In order to process Japanese language documents on your computer, you need either a
Japanese language operating system or a Japanese language extension that adds Japanese
language capabilities to your English language operating system. PC users also have the
option of working with a self-contained Japanese word processor such as JWP and doing a
lot of cutting and pasting. If you plan to send and receive email over the Internet and
you don't have a Japanese email client, then you may also need a utility for converting
Japanese language text to JIS encoding, which is
standard on the Internet.
If you have a Macintosh running System 7.1 or later, pick up the Japanese Language Kit. This will give you a variety
of options and flexibility for displaying, inputting, and printing Japanese language
documents. If you have an English language version of Netscape
Navigator, you will be able to read Japanese web pages using the Japanese Language
Kit.
If you just want to view Japanese web pages and you have a PC, then download
Microsoft's Internet Explorer. There is a free
add on that allows users to view Japanese web pages.
If you have a PC and you would like to be able to read and write Japanese files and
email, then download JWP.
If you have a PC and you are looking for a fairly flexible Japanese language extension,
check out UnionWay DBM.
If you have a PC and you plan on frequently working with Japanese language documents
and would also like to be able run some Japanese applications, then a Japanese operating
system such as Windows95-J is the best option.
- Windows95-J
- This is the Japanese version of Windows95. All of the menus are in Japanese. It comes
with a couple of Japanese true type fonts and the usual Windows applets. There are a few
different methods for setting up multi-boot configurations allowing both the English and
Japanese versions to be run on the same computer. One program that takes some of the
hassle out of setting up a multi-boot configurations is V
Communications' System Commander.
- DOS/V and Windows-J
- These are the Japanese versions of DOS and Windows 3.1. This arrangement is convenient
because both the English and Japanese versions of Windows 3.1 can be installed over DOS/V.
With this arrangement you can switch between the two versions of Windows without
rebooting.
- KanjiKit for Windows
- This is a commercial package from Pacific Software
Publishing that allows you to input, display, and print Japanese with many Windows
applications. It comes with manuals in English and Japanese. A demo version is available.
- NJWin Multilingual Support System
- This shareware extension, available from Hongbo Data
Systems is available for Windows95 and WindowsNT. There is both a multilingual
(Chinese/Japanese/Korean) version and a Japanese version. This program allows users to
display Japanese using standard web browsers and email clients. It doesn't allow Japanese
language inputting. The registration fee can also be applied towards the Hongbo Data
Systems' NJStar Japanese word processor.
- TwinBridge Japanese Partner
- TwinBridge Japanese Partner is available for Windows95, Windows 3.1, and OS/2. It allows
Japanese language input, display, and printing within most English language applications
for Windows. A demo version is available. Take a look at TwinBridge's web site for further information.
TwinBridge has a few limitations, but for the most part it is a convenient Japanese
language extension.
- UnionWay DBM
- UnionWay DBM is available for Windows95, WindowsNT, and Windows 3.1. There is a
multilingual (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) version as well as a Japanese only version.
There is also a demo/shareware version. Take a look at UnionWay's
web site for more information.
- JWP
- This is a freeware Japanese word processor produced by Stephen Chung. Among other
things, it can actually be used to read and write Japanese email by cutting and pasting
text to and from an email client such as Eudora. Although it has quite a few limitations,
it can read Japanese language documents encoded in any of the major standards (see below).
The EDICT freeware dictionary managed by Jim Breen is usually included with JWP. JWP can
be downloaded from ftp.cc.monash.edu.au/pub/nihongo/.
- MOKE
- MOKE is a shareware text editor for DOS that can also run under a DOS window in
Windows95. It is somewhat similar to the UNIX editor, vi. It isn't easy to use at first,
but can be quite convenient for working with Japanese text files.
- NJStar Japanese Word Processor
- This is the Japanese language version of a Chinese word processor developed by Ni
Hongbo. It is entirely self-contained and thus doesn't require a Japanese operating
system. It is available from Hongbo Data Systems.
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft provides free add ons for Internet Explorer that allow users to view Japanese
web pages. Currently, Internet Explorer is free. This is a simple and convenient way to
view Japanese web pages, but you need to be running Windows95.
- Microsoft Internet
Explorer for Windows 95 Download
Once you have downloaded and installed the browser, go to the add-ons page, look for
multilingual support, and download the appropriate add-on.
-
- Netscape Navigator
- The English language versions of Netscape Navigator can display Japanese web pages if
used with either a Japanese operating system or a Japanese language extension. The user
needs to set up Japanese language "options" under "preferences" and in
most cases select Japanese under "document encoding." Japanese (Auto-detect) is
often the best option.
- KanjiTalk
- KanjiTalk is the Japanese version of the Macintosh operating system. All of the menus
are in Japanese.
- Japanese Language Kit
- The Japanese Language Kit is available from Apple as an extension to System 7.1 or
later. This extension allows users to input, display, and print Japanese with many
Macintosh applications (but not all). The Japanese Language Kit is based on Apple
Computer's operating system extension, World Script II.
- Unicorn Editor
- Unicorn Editor is available as shareware. It allows displaying, inputting, and printing
(bitmapped font) of Japanese text files. It can also process Chinese and Korean text
files. In addition to the editor, you need the Japanese language plug-in files that
provide the fonts.
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- The current versions of Internet Explorer for Macintosh require MacProxy+ proxy server
in order to display Japanese. Even so, some versions do not display all characters
correctly.
- Netscape Navigator
- The English language versions of Netscape Navigator can display Japanese web pages if
used with either the Japanese operating system (KanjiTalk) or the Japanese Language Kit.
The user needs to set up Japanese language "options" under
"preferences" and select Japanese under "document encoding."
There are currently three major Japanese encoding standards in use, JIS, Shift-JIS, and
EUC. All three standards require 2-bytes as opposed to the 1-byte encoding used for
western languages. There is also an international standard, Unicode, which is gradually
receiving more attention and use. Japanese inputting is usually done with a western style
keyboard. Typically, the user types in romaji (western characters) which is converted to
Japanese Kana (the syllabary) on the fly. The user then selects Kanji (Chinese characters)
from a list provided by the FEP (front-end processor). This can be a time consuming
process. The best applications can handle all three encoding standards automatically.
JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) uses 7-bit bytes. Since many networks cut off the
eight bit of 8-bit bytes, JIS is usually the best choice for network transmission such as
sending and receiving email or network news on the Internet. If you use a localized
Japanese email client with a Japanese operating system on a PC or a Macintosh, then
messages will automatically be converted into JIS and back. Otherwise, you need to convert
them yourself.
Shift-JIS is usually used for the internal coding in PCs (DOS/V, Windows 3.1) and Macs
(KanjiTalk). Since Shift-JIS uses 8-bit bytes, some networks cut off the eight bit during
transmission. Many web pages are encoded in Shift-JIS. Shift-JIS was originally developed
by Microsoft Corporation.
EUC (Extended UNIX Code) is usually used on UNIX systems in Japan. Web pages that
reside on UNIX systems are often encoded in EUC.
Unicode is a fairly new international encoding standard that attempts to incorporate
every major language in the world. Unicode includes a unification of kanji (Chinese
characters) used in Chinese (traditional and simplified), Japanese, and Korean. The
unified set of Kanji is referred to as CJK. The unification effort is referred to as Han
Unification.
Wolfgang Bechstein has put together a handy guide to using Japanese on PCs,
"Bilingual Computing, the Perennial Dilemma: Using Japanese on English PCs."
This page is part of the Honyaku (mailing list) web site.
The Computing Japan magazine and web site both
include regular articles and columns on computing and Japanese. This is one of the best
sources for the latest information on Japanese computing.
The Honyaku FAQ includes some basic
information on Japanese computing and the Internet.
Ken Lunde's Understanding Japanese Information Processing (O'Reilly and Associates, Inc., 1993) is the ultimate guide
(in English) on Japanese information processing. Anyone involved in computing with the
Japanese language should have this book on their shelf.
Ken Lunde's regularly updated file on Chinese/Japanese/Korean
language processing is also not to be missed.
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