How to use the IME on the Windows command prompt (cmd) to input Japanese
If you've ever tried to input Japanese in a Windows command prompt, you probably found that the typical method to activate the IME does not work. Here is the secret combo:
- Hit Alt + the 半角/全角 key (for Japanese keyboards), or
- Hit Alt + the ~ key while in Japanese Input System (MS-IME2002) input mode (for English keyboards).
I've confirmed this works in the following command prompts (on Windows XP): cmd.exe, Cygwin, and Windows PowerShell.
However, the Google Japanese Input Method does not work. This is a known issue (see "Windows XP のコマンドプロンプトで使用できない"). Switch to another IME such as Microsoft's instead for the command window.
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