back to topStep 1:
Regional and Language Option
Go to the Regional and Language Options in
the Control Panel
back to topStep 2:
Install files for East Asian languages
There are 3 tabs on the top of the page
that will open up in the "Regional and Language Options" area.
Click on the
one labeled "Languages".
Click the checkbox on for "Install files for
East Asian languages".
This will NOT require your Windows XP disk, but it
will take a few minutes depending on your computer's specs.
After these files have installed click the "Details"
button and move to Step 3 explained on this page.
back to topStep 3: Add a Japanese Keyboard
After clicking the "Details" button on the
windows above the following screen will display.
Click the "Add" button to
add Japanese input capability to your Windows XP system.
Scroll down and
select "Japanese".
If you do not see Japanese as an option make sure you
completed Step 2 on this page.
You DO NOT have
to set your default input language to Japanese.
It is recommended that you
keep default input language as English.
After you add a Japanese keyboard the window should look like the graphic below.
| 1.
Click "Add". |
2. Choose Japanese input language and keyboard layout/IME. |
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back to topStep 4 (optional): Running Japanese Programs on Windows
XP
Now that you have completed Steps 1-3 you
can go back to the "Regional and Language Options".
From here click the
3rd tab on the top labeled "Advanced".
This tab is the MOST IMPORTANT tab if you would like 100%
Japanese support in all programs installed
and or wish to install Japanese
programs on your computer.
All you need to do is select "Japanese" in the first and
only drop down list on this page.
You DO NOT have to do anything in the
"Code page conversion tables".
After selecting "Japanese" click OK and
then close out all other windows. Now proceed to the final step.
back to topStep 5: Changing to Japanese Type Mode
Now your computer can display and type
Japanese in all programs installed.
Open up Office Word, Word Pad, Note Pad
to test typing in Japanese.
With your cursor placed on a new document
somewhere on your screen you will notice a Language
Bar.
Click the "EN English" and then select
"JP Japanese (Japan)". This will change the Language Bar's appearance.
back to topStep 6: Changing the Language
Bar to display in English
If you can't read Japanese you will
want to change the language bar display to English. Click on
then the 
option.
back to topStep 6B: Changing the Language
Bar to display in English
This window
will be ALL Japanese, but don't worry because the next time you see this window
it will be in English.
There is a language selection menu in the 
section. Choose 
and then click
"OK".
After you click okay you will see that the Language Bar is now displaying in
English, if you click "Tools"
then "Properties" you can now see the IME
properties in English.
back to topStep
7:
Minimizing the Language Bar
You do not need the language bar on the screen at all times
to type Japanese.
In step 10 you will learn some very handy shortcuts that
allows you to keep the Language Bar hidden.
To minimize the language bar right click on the far left portion of the language
bar and click "Minimize".
This will put the Language Bar near the clock in the
Windows 7 task bar.
From there you can easily change your input language.
back to topStep
8:
Typing
in Japanese
In any text editor or Office application you can now type
Japanese.
Make sure that you have selected Japanese in the Language Bar.
back to topStep 8B:
Typing
in Japanese
When you first enter Japanese mode your computer might still
be in "Half-width Alphanumeric" mode,
which is the long way to say "English
typing mode". Change this to "Hiragana".
Even though you are choosing Hiragana, you will type Japanese using English
letters.
This is where the fun begins.
back to topStep
8C:
Typing
in Japanese with English letters
Once you are in the correct input mode in your document,
let's type a practice word.
Type "kanji". You will notice right away that once you type "ka" Hiragana
replaces it.
|
1. Begin typing the word "kanji". |
2. Hiragana will display. |
3. Full Hiragana word displayed. |
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back to topStep 8D:
Converting Hiragana into Kanji
If you are okay with this "Hiragana" only word you can
simply hit "enter" to accept.
Hit the space bar 1 time to display the most common Kanji for the underlined
hiragana.
Every time you hit the space bar a different selection will display. Once you
find the one you like hit "enter".
NOTE: You can also type the
number next to the selection to choose it.
|
4. Hit the space bar once for most common kanji.
|
5. Hit space bar again for more choices.
|
6. Hover mouse over options to get descriptions (Japanese only)
|
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 |
back to topStep
8E:
Typing full sentences in Japanese
You do not have to choose kanji word by word when typing
Japanese.
IME is very smart when it comes to choosing the correct Kanji for your
sentence.
Contrary to popular belief almost all Japanese people use this method
to type Japanese.
|
1. Type a full sentence without hitting space. |
2. Hit the space bar once for most common selections. |
3. Hit the space bar to cycle through each word in the
sentence. |
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 |
 |
back to topStep
9:
Japanese Language Bar shortcuts
A big pet peeve of mine is watching people change the
language bar settings by manually clicking on them.
It's time consuming if you
are switching back and forth a lot.
You can easily switch language options and even input methods with the following
short cuts.
1. Change language on the fly.
ALT + SHIFT
NOTE: Japanese mode default
setting is normally "half width alpha numeric".
You can change this in the
language bar properties. OR you can quickly switch to hiragana mode with the
shortcut below.
2. Change input type (Hiragana, Alpha-numeric)
ALT + ~
NOTE: The '~' key is on the
left side of the 1 key.
This is handy if you are already in Japanese input mode and want to switch back
and forth between typing English and Japanese.
3. Quick conversion
After typing a word, before you hit enter you can force it into different
versions using the function keys.
F7 - Full width katakana
F8 - Half width katakana
F9 - Full width alpha numeric
F10 - Half width alpha numeric (standard English text)
HAVE FUN TYPING JAPANESE!
