iTranslated by AI
IME News: April 2026
First edition: 2026-05-24
Hiroyuki Komatsu (@komatsuh:bsky, @komatsuh:twitter)
Main News
Copilot Keyboard Reaches Official Release
Microsoft's Copilot Keyboard has been released as an official version. The addition of Clippy (Clippit) has also become a hot topic.
Copilot Keyboard - It's finally here: The official release - Windows Blog for Japan
Copilot Keyboard has fixed update notifications and now supports reconversion - Windows Blog for Japan
Microsoft's new IME "Copilot Keyboard" officially released - And he's back! - Mado no Mori
Microsoft's Japanese input app "Copilot Keyboard" reaches official release; Welcome back, Clippy - Impress Watch
Microsoft releases official version of Japanese IME "Copilot Keyboard"; "Clippy" the paperclip returns - CNET Japan
Clippy the paperclip returns after 20 years; Microsoft's Japanese input software uses generative AI for assistant Q&A | NHK News
What is the official version of Copilot Keyboard? Features, competition comparison, and notes for the new IME for Windows 11 | AI Rumor Room
ATOK Significantly Updates Genre Dictionaries and Regular Updates
Updating "ATOK My Dictionary Plus"! | News | [Official] ATOK.com
ATOK Official X User: "[ATOK My Dictionary Plus Update] We have added vocabulary to all genres (Business 7, Hobbies 7, Regional 47: Total 61). Examples) Soccer: 'Phil Foden', Anime: 'Master Roshi', IT: 'Blazor'. See details→https://t.co/qZ58sonejd https://t.co/fpwU1EjYna" / X
ATOK Official X User: "[36th ATOK Conversion Improvement Notice] We have released the latest dictionary today, so please update and use it. *Examples of improvements: '営業/足' → '営業/アシ', '絵富/くじ' → '干支/みくじ', '沖は/畏怖か' → '置き配/不可', etc. See other examples here: https://t.co/rLOliLA4qT https://t.co/4FfnyPCPQp" / X
Simeji Uses Morse Code for April Fools' Project, Adds Emoji 17 Support
Simeji X User: "📢・－・・・ －－・－・ ・・・ ・－－－・ ーー・ーー ー・ ・・・ ーー・ー・ ・ー ー・ー・・ ・・ーー ・・ー ・－－・ ・－ ・－・・ #AprilFools https://t.co/xT2yuRiZnn" / X
Simeji X User: "[Good News] New emojis from iOS 26.4 can now be used in Simeji!! Both iPhone and Android are supported 🙂↕️ 🧑🩰 https://t.co/Unqw1rc5eh" / X
New IME Releases
koyasi777/mozc (Mozkey)
koyasi777/mozc, which is based on Mozc with modifications such as a dark theme and changes to Romaji input methods, has been released. It is now called "Mozkey."
3e koyasi777/mozkey: Unofficial google/mozc fork with Windows-focused IME improvements and local Zenz correction.
3e koyasi777 X User: "I had several dissatisfactions with Google Japanese Input, so I modified the OSS-based Mozc and released it as an IME fork for Windows. I have initially implemented dark mode support, single-tap confirmation for punctuation/symbols, key assignments for left/right Shift/Ctrl, and minor improvements to Romaji input and input history." https://t.co/fRTPizF4cb / X
Sumire Keyboard Lite
A lightweight version of the Sumire IME for Android has been released. It features a lightweight design of 30MB and can be used offline.
3e Sumire Keyboard Lite - App on Google Play
3e Kazuma.N X User: "I have released Sumire Keyboard Lite. It is a Japanese keyboard app with a 30MB lightweight design that removes AI features. We aimed for simple and easy-to-use input that works offline. If you find heavy keyboards difficult to use, please give it a try. #Android #JapaneseKeyboard #PersonalDevelopment" https://t.co/qC3RJtGu9u https://t.co/BFX6iY0DoB / X
3e Kazuma.N X User: "Sumire Keyboard Lite has been released on F-Droid. We will continue to develop it as an OSS, aiming to be the best Japanese keyboard app while making further improvements. #PersonalDevelopment #Android #F-Droid" https://t.co/uOaPfHGlfR / X
Hatoko
An IME for macOS that incorporates AI interaction features, leveraging AzooKeyKanaKanjiConverter.
3e chigichan24/hatoko: An Input Method Engine (IME) for macOS. It provides Japanese kana-kanji conversion along with LLM-assisted text input.
3e Ending the era of using AI as a separate app — Pioneering the LLM-supported IME 'Hatoko'
3e chigichan24 X User: "I'm experimenting with making the IME itself an interface for LLMs, blending naturally into the OS. I'm exploring interactions such as quickly throwing input to an LLM while typing or entering Chat mode directly when I want to refine text further. (This sentence itself was generated using this IME.)" https://t.co/i3qyttzUp0 https://t.co/SFqEsbx0u8 / X
yume-ime
An IME for Windows. MIT-licensed OSS. Half-width Katakana and full-width English characters have been removed.
3e yume-ime/README_ja.md at main · cyan-cs/yume-ime
3e Yume-IME - Lightweight Japanese IME
T-Code IME
An IME for Android for direct Kanji input. The T-Code Japanese input method covers 1,600 characters for daily use with two keystrokes.
3e T-Code IME - App on Google Play
GIME - Gamepad Input Method Editor
An app that allows for Japanese, English, and Korean input using a game controller has been released.
3e GIME - Gamepad Input Method Editor | msonrm
3e msonrm/GIME: Gamepad Input Method Editor for Japanese / English / Korean
3e msonrm X User: "I'm making an IME for Android that allows character input with a game controller. I've made it usable for VRChat. The app receives controller input, converts it into characters, and sends them via OSC. For the Android version of VRChat, you can load bubbles (resizable), and for things like Quest, you can just send text from your smartphone. #VRChat #GiME" https://t.co/IGJvpBIygA / X
IME Updates
flick
The iOS version has been updated to 7.1.3, adding support for Emoji 17.0.
Sumire
Updated from v1.7.10 to v1.7.44. Changes include support for videos in the keyboard background, the addition of translation features, expansion of settings, and updates to the settings UI.
KazumaProject/JapaneseKeyboard: Sumire - A completely offline Japanese keyboard app
Kazuma.N X User: "Sumire Keyboard v1.7.15 has been released. @3pino has implemented the UI for key settings in custom keyboards. We added settings to set images and videos as keyboard backgrounds, and an option to display flick guide characters for Sumire and custom keyboards." https://t.co/wcvzHh1nKj https://t.co/vyVHMoD0kD / X
Kazuma.N X User: "Sumire Keyboard v1.7.43 has been released. You can now choose between 4 and 7 flick directions. For specific items, you can set your favorite character input or switching between Japanese, English, numeric, and emoji keyboards." https://t.co/GgcO1aO9ft https://t.co/0zOeTzzwAo / X
Sumire Desktop
Updated from v0.0.6 to v0.0.8, including the addition of keymap editing settings.
KazumaProject/Sumire-Desktop
Rakukan
Updated from 0.4.4 to 0.8.4. Changes include process separation for the conversion engine, support for emoji dictionaries, and stability improvements.
fukuyori/rakukan: Japanese IME for Windows using local LLMs
Spumoni X User: "Windows can also do live conversion: 'Rakukan'" https://t.co/IMXJ3Czdht via @YouTube / X
Spumoni X User: "Rakukan, a live-conversion IME for Windows, has been stabilized in version 0.7.x and bug-fixed in 0.8.x. After this, a release version is finally planned." https://t.co/SP4O5jHFQX / X
SwiftyGyaim
Updated from v1.5 to v1.5.2, including adjustments to input history learning.
tanabe1478/SwiftyGyaim: SwiftyGyaim — Japanese IME for macOS (InputMethodKit)
tanabe1478 X User: "SwiftyGyaim v1.5 has been released. It mainly consists of minor updates." https://t.co/NmukTf76LT / X
TypeAI
A Japanese keyboard has been added to TypeAI, allowing you to send typed text directly to an AI.
AI Translation Keyboard Chat Formal English Interpreter Spanish App - App Store
Nabetts X User: "Three years since the initial concept, I've finally managed to add a Japanese keyboard to #TypeAI! You can translate your text using AI directly after typing." https://t.co/TgTwmdOFID / X
Nabetts X User: "Three years since the concept, I've finally created an AI-powered flick input keyboard for #TypeAI using AzooKey!" https://t.co/irJYeQrlmS / X
KanchokuWS
Updated to v1.2.9.4. Added support for hold-shift with arbitrary keys.
Releases · oktopus1959/KanchokuWS
OKA Toshiyuki X User: "#KanchokuWS v1.2.9.4 has been released. Please download -v1.2.9.4.zip from the page above. I've enabled the definition of hold-shift with arbitrary keys using the # HoldShift directive." / X
MacTcode
Updated to v0.18.0. Added support for recording Kanchoku (direct Kanji input) statistics.
Release Kanchoku Stream Statistics · mad-p/MacTcode
Sumibi
Updated to v6.0.0. Added support for Chinese input and undo functionality.
Release Sumibi v6.0.0 · kiyoka/Sumibi
Development of the Japanese Input System 'Sumibi' part 17: Added support for Chinese input using Pinyin
hitomoji
Updated to v0.4.2.3. Enabled single-Kanji conversion input.
Release v0.4.2.3 · Toshishi-egaoit/hitomoji
Japanese IME 'hitomoji': Released the 3rd pre-release (v0.4.2.3) | Egao IT Research Institute
nskk.el
Updated from v0.1.21 to v0.1.23. Includes support for AZIK ch/sh/th and bug fixes.
takeokunn/nskk.el: A next-generation SKK (Simple Kana to Kanji) Japanese input method for Emacs 29.1+
Takety X User: "Fixed a bug in nskk.el" https://t.co/udsuHgKedJ / X
macSKK
Updated from 2.12.0 to 2.12.2. Includes expansion of Romaji conversion rule settings.
mtgto/macSKK: Yet Another macOS SKK Input Method
GTO X User: "@yyu macSKK v2.12.0 - Added the ability to specify the position of okurigana in the kana part of Romaji conversion rules (mainly for AZIK users)" https://t.co/nVJ2TM5KIu / X
mozc-ports
Updated to 20260413. Integrated the latest UT dictionary.
kdeguchi/mozc-ports: Latest version mozc ports for FreeBSD
jinen
The Hugging Face model card for 'jinen', the kana-kanji conversion model used in Karukan, has been updated.
togatogah/jinen-v1-small · Hugging Face
Togatoga X User: "Updated the model card for 'jinen', the kana-kanji conversion model used in Karukan. I also documented how to invoke it from Python, so please try playing with it. The next generation model is planned to be created as a model strong in software terminology, trained on the latest models and our own dataset." https://t.co/5Iyi09DNFZ / X
AzooKeyKanaKanjiConverter
Updated to v0.11.2. Fixed import errors.
azooKey/AzooKeyKanaKanjiConverter: Kana-Kanji Conversion Module written in Swift, supporting Neural Kana-Kanji Conversion and other cool features.
Akaza for Mac
Updated to v2026.407.0. Includes UI bug fixes.
Release v2026.408.0 · akaza-im/mac-akaza
IME Under Development
Bibim
An integrated input method for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
Hong Minhee X User: "Recently, I've been trying to make something like a combined Hanja/CJK input method. I've mostly finished prototyping it as a web app for now. As shown in the video, you can mix Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, like 'daxueshengeun hakubutsukane ganda', to complete sentences like '大学生は博物館に行く' (The student goes to the museum)." https://t.co/aUhfkrIQNI / X
hongminhee/bibim-prototype: Bibim: An input method for East Asian polyglots - Codeberg.org
IME Technical Articles
Benchmarking LLM-based Kana-Kanji Conversion
Togatoga X User: "I evaluated the performance of gemini-3.1-pro-preview and gemini-3.1-flash-lite-preview with AJIMEE-Bench. gemini-3.1-pro-preview achieved an astonishing 188/200 correct answers. I was surprised at the high performance, with mistakes only being slight variations in Kanji. The benchmark results have been uploaded to gist." https://t.co/6owaYGJ8G6 https://t.co/CmgjtyMcwe / X
AJIMEE-Bench: gemini-3.1-flash-lite-preview vs pro-preview per-item comparison
Development of the Japanese Input System 'Sumibi' part 18: Local LLMs might have crossed the threshold
IME and Shortcut Keys
"I intended to press a shortcut key, but the Japanese input switched..."
IME Development Articles
Japanese Input App | scopedptr
IME for Android. Currently looking for beta testers.
'Do-Local' Place Name Dictionary / Making a Japanese input app for Android from scratch Part 48 | scopedptr
English-only words / Making a Japanese input app for Android from scratch Part 49 | scopedptr
Updating Mozc dictionary / Making a Japanese input app for Android from scratch Part 50 | scopedptr
hitomoji
Direct Kanji input IME for Windows. Aiming for a 64-bit version of 'Kaze'.
Japanese IME 'hitomoji': Kanji conversion success | Egao IT Research Institute
Japanese IME 'hitomoji': Managing dictionary data with SQLite3 | Egao IT Research Institute
Japanese IME 'hitomoji': Creating Kanji assignments for the keyboard using the 'Greedy Algorithm' | Egao IT Research Institute
IME for Emacs (Sekka, Sumibi, mozc-modeless)
The story of creating 3 modeless IMEs for Emacs
Refactoring the Japanese input system 'Sekka' for the first time in 9 years and making it pure Emacs Lisp
IME Related Articles
General IME Articles
Japanese input when using a Mac with VoiceOver | Tomoka
After all, the biggest strength of Windows is the Japanese input environment | grimoire@Web-IT-person
Notes on reviewing my Japanese input environment following the ATOK price hike | Hitori-memo
IME becomes a 'gateway to thought' — The structure of text input changed by LLMs | loyal_kalmia8068
ATOK
'Ichitaro' continues to upgrade. What is the future of the 41-year evolution of Japanese word processing software? - Sankei News
[Consideration/IME Selection Edition] The current position of the Android version of ATOK | kotenpa
Kawasemi
How to instantly make the Japanese input software for Mac 'Kawasemi 4' your own personalized input environment | Full Invest US Stock Investment (Outsmarting Capitalism) | Keisei Suzuki
Galaxy Keyboard
Galaxy Keyboard, you can customize it this much? I was surprised by the freedom of the official 'Keys Cafe' | Lifehacker Japan
Gboard
Glad I chose Pixel. 4 inconspicuous but grateful features | Gizmodo Japan
The Gboard gesture that's nearly doubled my typing speed
Gboard's best editing feature exposes how incomplete it really is
Google Japanese Input
Which Japanese input for macOS is best? Reasons for choosing Google Japanese Input and setup steps - Ono-no-Hitorigoto
Lifehack (12) Master Google Japanese Input! The Perfect Manual | Mark.I
[Memorandum] I want to switch IME On/Off with left/right Alt keys while using a US keyboard and Google Japanese Input on Windows | Ikuyeki
Ended up using Google Japanese Input again | tama
Google Japanese Input Settings | few light
Settings you should do after downloading Google Japanese Input [Mac version] | Lible City Knowledge Library
How to easily import Google Japanese Input dictionaries into the built-in Mac dictionary | Shikatuno Clock
Mozc
Ubuntu random thoughts (April 2026) - ujimushi's diary
Hazkey
Good Japanese conversion with Mac-like feel in Omarchy - komagata's blog
macSKK
Installing macSKK and yaskkserv2 on Mac | proton
FreeWnn
tamago-tsunagi with FreeWnn on Emacs 30.2, Fedora 43 #fedora - Qiita
Amical
Making PC voice input comfortable ~ Introduction of the free local AI software 'Amical' | Morea
Keyboard Layouts
Recommendation for Naginata-shiki input with SKK #LinuxMint - Qiita
Naginata-shiki and Google Japanese Input - chibi
MR Input — A proposal for a new Japanese input method that redesigns Romaji input #UI - Qiita
I want to input Japanese easily | Guest
IME Environment Settings
How to minimize the Windows 11 language bar (put it in the taskbar) | Madogiwa SE
Mac Initial Setup #03 | 3 settings to make Japanese input on Mac like Windows | macOS 26 (Tahoe) | Ishizaki
The 'Ultimate Secret' to perfect IME switching with Eisuu/Kana keys when remotely accessing Windows from Mac via Chrome Remote Desktop (For environments where F13 doesn't work) #PersonalDevelopment - Qiita
[Memorandum] US keyboard + Japanese input on Ubuntu
Setting up Japanese input (Mozc) and Japanese keyboard layout on Deepin Linux | Shusaku Namiki
On Japanese input in Deepin Linux 23 and 25 | Satlab Website
[Void Linux] Solution for when the Fcitx5-Mozc tray icon status doesn't switch
fatdog64 2026 Still at it: Michinoku Oushu 2
Installing Obsidian in the Chromebook Linux environment and setting up Japanese input (Fcitx5 + Mozc) - 'Work and Life to build tomorrow'
Solving the problem of being unable to input Japanese in Electron apps on ChromeOS Linux (Crostini)
Cause and solution for Japanese input stopping in Chromebook Linux apps (Electron/ibus) | Takao
[Chromebook/Crostini] Solution for when Japanese input (Fcitx/Mozc) is not possible in VS Code #Chromebook - Qiita
I enabled Japanese input in VS Code on ChromeOS Flex! | Kami Gian
I thought the IME was switching on its own while typing Japanese in the browser, but Neovim's LSP was the cause
IMEs Introduced This Month
- Copilot Keyboard
- ATOK
- Simeji
- Mozkey
- Sumire Keyboard Lite
- Hatoko
- yume-ime
- T-Code IME
- GIME
- flick
- Sumire
- Sumire Desktop
- Rakukan
- SwiftyGyaim
- TypeAI
- KanchokuWS
- MacTcode
- Sumibi
- hitomoji
- nskk.el
- macSKK
- mozc-ports
- jinen
- AzooKeyKanaKanjiConverter
- Akaza for Mac
- Bibim
- Japanese input app by scopedptr
- Sekka
- mozc-modeless
- Kawasemi
- Galaxy Keyboard
- Gboard
- Google Japanese Input
- Mozc
- Hazkey
- FreeWnn
- Amical
Discussion