Install from Language Settings
To install the Japanese IME (Input Method Editor) on a Windows computer, follow these steps:
Open Language Settings:
Press Win + I
to open the Windows Settings.
Go to "Time & Language."
Language:
In the left sidebar, click on "Language."
Under the "Preferred languages" section, click on "Add a language."
Add a Language:
Search for "Japanese" or scroll down to find it in the list.
Click on "Japanese" and then click the "Next" button.
Language Options:
You'll see language options. Check the box next to "Japanese (Japan)" and any other related options you want, like "Handwriting" or "Speech."
Click the "Install" button.
IME Settings:
Once Japanese is installed, click on it in the "Preferred languages" list.
Click on "Options."
Add a Keyboard:
Under "Keyboards," click the "Add a keyboard" button.
Select "Japanese."
Japanese Keyboard Options:
Click on the added "Japanese" keyboard.
Choose the keyboard layout you prefer. "Microsoft IME" is the default and widely used.
You can also set other preferences like input method and keyboard shortcuts.
Switch Input Methods:
Now, you can switch between input methods using the language bar on your taskbar or by pressing Alt + Shift
.
To start typing in Japanese, select the Japanese IME from the language bar or use the keyboard shortcut.
Start Typing in Japanese:
When the Japanese IME is active, you'll see a small "A" icon on the taskbar indicating the language mode.
Start typing using Roman letters. As you type, the IME will offer suggestions for Japanese characters.
Switch Back to English:
To switch back to English or your default language, use the language bar or press Alt + Shift
again.
From Software Center (SCCM Users)
Clear Cache from ConfigMgr
Sometimes, when you try to install the Japanese Language Package from Software Center, it will fail and not be able to install. In that case, follow the below steps and try again:
Open Configuration Manager Properties from Control Panel.
Select the Cache tab.
Click the Delete Files button.
Select the Delete persisted cache content, if desired.
Click the Yes button.
Delete SoftwareDistribution Folder
The "SoftwareDistribution" folder on a Windows computer is related to Windows Update. If you're having issues with Windows Update or need to clear this folder, follow these steps:
Stop Windows Update Services:
Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by searching for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-clicking on "Command Prompt," and selecting "Run as administrator."
- Stop the Windows Update services by typing the following commands one by one and pressing Enter after each:
net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver
Rename SoftwareDistribution Folder:
Open File Explorer.
Navigate to C:\Windows
.
Locate the "SoftwareDistribution" folder and rename it. You can add "_old" to the end of the folder name, for example, "SoftwareDistribution_old".
Start Windows Update Services:
Go back to the Command Prompt that you opened as an administrator.
- Start the Windows Update services by typing the following commands one by one and pressing Enter after each:
net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
Check for Windows Updates:
Open the Windows Settings by pressing Win + I
.
Go to "Update & Security" > "Windows Update."
Click on "Check for updates" to start the update process. Windows will recreate the SoftwareDistribution folder.
After the recreation of the SoftwareDistribution folder delete the "SoftwareDistribution_old".
Delete Files from “Temp” & “%Temp%”
To delete files from “C:\Windows\Temp”
Press Win + R
to open the Run dialog.
Type %Temp%
and press Enter. This will open the Temp folder.
Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them (Shift + Delete). Some files might be in use and cannot be deleted.
To delete files from “C:\Users<Username>\AppData\Local\Temp”
Press Win + R
to open the Run dialog.
Type Temp
and press Enter. This will open the Temp folder.
Select all files (Ctrl + A) and delete them (Shift + Delete). Some files might be in use and cannot be deleted.
Manual Installation (Thanks to @Monsieur Man )
First, remove Japanese language support on your computer and restart Windows.
After restart, click the Start button, type Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator. Enter the admin password at the UAC (user access control) prompt if you are not logged in using an admin account. If your Windows login is an admin account, click Yes to proceed.
At the prompt, type: Dism /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Language.Basic~~~ja-JP~0.0.1.0
You should see at the prompt an installation update showing the percentage of the installation. It can take a while depending on your Internet connection so be patient.
Close the Command Prompt window when complete.
Restart your computer.
After login, add Japanese language support as you did before in the first section.