How to Set Up a Japanese Keyboard on Windows 10
To start Windows 10 with a Japanese keyboard, click on the Start button and select Control Panel. Click on Change keyboards or other input methods in Clock, Language, and Region. Click on Change keyboards in the Region and Language dialog box.
Typing Special Characters and Accents in Japanese
To type "ō," for example, press CTRL, SHIFT, and ^ to type "ô," then release and type "o." For adding language accent marks in Word, quickly tap on the keyboard. Press æ, æ CTRL+SHIFT+&, an or A oe, Œ CTRL+SHIFT+&, o or O ç, Ç CTRL+, (COMMA), c or C ð, ð CTRL+’ (APOSTROPHE), d or D to insert.
Understanding Japanese Sentence Structure
In Japanese, sentences mostly follow the Subject-Object-Verb pattern, with the subject at the beginning and the verb at the end. For instance, マッシモはラーメンを楽しんでいます. Massimo enjoys ramen. Ramen is being eaten by Massimo.
Writing Names and Transliterations in Japanese
To write the name Fabio in Japanese, or to know how Rossella is pronounced in Japanese, use characters in Katakana syllables as follows:
- FABIO ファビョ fa-byo
- FABRIZIO ファブリジョ fa-bu-ri-zyo
- FEDERICA フェデリカ fe-de-ri-ka
- FEDERICO フェデリコ fe-de-ri-ko
…and other names.
Traditional vs. Modern Japanese Writing
Traditionally, Japanese writing goes from right to left or top to bottom. Nowadays, writing from left to right is also acceptable in certain cases, particularly in contemporary publications.