Japanese Text Entry in Linux Mint 17.1

📅 January 26, 2015
Linux distributions offer superb multilingual support, and with it, we can communicate with others around the world using a wide assortment of languages that are easy to install.

Most English users, as well as many who speak other languages, have some form of the QWERTY keyboard, so what do you do when you wish to communicate by typing in a language that differs from your installed locale?

Linux supports input methods that allow you to type in your chosen language. The correct fonts also appear. As an example of what is possible, you can mix and match several languages within the same text file, enter non-locale text in a search engine, or compose an email to a faraway friend in his native tongue.

This updated article explains how to install support for the Japanese language on an English installation of Linux Mint 17.1 so we can type filenames, Internet searches, and compose emails from a QWERTY keyboard.

The process is similar for most Linux distributions, and any language can be installed. In this example, we are using Linux Mint 17.1 (Cinnamon) due to its excellent language support, and Japanese was chosen since its typed characters look nothing like English. When we see Japanese text, we will know for certain that everything is working properly.

Installing an alternate input method in Linux Mint 17.1 is not complicated, but it requires a number of steps. Here is a complete installation and usage tutorial with pictures.