Using the Japanese keyboard

Question

Using the Japanese keyboard

I just got a new iPod touch for my birthday and all is well except for one small issue: I can't seem to figure out how to do Japanese. 😟 When I go to the Japanese keyboard I see only and handful of the kana available. Pressing and holding the kana available on the screen lets me choose other kana—the setup is rather clever. BUT! I still find myself unable to access about half of the syllabary and with no way to access katakana at all.

I am also given to understand that there is a means of inputting kanji by drawing them on the screen with my finger, but I'll be darned if I can see how that's doable.

Is there anyone out there who can point me at the right FAQ to get started with Japanese text entry on the iPod? I've searched Apple's site but I don't see anything immediately obvious. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 🙂

Thanks!

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.2), 320gb/4gb

Posted on Mar 29, 2010 11:35 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,210 points

Mar 30, 2010 6:26 AM in response to Carla Anderson

But I still can't figure out where the kanji drawing thing is,

It doesn't exist. If you read the tech specs, you will see that handwriting input in only for Chinese so far.

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html

nor how to switch to katakana.

Aren't katakana included in the character selection menu that comes up when you press a hiragana key (when you hit the arrow at the right)?

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Answer 2

Mar 29, 2010 11:57 PM in response to Carla Anderson

Not sure why I can't edit my question. I see the kana now. I don't know why I couldn't see them all before—probably the universe playing tricks on me or some such thing (couldn't POSSIBLY be me being unobservant, could it? Naaaah!).

But I still can't figure out where the kanji drawing thing is, nor how to switch to katakana.

Thanks for any help!

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Answer 3

Mar 30, 2010 8:10 AM in response to Carla Anderson

It would be possible to get kanji characters by using the QWERTY Japanese keyboard and entering the romaji form of the desired character. A list of matching words shuld come up where you can select whichever kanji you're looking for.

Handwriting is only possible with Chinese input.

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Answer 4

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,210 points

Mar 30, 2010 8:24 AM in response to Michi Kobayashi

It would be possible to get kanji characters by using the QWERTY Japanese keyboard and entering the romaji form of the desired character. A list of matching words shuld come up where you can select whichever kanji you're looking for.

But there is no need to use the QWERTY keyboard to get kanji, is there? It is just as easy to get them using the Kana keyboard if you know direct kana input.

The actual question is whether you can change the keys on the kana keyboard from hiragana to katakana, and I think the answer is probably "no", you have to get katakana from the list that comes up.

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