Japanese Kana input on iPad

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Level 1

8 points

Japanese Kana input on iPad

I am using an iPad pro with a Logitech Create keyboard.

I set up both a US English and Japanese Kana - (with Kana keyboard) languages. In Japanese, the US keyboard setting is using Romaji input, not a direct kana input. I would expect this under the Japanese - Romaji setting. The kana keyboard is mapped slightly different from my US keyboard stickers, namely the ろへむ゜keys. I use these same labels on my Windows based laptop with no issues.

Can anybody advise me as to why Japanese - Kana (US keyboard) is using Romaji input? If I want Romaji, shouldn't I select Japanese - Romaji? Is there some sort of issue with iOS? How can I get a direct Kana input with a US layout keyboard?

I realize that Romaji is the preferred method, but I plain and simple personally prefer to use kana directly.

Thank you for any advice.

iPad, iOS 9.2, null

Posted on Dec 18, 2015 12:18 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Dec 18, 2015 2:07 PM in response to Shorty9482

Shorty9482 wrote:

Ok, well I guess that answers that question then. It's not a major problem. Thank you for your help.

Worth asking Apple to make a Japanese PC layout perhaps, via

http://www.apple.com/feedback

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Answer 2

Shorty9482 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:01 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Thank you for your reply.

Under languages there are 2 options for Japanese. Kana and Romaji. I have selected Japanese - Kana.

Under keyboards : I have tried both US and Kana. US uses Romaji input, not Kana (which makes no sense.... Romaji input should be under the Japanese - Romaji setting....) Kana is mapped according to a physical Japanese keyboard, as one would expect.

Selecting Japanese - Romaji gives me Romaji input accordning to US layout, as expected.

It seems like there is some sort of programming error going on.

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Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:09 PM in response to Shorty9482

Shorty9482 wrote:

And slight off-topic...

I have also deactivated auto-correct, auto-capitalize, and caps-lock. However, these features are still active despite my overrides.

I think that is a known bug

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Answer 4

Shorty9482 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:14 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

IC, appearantly there must be a bug with the keyboard settings as well. It's not a major deal, as all the keys are still there, just not in the same spot as expected. I guess it's something I just have to live with. Hopefully the Apple programmers wil eventually fix these errors (or make a Kana version of the smart keyboard) Thank you for your advice anyways.

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Answer 5

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:21 PM in response to Shorty9482

Shorty9482 wrote:

as all the keys are still there, just not in the same spot as expected.

I guess I misunderstood. You are able to type Kana ok with the hardware keyboard, but in both the Japanse Romaji and Japanese Kana Hardware choices, Kana gives you a different layout than the usual OS X kana layout?

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Answer 6

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:37 PM in response to Shorty9482

Could you indicate which keys are in the wrong place compared to this OS X kana layout?

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Answer 7

Shorty9482 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:41 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

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Answer 8

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:48 PM in response to Shorty9482

Shorty9482 wrote:

` should display ろ, but still shows `

] should display ゜, but shows む

\ should display む, but shows へ

= should display へ, but shows ゜

Those are the correct keys for the Apple kana layout on a US keyboard. I guess you are not using OS X but Windows normally?

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Answer 9

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Dec 18, 2015 2:02 PM in response to Shorty9482

Shorty9482 wrote:

I'm using an iPad pro, iOS 9.2

I previouly used a Dell laptop. I assumed these labels were universal.

Windows and Mac layouts are often slightly different. Apple provides special layouts in some cases for people migrating from pc's, like British-PC, US International PC, Croatian PC, Hebrew PC, Russian PC. But no Japanese PC so far...

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Answer 10

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Dec 18, 2015 2:05 PM in response to Shorty9482

Shorty9482 wrote:

Looking at the Magic keyboard... Even it doesn't seem to match your image.

I see that now. The Magic keyboard is the JIS type with the extra keys all over for special functions. The layout used by apple for an ordinary ANSI (US) or ISO (European) keyboard is different and like the one in my graphic.

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Answer 11

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,154 points

Dec 18, 2015 12:49 PM in response to Shorty9482

When you use a Hardware keyboard, you have to select a layout in the Hardware section of settings > general > keyboards > japanese. See if there is a Kana option there.

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