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Japanese Kana and Eisu keys do not reach the Windows guest #95
Description
The Kana (かな) and Eisu (英数) keys on my Japanese Mac keyboard do not produce keyboard events inside a Windows VM in VMPal. This prevents using these keys to enable and disable the Japanese IME.
Steps to reproduce
- Start a Windows VM in VMPal.
- Focus the Windows guest.
- Press the Kana (かな) and Eisu (英数) keys.
Actual behavior
Neither key produces a keyboard event in Windows.
Expected behavior
Kana should enable the Japanese IME, and Eisu should disable it.
Environment
- VMPal: 0.102
- macOS: 27.2
- Windows: Windows 11 Pro 24H2
- Hardware keyboard layout in Windows: Japanese keyboard (106/109 keys)
Activity
sonswift commentedon Oct 27, 2026
Hi @marvelph, thanks for the detailed report! Have you tried selecting Japanese – Microsoft IME from the Windows taskbar and switching to Hiragana (あ)?
Can you type Japanese that way, while the Kana/Eisu keys still have no effect? This would help us narrow down whether the issue is with the IME setup or how those keys are forwarded to Windows.
If the issue persists, please get back to us with the results.
marvelph commentedon Oct 27, 2026
Yes.
The IME itself is working.
I tried a web tool that lets you test key scan codes, and I think these two keys aren't triggering any events.
For kVK_JIS_Kana, I would like it to generate either VK_CONVERT or VK_IME_ON, and for kVK_JIS_Eisu, I would like it to generate either VK_NONCONVERT or VK_IME_OFF.
VK_CONVERT and VK_NONCONVERT are supported by legacy Japanese keyboards, while VK_IME_ON and VK_IME_OFF are supported by the new Japanese keyboards from Microsoft.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/component-guidelines/keyboard-japan-ime