Show threadPeter Cock1d ago
See https://astrobeano.blogspot.com/2026/03/naginata-style-update.html for my blog post about updating my #MechanicalKeyboard for #KanaInput using #NaginataStyle #薙刀式 v17, minor adjustments for less keys.
Show threadPeter Cock5d ago

In hindsight, if I had bought the 32-key #FishKeyboard and learnt the #OnishiLayout my #ErgonomicKeyboard journey would have been a bit different.

Instead I’m designing my own 32-key #MechanicalKeyboard(s), learnt #HandsDownPromethium, and am learning the #NaginataStyle Japanese kana #KeyboardLayout.

Maybe not that different?

Show threadPeter Cock5d ago
At the end of this post https://oookaworks.seesaa.net/article/519786424.html 大岡俊彦 suggest that for a #KeyboardLayout layout that's compatible with both English and Japanese, go with the #OnishiLayout https://o24.works/layout/ - but for Japanese, go with his #NaginataStyle or the #TsukiLayout (月配列) http://jisx6004.client.jp/tsuki.html
【薙刀式】大西配列はDvorakの継承である: 大岡俊彦の作品置き場

なんか急に「新配列のスタンダード=大西配列」 の記事が跳ねてるので、何かと思ったらご本人にツイートされていた模様。 さすがインフルエンサー、俺の5倍の影響力を叩き出す。 （現時点なのでもっと増えるかも） 薙刀式と大西配列のユーザー差もそんくらいあるのかねえ。 カナとローマ字のとっつきやすさを考えると、 もっと開いてるだろうなー。 ということで、 大西配列を少し深掘りしてみよう。 日英共用配列としてだ。 Dvorakの継承である、という枠組みで考えたい。

Peter Cock5d ago

I've just updated my #MechanicalKeyboard's Japanese #KanaInput layer to #NaginataStyle v17 (#薙刀式) https://oookaworks.seesaa.net/article/519707171.html

Recently in https://oookaworks.seesaa.net/article/519836919.html the author Toshihiko Ōoka (#大岡俊彦) estimated there are a few thousand users. I'm an outlier... 🤣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿⌨️🇯🇵

See https://astrobeano.blogspot.com/2025/08/naginata-style-for-typing-in-japanese.html for my explanation in English (of v16). Four rarer kana swap places in v17, released in January.

This is timely as I've found an online typing site where I can actually start to practice touch typing in kana mode (albeit with some major caveats).

Show threadPeter CockOct 1

The sticker surgery to update the labels to match my revised #HandsDownPromethium layout variation went as well as expected. This now matches my #ErgonomicKeyboard (which has blank keycaps).

The stickers do come off pretty cleanly, fingernails are safer if you can get traction - forceps can scratch, and the black coating on the Apple underglow key caps is surprisingly thin.

Comma and period are now semicolon and colon when shifted, needing spliced stickers.

The right index finger top key with the “<“ label is now backspace like #NaginataStyle - rather unusual in the English focused #KeyboardLayout world.

My #ZMK config is at https://github.com/peterjc/zmk-config and the #KarabinerElements version for the laptop at https://codeberg.org/peterjc/kana-chording-ke/src/branch/main/hands-down-on-jis-macbook

Show threadPeter CockSep 3, 2025
I’m pretty pleased how my #KeyboardLayout rendering came out - #HandsDownPromethium for English, and #NaginataStyle #薙刀式 #大岡俊彦 for #Japanese - see https://github.com/peterjc/zmk-config with configuration for the rendering tool https://github.com/caksoylar/keymap-drawer which outputs SVG which you can customise with CSS:
Peter CockAug 21, 2025
Another #KeyboardLayout blog post from me - https://astrobeano.blogspot.com/2025/08/naginata-style-for-typing-in-japanese.html - This introduces the #NaginataStyle (#薙刀式 http://oookaworks.seesaa.net/article/456099128.html#gsc.tab=0) by author Toshihiko Ōoka (#大岡俊彦), a computer keyboard layout for typing #Japanese kana without using romaji.