
A’skey booth, which has a strong image of left-right split Japanese keyboards, presented a new product that took visitors by surprise: a keyboard with left-right split trackballs.
Sylva Twin is a low-profile 40% keyboard with a left-right split orthogonal layout and fully wireless connectivity.
We were impressed by the fact that it is equipped with an index finger-operated trackball, which has yet to be adopted in the home-built keyboard community.
GIMMICK KEEB Studio｜Sequel to Keyboard with Folding Mechanism
GIMMICK KEEB Studio was selling a second keyboard named “Loofie,” which is a continuation of the “Dottie Flop Flow” lineage that was sold last year.
The separate-row-staggered 40% layout style of this machine has an ISO enter key, and to our surprise, it can be folded like this.
When unfolded, the surface slopes gently to the left and right, and some people who have actually typed on it have said that it is easy to type on.
| Unique keycap with excellent design
What caught the eye in the design was the 17mm pitch keycap from Kotoriya.
It was already sold out at the time of the interview.
The new Kotori-Shimaenaga (Black) was mounted on Toucan sold by beekeeb, and many people seemed to pick it up because of its colorful looks.
We also saw “Fullgraphic Corne” as a reference exhibit.
This one is considered standard 19.05mm pitch.
Not only the key switches, but even the switch plates are printed, giving a new aspect of customizing the entire keyboard.
KawamuraCorne designer foostan was also up to date.
As a Corne v4 chocolate mini lover, I would love to get one.
Artisan keycap made of metal and different materials
A new frontier of metal artisan keycaps was found in the handmade keycaps sold by marine products-nori.
The latest keycap, created in collaboration with a leather craftsman who is a friend of mine, is a specially treated leather attached to the base of a metal keycap that he polished himself.
The design of the pedestal was also very well thought out, with a circular design “to make it easier to focus on the leather in the center.
Visitors to the booth asked us to make normal profile keycaps as well.
Expectations are high for future new works.
All Japan Miniature Keyboard Federation｜Composite booth with minimalism, woodworking, and transparent resin that shines
At the “All Japan Miniature Keyboard Federation,” a booth jointly exhibited by three associations, there were many items produced by members of each association lined up in a narrow space.
All Japan Miniature Keyboard Federation
- Narrow Pitch Keyboard Association ( takashicompany )
- Wooden Case Association ( Kinoya )
- Keyboard Formative Arts Society ( d.///)
*The “Association” is not authoritative and is only positioned as a generic name.
summary
This is the Kequet 2026 report.
Finished keyboards have the great advantage of being easy to enjoy and easy to purchase.
On the other hand, a keyboard that you have assembled yourself or created through trial and error will carry a different kind of strong attachment.
At this year’s Kequette 2026, the intersection of both in the same venue was very impressive.
Especially this year, the presence of finished keyboards featuring the context and heat of homemade keyboards seemed to be more prevalent than ever.
This can be seen as a positive trend that will allow the idea and experience of self-made keyboards to reach a wider audience.
On the other hand, from the perspective of the homegrown community, there must be an aspect of the culture and values that have been nurtured there that must be carefully observed to ensure that only “easily commercializable elements” are not cut out.
That is why it will become more important in the future not only to incorporate looks and functions, but also how they are passed on, including the philosophy behind them and respect for their makers.
Now that the boundary between home-made and finished products is beginning to overlap a bit, we will continue to follow the changes that are taking place.
- First written on: March 30, 2026
- Last updated: April 4, 2026
- Method of interview: Oral interview by on-site interview
- References/Citations:
- Keyboard Market 2026
- WORKAHOLIC
- Lofree Japan
- DIGIART
- ELECOM Leggero
- LEOPOLD
- Vortex
- Jiffy75
- EK Japan (ELEKIT)
- Snug on
- SeaGlass
- Sylva Twin
- Loofie
- Kotoriya
- nori’s shop
- Narrow Pitch Keyboard Association ( takashicompany )
- Wooden Case Association ( Kinoya )
- Keyboard Formative Arts Society ( d.///)
- Conflicts of Interest: Product Offering: None Monetization Link in this paper: None
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