{"id":2860,"date":"2026-01-26T19:26:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T10:26:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/?p=2860"},"modified":"2026-04-01T13:46:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T04:46:00","slug":"configuring-japanese-text-input-in-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2026\/01\/26\/configuring-japanese-text-input-in-linux\/","title":{"rendered":"Configuring Japanese text input in Zorin OS Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In order to configure your Linux computer to input Japanese text, you will need two programs: Fcitx5 and Mozc. Fcitx5 is the program which enables non-Roman language input and Mozc is what Fcitx5 uses to input Japanese. After installing these programs through either the software installer or package installer, you should see a keyboard icon appear on your panel. If not, a reboot may be required. I’m going to show you how to do this in Zorin OS. From my experience, this is pretty much the same in both Mint and Raspberry OS, so I imagine it’s the same for other Linux distributions. Don’t worry about the Fcitx5 Migration Wizard. That’s only for if you are migrating from version 4 to version 5. After installing these programs, this is what my Software installer shows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You will need to configure Fcitx5. Click on the keyboard icon (or it could be the letter A?) and select “Input method settings.” This is generally what you should see with the first tab, “Input Method”:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For input method, you will need to have “Keyboard” (here mine is a Japanese keyboard) as well as Mozc. Toggling between these two is what you need to do next. Click on the “Global Options” tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here you can change the toggle input method. You can make it CTRL + ~ or CTRL + (spacebar). What you do is click the input method and then press the sequence you wish to use. Since a Japanese keyboard already has a button for this (hankaku\/zenkaku), I made this available. You can always change the input method by clicking on the orange \u3042 icon (Mozc) and then select “Mozc settings” (to select between full katakana, half katakana, and so on).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at the Mozc Settings. In Zorin, it’s under System Tools from your main menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Make sure that the input method is set to Romaji. This means that you will press the S key and then the A key to give you \u3055 and so on. Otherwise, it’ll think you have a Japanese style keyboard and I don’t think even Japanese people know how to use a Japanese keyboard. Keymap style should be set to “MS-IME.” So you really don’t have to change anything here. However, through the Mozc Settings you can add certain words to dictionaries and save them. This is useful for more obscure kanji readings for proper names and such. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In order to configure your Linux computer to input Japanese text, you will need two programs: Fcitx5 and Mozc. Fcitx5 is the program which enables non-Roman language input and Mozc is what Fcitx5 uses to input Japanese. After installing these programs through either the software installer or package installer, you should see a keyboard icon … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Configuring Japanese text input in Zorin OS Linux”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[362,42,336],"class_list":["post-2860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tech","tag-japanese","tag-linux","tag-zorin-os"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2987,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2026\/04\/01\/configuring-japanese-text-input-in-bazzite-linux\/","url_meta":{"origin":2860,"position":0},"title":"Configuring Japanese text input in Bazzite Linux","date":"2026-04-01","format":false,"excerpt":"I've had a difficult time setting up Japanese language input in Bazzite. I've done this with Ubuntu, Mint, Raspberry OS, and Zorin. Bazzite is slightly different. With Raspberry OS, you go into the Package Manager and add Fcitx5 and Mozc. In Mint and Zorin, these are separate Flatpaks you'd install\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "tech"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/mozc-install.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2625,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2025\/10\/26\/trying-out-zorin-os-for-the-first-time-on-my-old-laptop\/","url_meta":{"origin":2860,"position":1},"title":"Trying out Zorin OS for the first time on my old laptop","date":"2025-10-26","format":false,"excerpt":"This is the old Fujitsu laptop I received from my sister-in-law last Christmas. I installed Mint Mate on it, but what I should have done is install Mint XFCE instead because it's tailored towards operating on older hardware more efficiently. All along, I knew I should have installed Mint XFCE\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "tech"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_2049.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2718,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2025\/11\/28\/november-2025-linux-desktop-wallpapers\/","url_meta":{"origin":2860,"position":2},"title":"November 2025 Linux desktop wallpapers","date":"2025-11-28","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are the desktops to all three of my Linux computers. I've switched from Shantae back to Nadia. First up is my Mint Mate desktop, my main computer. I just recently learned how to set the terminal transparency. Neat effect! Zorin OS on my laptop. I'm still getting used to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "anime\/manga"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-desktop-Mint.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2614,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2025\/10\/23\/switch-to-linux\/","url_meta":{"origin":2860,"position":3},"title":"SWITCH TO LINUX!","date":"2025-10-23","format":false,"excerpt":"I implore anyone who sees this message to ditch the cycle of abuse and liberate yourself. Sticking with Windows is like a battered wife who refuses to leave her abusive husband. (Or a Star Wars fan at this point.) I made the switch over 5 1\/2 years ago and I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "tech"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Linux-Tux.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1957,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2024\/12\/31\/i-got-a-new-hand-me-down-laptop-linux-mint-macross-desktop-wallpaper\/","url_meta":{"origin":2860,"position":4},"title":"I got a new hand-me-down laptop! Linux Mint Macross desktop wallpaper","date":"2024-12-31","format":false,"excerpt":"While staying at the in-laws' place, I upgraded my mom-in-law's Fujitsu laptop. I had set her up with Mint Cinnamon nearly 5 years ago and she needed a major update. Going from version 19 to 22, she remarked how nearly identical the versions are, unlike Microsoft where they reinvent the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "anime\/manga"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Desktop-wallpaper-laptop-2024-12.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2933,"url":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/2026\/03\/07\/i-installed-bazzite-linux-on-a-dell-optiplex-3000-and-made-it-a-steam-machine\/","url_meta":{"origin":2860,"position":5},"title":"I installed Bazzite Linux on a Dell Optiplex 3000 and made it a Steam machine","date":"2026-03-07","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's what my new Bazzite desktop looks like, with the girls from Bubblegum Crisis. My friend Lou is visiting Japan and gave me a Dell Optiplex mini computer (Intel Core i5) he rescued from the trash at his work after his company was bought out by a smaller competitor of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "tech"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/new-Bazzite-desktop-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2860"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2986,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2860\/revisions\/2986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevethefish.net\/stuff\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}