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

118,112 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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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

118,112 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:05 PM in response to Shorty9482

You need to tap on Japanese Kana or Japanese Romaji to get the list of Hardware layouts.

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Answer 4

Shorty9482 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:06 PM in response to Shorty9482

And slight off-topic...

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

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Answer 5

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,112 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 6

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 7

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,112 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 8

Shorty9482 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:30 PM in response to Tom Gewecke

Right... I'm trying to set Kana input to a US keyboard, but I keep getting Romaji.

There is a completely different setting for Romaji input.

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Answer 9

Shorty9482 Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 18, 2015 1:36 PM in response to Shorty9482

` should display ろ, but still shows `

] should display ゜, but shows む

\ should display む, but shows へ

= should display へ, but shows ゜

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Answer 10

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,112 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 11

Shorty9482 Author

Level 1

8 points

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

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Answer 12

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,112 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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