Japanese input method
Japanese input methods are the methods used to input Japanese characters on a computer. There are two main methods of inputting Japanese on computers. One is via a romanized version of Japanese called rōmaji (literally "Roman letters"), and the other is via keyboard keys corresponding to the Japanese kana.
Japanese keyboards
Japanese keyboards have both kana and roman letters indicated. The roman letters are in the usual qwerty layout, with numbers above them. Most of the symbols are the same as on English-language keyboards, although some symbols are located in other places.
Input keys
Since Japanese keyboards require switching between roman and kana modes, and also conversion between kana and kanji, there are several special keys on the keyboard.
On the top right, there is a hankaku/zenkaku/kanji conversion button. Normally, this switches between roman output and kana/kanji output.
On the bottom, on the left of the space bar, there is a muhenkan button. This tells the computer not to convert the kana into kanji. On the right of the space bar, there is a henkan button. This tells the computer to convert the kana into kanji. The space bar has the same function.