Steps for Windows

1. Open Settings.
2. In the left menu, click on "Language & Region" or "Language" (depending on your Windows version).
3. Add Japanese as a language.
- Under the "Preferred languages" section, click "Add a language".
- In the search bar, type Japanese.
- Select Japanese from the list and click "Next".
4. Install the Language Pack
- On the next screen, ensure the "Install language pack" checkbox is selected.
- For advanced features like handwriting recognition or text-to-speech, ensure those options are checked as well.
- Click "Install" to begin downloading the Japanese language pack.
- Wait for the installation to complete (it may take a few minutes, depending on your internet speed).
5. Set Japanese as an Input Method
- After installation, you will see "Japanese" under the "Preferred languages" section.
- To make it an input method, click "Options" next to Japanese.
- Ensure Microsoft IME is listed under Keyboards. If not, click "Add a keyboard" and select Microsoft IME.
6. Switch Input Language
- Keyboard shortcut: Press Windows + Space or Alt + Shift to toggle languages.
- Taskbar: Click on the language icon (e.g., "ENG") in the bottom-right corner and select Japanese – Microsoft IME.
7. Use Hiragana, Katakana, or Kanji
- After switching to Japanese, the default input mode is Hiragana. You can change the input mode by:
1. Pressing Ctrl + Caps Lock (to toggle Hiragana).
2. Pressing Alt + Caps Lock (to toggle Katakana).
3. Typing normally to trigger Kanji suggestions.
- To access input mode settings, right-click on the A/あ icon in the taskbar when Japanese IME is active.

Steps for MacOS

1. Open System Settings.
2. Access Keyboard Settings
- In the System Settings/Preferences window, find and click Keyboard.
- Click on the Input Sources tab.
3. Add Japanese Keyboard
- In the Input Sources tab, click the "+" button at the bottom-left corner of the list.
- Scroll through the list or type Japanese in the search bar.
- Select Japanese and choose:
1. Hiragana: For basic Japanese input with suggestions for Kanji.
2. Katakana: For full Katakana input.
3. Romaji: For typing using Roman letters (will convert to Japanese).
- Click "Add".
4. Switch Input Language
- Keyboard shortcut: Press Control + Space or Command + Space (depending on your settings).
- Menu bar: Click the input menu icon (usually a flag or "A") in the top-right corner and select Japanese
5. Use Japanese Input Modes
- When Japanese is selected:
1. The default mode is Hiragana.
2. To toggle between Hiragana and Katakana, use the Globe key or input settings.
- Type normally in Hiragana, and macOS will suggest Kanji or Katakana as needed.
6. Advanced Preferences
- Open System Settings > Keyboard > Input Sources.
- Click on Japanese and configure options like text prediction and shortcuts.