Japanese default input mode

I'm running Ubuntu 18.04 on my PC, I use Mozc to input Japanese. Its default input mode is direct input(input English), I need to change it to hirakana everytime after restarting PC. Can I make hirakana to default?

Solution 1:

Many Japanese users say that ibus-mozc has many bugs or uncomfortable features. So I think, until the bug-fix comes you can use other InputMethodEngine for a while.

sudo apt install fcitx-mozc

or

sudo apt install uim-mozc

After install open System preference > Language

Please change this into your choice iBus/fcitx/uim and restart computer or your session.

$ vim src/mozc/src/unix/ibus/property_handler.cc

...
// Some users expect that Mozc is turned off by default on IBus 1.5.0 and later.
// https://code.google.com/p/mozc/issues/detail?id=201
// On IBus 1.4.x, IBus expects that an IME should always be turned on and
// IME on/off keys are handled by IBus itself rather than each IME.
#if IBUS_CHECK_VERSION(1, 5, 0)
const bool kActivatedOnLaunch = true; //false;
#else
const bool kActivatedOnLaunch = true;
#endif  // IBus>=1.5.0
...

Then build and install this. This information is provided from A wise programmer's blog "karelie" and Glasse-age

First activate the Mozc then, click on Mozc Icon on the menu bar.
Mozc Tool > Configuration Tools.

Like this.

The Mozc Settings Window should appear and click on the Customize button.

When you click on the Command column, you can select actions for a hotkey, choose set input mode to Hiragana. Then you can assign your favourite hotkey, this example is for the Hiragana key that most of US keyboard layout doesn't have it. You may need to restart your computer after this setting.

Note: I think the window and the menu bar look different on 18.04 but it's essentially the same, in my opinion and I hope this helps or gives you a hint.

Solution 2:

solution 1: recompile mozc with hiragana

A discussion can be found in Is there a way to set hiragana as default? and Enhancement Request: making initial mode customizable for ibus-mozc:

Basically, you will need:

...is to replace const bool kActivatedOnLaunch = false; with const bool kActivatedOnLaunch = true; in src/unix/ibus/property_handler.cc then rebuild the ibus-mozc binary.

To rebuild ibus-mozc:

1. Install the requirements to rebuild mozc

sudo apt install build-essential devscripts -y
sudo apt build-dep ibus-mozc -y
apt source ibus-mozc

2. cd ~
3. edit ./mozc*/src/unix/ibus/property_handler.cc, replacing:
   • before: const bool kActivatedOnLaunch = false;
   • after: const bool kActivatedOnLaunch = true;
4. edit ./mozc*/src/protocol/commands.proto, replacing:
   • before:

     enum CompositionMode {
     DIRECT = 0;
     HIRAGANA = 1;
     

   • after:

     enum CompositionMode {
     DIRECT = 1;
     HIRAGANA = 0;
     

5. building

   cd mozc*
   dpkg-buildpackage -us -uc -b
   

6. install the new mozc build: sudo apt install ibus-mozc*.deb
7. restart

solution 2: use the mozc default shortcuts to switch between japanese modes

The mozc's keys/shortcuts can be found from ibuz-mozc menu. You can read it from the ibus-mozc source-code too.

To access the ibus-mozc configurations:

1. Click on Gnome Status menu (Gnome's top-left bar) > IBus icon menu (i.e. keyboard/input language selector) > Select Japanese Mozc input method.
2. Again, click on Gnome Status Menu > IBuz > tools > Properties > Mozc Settings window.
3. From Keymap style section > click on customize button (first one).

So, the keys that binding the japanese mode switchers (i.e. hiragana, katakana, half-with etc) in a japanese JIS keyboard are bellow in table 1:

...
Composition Eisu    ToggleAlphanumericMode
Conversion  Eisu    ToggleAlphanumericMode
DirectInput Eisu    IMEOn
Precomposition  Eisu    ToggleAlphanumericMode
...
Composition Hankaku/Zenkaku IMEOff
Conversion  Hankaku/Zenkaku IMEOff
DirectInput Hankaku/Zenkaku IMEOn
Precomposition  Hankaku/Zenkaku IMEOff
...
Composition Muhenkan    SwitchKanaType
Conversion  Muhenkan    SwitchKanaType
Precomposition  Muhenkan    InputModeSwitchKanaType
...

And consider these keys too, in table 2. Mainly if you have a real non-japanese keybard. Look the Ctrl and F# switcher keys.

...
DirectInput F13 IMEOn
...
Composition Ctrl i  ConvertToFullKatakana
Conversion  Ctrl i  ConvertToFullKatakana
...
Composition Ctrl o  ConvertToHalfWidth
Conversion  Ctrl o  ConvertToHalfWidth
Composition Ctrl p  ConvertToFullAlphanumeric
Conversion  Ctrl p  ConvertToFullAlphanumeric
...
Composition Ctrl t  ConvertToHalfAlphanumeric
Conversion  Ctrl t  ConvertToHalfAlphanumeric
Composition Ctrl u  ConvertToHiragana
Conversion  Ctrl u  ConvertToHiragana
...
Composition F10 ConvertToHalfAlphanumeric
Conversion  F10 ConvertToHalfAlphanumeric
DirectInput F13 IMEOn
Composition F2  ConvertWithoutHistory
Composition F6  ConvertToHiragana
Conversion  F6  ConvertToHiragana
Composition F7  ConvertToFullKatakana
Conversion  F7  ConvertToFullKatakana
Composition F8  ConvertToHalfWidth
Conversion  F8  ConvertToHalfWidth
Composition F9  ConvertToFullAlphanumeric
Conversion  F9  ConvertToFullAlphanumeric
...
Composition Henkan  Convert
Conversion  Henkan  ConvertNext
DirectInput Henkan  Reconvert
Precomposition  Henkan  Reconvert
...
Composition Hiragana    InputModeHiragana
Conversion  Hiragana    InputModeHiragana
DirectInput Hiragana    IMEOn
Precomposition  Hiragana    InputModeHiragana
...
Composition Katakana    InputModeFullKatakana
Conversion  Katakana    InputModeFullKatakana
DirectInput Katakana    IMEOn
Precomposition  Katakana    InputModeFullKatakana
...
Composition Shift Muhenkan  ConvertToFullAlphanumeric
Conversion  Shift Muhenkan  ConvertToFullAlphanumeric
Precomposition  Shift Muhenkan  ToggleAlphanumericMode
...
Composition Kanji   IMEOff
Composition OFF IMEOff
Composition ON  IMEOn
Conversion  Kanji   IMEOff
Conversion  OFF IMEOff
Conversion  ON  IMEOn
DirectInput Kanji   IMEOn
DirectInput ON  IMEOn
Precomposition  ASCII   InsertCharacter
Precomposition  Kanji   IMEOff
Precomposition  OFF IMEOff
Precomposition  ON  IMEOn
...

solution 3: bind your own shortcut keys

From the solution 2, you can insert new entries on that table. The idea is replicate the table 1, but changing the key/shortcut combinations.

For example, my suggestions:

...
Composition Ctrl j  IMEOff
Conversion  Ctrl j  IMEOff
DirectInput Ctrl j  IMEOn
Precomposition  Ctrl j  IMEOff
Composition Ctrl b  SwitchKanaType
Conversion  Ctrl b  SwitchKanaType
Composition Ctrl y  ToggleAlphanumericMode
Conversion  Ctrl y  ToggleAlphanumericMode
DirectInput Ctrl y  IMEOn
Precomposition  Ctrl y  ToggleAlphanumericMode
...

If you are interested, you can read MOZC's romaji-hiragana conversion table too.

Solution 4: click on Ibus icon from Gnome

Click on Gnome Status Menu > IBus > Input Mode > select your desired input mode.

Solution 1 resolves your question, and the others solutions are all the possible ways to switch (and to set hiragana).