How to change Language for non-Unicode programs in Windows 8

Solution 1:

Windows 7's Region and Language has been split up in Windows 8 to separate Region and Language Control Panel applets.

1. Go to Control Panel (the desktop version)

2. Clock, Language, and Region

3. Region
   

4. Click on the Administrative tab on the top

5. Under Language for non-Unicode programs, select the button Change system locale, then select Japanese or whichever Asian display language you would like

6. Restart your computer

The Japanese characters should display fine now.

Windows 7 Region and Language Applet

Windows 8 Language Applet

Solution 2:

Also there are tools to change locale for a single application:

1. Locale Emulator.

2. Ntleas.

3. Micosoft AppLocale Wizard, which is not updated for a decade, and even not hosted for a few years so no one can find a copy of it, but it seems still some people utilize it through compatibility troubleshooter, or through this more complex approach.