How to change the default IME input method in Windows 8.1?

Question

I would like to know if there is a way to change the default input method while writing in Japanese.

I have several keyboard languages installed and change between them using the shortcut Windows + Space. They all work well.

But the thing is, when I select Japanese, the default input method is Half-width alphanumeric when I want Hiragana to be the default. I can change the input method through the taskbar, but I have to do this every time I open a program. So I tried changing the preferences, to no effect:

1. I select the Japanese keyboard.
2. I right-click on the "A" or "あ" that appears on the taskbar to open IME options, and go to "Properties".
3. I open "Advances Settings for Microsoft IME".

What is wrong? What should I change so that the default is Hiragana? If this fails, is there a keyboard shortcut to change between Hiragana, Half-width alphanumeric, etc, so that I don't have to use the mouse every time?

Answer 1

I am having the same trouble and have not found a complete solution, but I found a shortcut that might help. Alt+` should let you switch from half-width alphanumeric to hiragana. As far as I can tell, it doesn't seem to work for the other input methods for Japanese, though.

Answer 2

One possible solution is to make the Japanese IME your default IME by going to Control Panel -> Language and then removing the English option. You can then use the Japanese IME as the English input option by simply pressing Alt+~ to easily switch between hiragana and direct input (English). That at least reduces your keyboards by one. FYI, I use Google Japanese input. I find it much better than the native Microsoft Japanese IME.

Answer 3

These are the keyboard shortcuts for the Japanese language for US keyboard. The reference is from Quita.com (聞いた) a similar question and answer / blog site in Japanese. See link for further detail.

+-----------------------------------------+---------------------+
|   日本語入力の状態                       |    ショートカット     |
+-----------------------------------------+---------------------+
| 半角英数 <-> 全角ひらがな(全角カタカナ)    | Alt + `             |
| Half-width Alphanumeric <-> Full-width Hiragana (Katakana)    |
| 半角英数 <-> 全角ひらがな                 | Shift + CapsLock    |
| Half-width Alphanumeric <-> Full-width Hiragana               |
| 半角英数 -> 全角ひらがな                  | Alt + CapsLock      |
| Half-width Alphanumeric -> Full-width Hiragana                |
| 半角英数 -> 全角ひらがな                  | Ctrl + CapsLock     |
| Half-width Alphanumeric -> Full-width Hiragana                |
| 全角ひらがな -> 全角カタカナ              | Alt + CapsLock      |
| Half-width Alphanumeric -> Full-width Katakana                |
| 全角カタカナ -> 全角ひらがな              | Ctrl + CapsLock     |
| Half-width Alphanumeric -> Full-width Hiragana                |
+-----------------------------------------+---------------------+

Note:

<-> is a toggle
-> is unidirectional

Short answer is

Alt + `

I cannot make

Shift + Capslock

to work in my japanese keyboard though.