Free Online Japanese Katakana Keyboard – Type Katakana Anywhere

Welcome to the Japanese Katakana keyboard online (カタカナキーボード)! Our free virtual keyboard gives you instant access to all Katakana characters following the JIS layout. Type authentic Japanese Katakana from any computer, tablet, or smartphone!

What is Katakana? Katakana (カタカナ) is one of three Japanese writing systems (along with Hiragana and Kanji). It has 46 basic characters representing syllables. Katakana is used for: foreign loanwords (コーヒー = coffee), onomatopoeia (ワンワン = woof), emphasis, technical terms, and company names.

The Katakana syllabary: 46 basic characters organized by vowel sounds: ア行 (a-row): ア イ ウ エ オ; カ行 (ka-row): カ キ ク ケ コ; and so on through ワ行 and ン. Plus small kana (ァ, ィ, ゥ), voiced marks (ガ, ザ, ダ), and half-voiced marks (パ, ピ, プ).

Perfect for: Japanese learners, translators, anyone typing foreign words in Japanese, game localization, anime/manga fans, and anyone needing to type Katakana without a Japanese IME installed.

Your privacy is guaranteed – all typing happens 100% locally in your browser. Nothing is ever sent to any server. Your Japanese text stays on your device only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Katakana used for in Japanese?

Katakana is used for: foreign loanwords (コンピューター = computer), onomatopoeia (ニャー = meow), emphasis (like italics in English), scientific/technical terms, company and product names, and telegrams/signage.

What's the difference between Katakana and Hiragana?

Both are syllabaries with 46 characters each representing the same sounds. Hiragana (ひらがな) is curvy and used for native Japanese words. Katakana (カタカナ) is angular and used for foreign words and special purposes.

How do I type small Katakana (ァ, ィ, ゥ)?

Use Shift + the regular key to get small versions. Small kana are used in combinations like ファ (fa), ティ (ti), and トゥ (tu) for foreign sounds not native to Japanese.

How do I type voiced (ガ) and half-voiced (パ) Katakana?

Our keyboard has dedicated keys for voiced (゛ dakuten) and half-voiced (゜ handakuten) marks, or you can use the pre-combined characters directly from the keyboard.

Is this Katakana keyboard really free to use?

Absolutely free! AnyKeyboard's Katakana keyboard has no hidden costs, no registration required, no ads, and no usage limits.

Does the Katakana keyboard work on mobile devices?

Yes! Our Katakana keyboard is fully responsive and works perfectly on iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and tablets.

How do I copy, save, or search my Katakana text?

After typing, click 'Copy' to copy your Katakana text to the clipboard. Click 'Save' to download as a UTF-8 .txt file. You can also click 'Google' or 'YouTube' to search directly.

Can I switch between Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji keyboards?

Yes! AnyKeyboard supports Katakana, Hiragana (Kana), and Romaji input for Japanese. Use the Layout dropdown to switch between them.

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