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DarsVaeda Author

Level 1

8 points

Japanese kana keyboard documentation

I got a MacBook pro with Japanese Kana keyboard and would like to know how to type on this thing.

I mean type in Japanese.

But hardly anything works. I don't know how to type smallcase characters in Hiragana.

When I type in Katakana instead all characters come out as smallcase for some weird reason.

I also don't know how to "reach" the 4th character on a 4-character key. I tried all combinations of shift and option and command and control and ... but doesn't work.

So I'm desperately searching for the documentation for that thing. Without luck so far.

Can be in Japanese if it has to :/

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.0

Posted on Oct 2, 2023 5:39 AM

Top-ranking reply

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,756 points

Posted on Oct 2, 2023 7:41 AM

Apple's instructions are at

Japanese Input Method User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Normally the 3rd and 4th characters on a key are option and option shift. Please give specific example of one you cannot make.

Normally small hiragana is made by typing an x before it. Does that work for you?

Let us know of any specific problems you still have.

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Japanese kana keyboard documentation

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