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[:JapaneseEnvironment: (Japanese)] [:OsamuAoki: Wiki links]
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I hereby describe methods to set up Japanese environment under Debian etch for your reference. I hereby describe methods to set up Japanese environment under Debian etch for your reference.  (This should give good reference to other non-European languages.)
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== 日本語環境に必要なパッケージ ==

以下に日本語環境整備に必要とされるパーケージをリストします。

 * 日本語入力
   * scim系を選んだ場合に導入するパッケージ(私はこれを使ってます)
== Required packages for Japanese environment ==

Following lists required packages for Japanese environment. (For other languages, refer to the language task contents.)

 * Imput method for Japanese
   * Packages to introduce when scim system is deployed. (I use this)
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     * scimと自動的に導入される以下のパッケージ
       * libscim8c2a他
     * scim-anthyと自動的に導入される以下のパッケージ
     * scim and its auto-installed packages as follows
       * libscim8c2a etc.
     * scim-anthy and its auto-installed packages as follows
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       * libscim8c2a他
   * uim系を選んだ場合に導入するパッケージ
       * libscim8c2a etc.
   * Packages to introduce when uim system is deployed. u
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     * uimと自動的に導入される以下のパッケージ      * uim and its auto-installed packages as follows
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       * uim-fep(コンソールで使う際のみ必要)
     * uim-anthyと自動的に導入される以下のパッケージ
       * uim-fep (required only for console)
     * uim-anthy and its auto-installed packages as follows
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 * 日本語フォント  * Japanese fonts
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 * 日本語メッセージ
 * Japanese messages
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   * kde-i18n-ja (KDEを導入した際のみ必要)
 * 日本語でのドキュメンテーション
   * kde-i18n-ja (required only when KDE is deployed)
 * Japanese documentations
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 * 日本語関連ツール  * Japanese related tools
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== localeとは ==

LANG環境変数にあたえ言語環境を定義する、localeですが{{{xx_YY.ZZZZ}}}と言う構造なっていて以下の意味があります。
 || xx || 言語||
 || yy || 地域 ||
 || zzzz || エンコーディング ||

日本の言語地域はja_JPで、これだけだとデフォールトの昔の ja_JP.eucJPの意味になります。
米国(ある意味で一番標準でサポートが良い)の言語地域はen_USで、これだけだとデフォールトの昔の en_US.ISO8859-1の意味になります。

ちなみに日本に御縁のあるエンコードシステムですが:
 || UTF-8 || 最近の主流、多国語対応 ||
 || eucJP || 昔のUNIXの標準、日本語のみ対応 ||
 || Shift-JP || 昔のMicrosoftの標準、日本語のみ対応 ||
 || ISO-2022-JP || 日本語e-mailの主流、7-bitコードのみ、日本語のみ対応 ||
 || ISO-8859-1 || 昔の西欧の主流、Ascii+西欧の文字対応、8ビット ||
 || ASCII || 米国の主流、7ビット ||

これらはうまく工夫されていて、ASCIIのコード範囲に収まる文字だったら上記どのエンコーディング体系でも同じです。

もしja_JP.UTF-8のlocaleをなんらかの理由でまだ作成設定してないなら
== What is locale ==

The locale is used for LANG environment variable to define language environment. It has
structureof {{{xx_YY.ZZZZ}}} and has following meanings:
 || xx || language ||
 || yy || region ||
 || zzzz || encoding ||

The language region of Japan is ja_JP but if it is used alone it is treated as tradional ja_JP.eucJP .
The language region of US (the best supported) is en_US but if it is used alone it is treated as tradional en_US.ISO8859-1.

For example, the encoding system often used for Japanese are:
 || UTF-8 || [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UTF-8 recent standard, multilingual compatibility] ||
 || eucJP || [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EUC-JP old UNIX standard, only for Japanese] ||
 || Shift-JIS || [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shift-jis old Microsoft standard, only for Japanese] ||
 || ISO-2022-JP || [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_2022 standard for Japanese e-mail, use only 7 bit code, only for Japanese] ||
 || ISO-8859-1 || [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8859 old standard for western European languages, ASCII+accented characters, 8 bit code] ||
 || ASCII || [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascii US standard, 7 bit code] ||

These encodings are well thought out to keep them compatible within ASCII code ranges.

If you happen not to created ja_JP.UTF-8 locale, please execute followings to enable Japanese UTF-8 environment.
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をして作成してください。これが無ければUTF-8の日本語環境は無理です。

== 言語関連の環境変数の設定 ==

各種プログラムの挙動は言語関連の環境変数(LANGやLC_ALL等)への設定によって変わります。

ここで注意が必要なのは、一部のプログラムはPAM(Pluggable Authentication Modules)を使っているので、PAMでの環境変数設定が優先するということです。

etchの標準日本語インストール(2006年11月現在のRC1の前のバージョンの情報)では、日本語でのインストールを選ぶと{{{/etc/environment}}}と{{{/etc/defaults/locale}}}というファイルともに

== Set up of language related environment variables ==

Each program behaves differently depending on the set up of language related environment variables.

Here, you have to pay attention to the fact that some program uses PAM (pluggable Authentification Module) and the environment variable set by PAM has priority.

Both {{{/etc/environment}}} and {{{/etc/defaults/locale}}} files define
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という内容を定義していると思います。

通常X環境だと気にならないのですがクラシュしたりしてコンソールを使う際や{{{su}}}を使うときにも日本語なので私は嫌いです。そういうときは文字化けのない一番確実な環境がいいので、私は日本語表示しない設定にコンソールではすべくこれらのファイルのLANG定義内容を:
when Japanese is selected during the etch installation processunder etch (as of December 2006).

Under normal X environment, this is OK with me. But I do not like to use Japanese for console session after system crash or for {{{su}}} session. For such session, I like most robust environment for console thus I set LANG definition for them as:
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としています。(フレームバッファーコンソールやkon2を{{{uim-fep}}}や{{{emacs}}}とでUTF-8環境下でうまく動かす方はこれは必要ないかもしれません。基本的に私の趣味の問題です。こうしなくても日本語環境はできます。)

ただこのままだとディスプレーマネージャーの{{{gdm}}}が英語です。X自体はこれでもLanguageでJapaneseを選べばちゃんと日本語でのメニュー等の表示に対応できます。

でも折角ですから私はディスプレーマネージャーの{{{gdm}}}を日本語メニューで立ち上げています。これにはPAMを使って対応します。
まず、{{{/etc/pam.d/gdm}}}や{{{/etc/pam.d/gdm-autologin}}}(このファイルはお使いになっているディスプレーマネージャー次第ですが…)の中の
There may be a way to work around this problem using kon2 or frame buffer console. This is purely my taste issue.

But this will make {{{gdm}}} to be in English. (X session itself can be set to Japanese from {{{gdm}}} menu.)

I use PAM to start {{{gdm}}} with Japanese menu as follows. First Let's change the following line defining language environment variable in {{{/etc/pam.d/gdm}}} or {{{/etc/pam.d/gdm-autologin}}} (the actual file depends on display manager and its setup):
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のlocale関連の環境変数を定義する行を into
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}}}
と直します。そして{{{/etc/defaults/locale-gdm}}}というファイルを作り、
}}}.
Then create a file {{{/etc/defaults/locale-gdm}}} containing:
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}}}
という内容にします。これでGDMは日本語になります。Xの中で使われる言語(LANGの値)はGDMのメニューから選べます。だからこうしておいてもXでは英語の環境も選べます。

== Debianでの日本語入力設定 ==

Debianでの日本語入力設定は{{{im-switch}}}を用いるのが簡単です。

そしてさらに複雑な各日本語入力ツールチェイン固有の設定は、各日本語入力ツールチェイン付随するGUIコンフィギュレーションツールを用いて設定していきましょう。このコンフィギュレーションツールは各日本語入力のツールバーの設定アイコンをたたくか、Gnomeのツールバーのメニューで「デスクトップ」->「設定」で表示されるメニューから該当する設定ツールアイコンをたたいて設定を行います。

まず、{{{im-switch}}}パッケージと{{{uim}}}か{{{scim}}}のどちらかの日本語入力ツールチェインパッケージをインストールします。

詳しい設定のことは、{{{/usr/share/doc/im-switch/README.Debian.gz}}}や{{{/usr/share/doc/scim/README.Debian.gz}}}や{{{/usr/share/doc/uim/README.Debian.gz}}}に英語で書いてあります。以下に要点だけを日本語にします。

<!> {{{im-switch}}}コマンドは、コマンドがrootから実行されたかどうかで挙動が違います。

  * SCIM系での設定を選んだ場合(セッションを使わない方法。私はこれを使ってます。)
    * scim と名の付く役に立ちそうなパッケージをインストールする。("l"を{{{aptitude}}}で使って見付ける) {{{scim, scim-anthy (Japanese), ...}}}等。
    * ユーザーとして"{{{im-switch -c}}}" を実行し"scim"を選ぶ。
    * ユーザーアカウントにリログインしてXセションを更新する。
    * 入力方法やモードはGUIのツールバーを叩いて設定する。(忙しすぎる変換ツール候補表示を減らすこともできます。)
    * 起動はCTRL-SPACE

  * SCIM系での設定を選んだ場合(セッションを使う方法。)
    * scim と名の付く役に立ちそうなパッケージをインストールする。("l"を{{{aptitude}}}で使って見付ける) {{{scim, scim-anthy (Japanese), ...}}}等。
    * ユーザーとして"{{{im-switch -c}}}" を実行し"scim"を選ぶ。
    * マニュアルでim-switchの環境設定ファイルからはscimプログラム自身は起動しないようにする。(こんなことするより上行で"scim-nostart"を選べば良いようにいずれしないといけませんね。)
}}}.
Then GDM becomes Japanese. Actual language (value for LANG) can be set through GDM menu. So you can still use English environment in X.

== Setup of Japanese input in Debian ==

Setup of Japanese input in Debian is simplified by using {{{im-switch}}}.

For complicated setups specific to the each Japanese input method is best handled by the accompanying GUI configuration tool for each input method. For these configuration tools can be activated by clicking icon for the setup in the toolbar of Japanese input methods or clicking configuration tool icon on Gnome toolbar as [Desktop] -> [Configuration].

First you install {{{im-switch}}} and one of the Japanese input tool chain packages, {{{uim}}} or {{{scim}}}.

For the detail of setup, see {{{/usr/share/doc/im-switch/README.Debian.gz}}}, {{{/usr/share/doc/scim/README.Debian.gz}}} or {{{/usr/share/doc/uim/README.Debian.gz}}}. Here key points are described.

<!> {{{im-switch}}} command behaves differently if command is executed from root or not.

  * SCIM system (I use this)
    * Install packages with scim as its part of name and looking interesting to you. (Search them using "l" in {{{aptitude}}}) {{{scim, scim-anthy (Japanese), ...}}} etc.
    * Execute "{{{im-switch -c}}}" from user's shell and select "scim".
    * Relogin to user's account.
    * Setup input method and mode by clicking GUI toolbar. (You can reduce menu choice of input method)
    * Start SCIM input method by CTRL-SPACE

  * SCIM system with using X session
    * Install packages with scim as its part of name and looking interesting to you. (Search them using "l" in {{{aptitude}}}) {{{scim, scim-anthy (Japanese), ...}}} etc.
    * Execute "{{{im-switch -c}}}" from user's shell and select "scim".
    * You manually change im-switch configuration set up not to start scim. (Ugly but this is the current limitation of im-switch infrastructure.)
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    * Desktop->Preferences->Session でセッションマネージャーに"{{{scim -d}}}" を起動するように登録。
    * ユーザーアカウントにリログインしてXセションを更新する。
    * 入力方法やモードはGUIのツールバーを叩いて設定する。(忙しすぎる変換ツール候補表示を減らすこともできます。)
    * 起動はCTRL-SPACE

  * UIM系での設定を選んだ場合(gnome-sesseionを使うim-switchパッケージ中の説明)
    * uim と名の付く役に立ちそうなパッケージをインストールする。("l"を{{{aptitude}}}で使って見付ける){{{uim, uim-anthy (Japanese), uim-gtk2.0, uim-xim, ...}}}等。
    * ユーザーとして"{{{im-switch -c}}}" を実行し"uim"を選ぶ。
      * もし、ツールバーに状況表示したい際には、Desktop->Preferences->Session でセッションマネージャーに"{{uim-toolbar-gtk}}}" を起動するように登録。
      * もし、シストレイに状況表示したい際には、"uim-toolbar-gtk-systray"を代わりに選ぶ。
      * もし、KDEが好きな際には、"uim-toolbar-qt"を代わりに選ぶ。
    * ユーザーアカウントにリログインしてXセションを更新する。
   * 入力方法やモードはGUIのツールバーを叩いて設定する。
   * UIMの変換起動はCNTL-SPACE
   * UIMでの変換モード切替えon/offはSHIFT-SPACE(通常は、直接入力のon/offになる)

上記のUIMの設定の変化形として、セッションマネージャーに起動を登録する代わりに、shellから"{{{uim-toolbar-gtk >/dev/null 2>dev/null &}}}"としてツールバーを起動し、シャットダウン時に自動登録され再起動時に立ち上がるのにたよるのも方法してあります。(uim-ximが安定してからの遅延起動がうまくいくかどうかはまだテストせず。)

  * UIM系での設定を選んだ場合(セッションマネージャーを使わない環境。uimのパッケージ中にある説明と同じ。)
    * uim と名の付く役に立ちそうなパッケージをインストールする。("l"を{{{aptitude}}}で使って見付ける){{{uim, uim-anthy (Japanese), uim-gtk2.0, uim-xim, ...}}}等。
    * 普通はユーザーとして"{{{im-switch -c}}}" を実行し"uim-toolbar"を選ぶ。
      * もし、シストレイに状況表示したい際には、ユーザーとして"{{{im-switch -c}}}" を実行し"uim-systray"を代わりに選ぶ。
      * もし、KDEが好きな際には、ユーザーとして"{{{im-switch -c}}}" を実行し"uim-toolbar-qt"を代わりに選ぶ。
      * もし、なにも状態表示が入らないという際には、ユーザーとして"{{{im-switch -c}}}" を実行し"uim"を代わりに選ぶ。
    * ユーザーアカウントにリログインしてXセションを更新する。
   * 入力方法やモードはGUIのツールバーを叩いて設定する。
   * UIMの変換起動はCNTL-SPACE
   * UIMでの変換モード切替えon/offはSHIFT-SPACE(通常は、直接入力のon/offになる)

上記ではセッションマネージャーに頼らずツールバーが起動されます。再ログインするときなどにセッションマネージャーにもよってツールバーが起動され複数起動になる場合などは、Desktop->Preferences->Session でセッションマネージャーが"{{{uim-toolbar-gtk}}}" を(再)起動しないように登録するとよいです。

{{{uim-fep}}}パッケージを用いるとコンソールでの日本語入力ができます。(日本語表示のための{{{jfbterm}}}は私は良く分かりません)そういった意味でUIMは魅力があります。

  * {{{MODIFIERS}}}を設定せずen_US同様の挙動を得る。
    * "{{{im-switch -c}}}" を実行し"none"を選ぶ。
   * ユーザーアカウントにリログインしてXセションを更新する。

  * デフォルト挙動を回復する
    * "{{{im-switch -a}}}" を実行する。
   * ユーザーアカウントにリログインしてXセションを更新する。

  * 設定状況の確認方法
    * "{{{im-switch -l}}}" を実行する。

<!> {{{im-switch}}}によってスタートされる入力方法はlocaleの値に依存することは注意してください。

<!> 英語環境下ででも、{{{im-switch}}}によって日本語等の入力できる環境をスタートできます。{{{en_US.UTF-8}}}環境で日本語での入力は意外と便利です。

<!> SCIMがCJK以外のlocaleで起動するようにするには{{{~/.scim/global}}}が{{{/etc/scim/global}}}にあなたがSCIMを起動したいlocaleを
    * Register "{{{scim -d}}} in session manager started by Desktop->Preferences->Session .
    * Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.
    * Setup input method and mode by clicking GUI toolbar. (You can reduce menu choice of input method)
    * Start SCIM input method by CTRL-SPACE

  * UIM system using gnome-session (following the explanation in README.Debian of im-switch)
    * Install packages with uim as its part of name and looking interesting to you. (Search them using "l" in {{{aptitude}}}) {{{uim, uim-anthy (Japanese), uim-gtk2.0, uim-xim, ...}}} etc.
    * Execute "{{{im-switch -c}}}" from user's shell and select "uim".
    * To display indicator as toolbar, register "{{{uim-toolbar-gtk}}}" to be started in session manager started by Desktop->Preferences->Session .
      * To display indicator in systray, register "{{{uim-toolbar-gtk-systray}}}" instead.
      * For KDE, register "{{{uim-toolbar-qt}}}" instead.
    * Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.
    * Setup input method and mode by clicking GUI toolbar. (You can reduce menu choice of input method)
    * Start UIM input method by CTRL-SPACE
    * Toggle (on/off) input method mode with SHIFT-SPACE (Usually, direct input mode)

The variation of above UIM configuration to register start of UIM to the session manager is to start UIM as toolbar from shell as "{{{uim-toolbar-gtk >/dev/null 2>dev/null &}}}" and let it get auto registered to start upon restart. (I did not test if the delayed start of it after stabilizing uim-xim.)

  * UIM system without using gnome-session (following the explanation in README.Debian of uim)
    * Install packages with uim as its part of name and looking interesting to you. (Search them using "l" in {{{aptitude}}}) {{{uim, uim-anthy (Japanese), uim-gtk2.0, uim-xim, ...}}} etc.
    * Execute "{{{im-switch -c}}}" from user's shell and select "uim-toolbar".
      * To display indicator in systray, select "uim-systray" instead.
      * For KDE, select "uim-toolbar-qt" instead.
      * For no indicator to be displayed, select "uim" instead.
    * Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.
    * Setup input method and mode by clicking GUI toolbar. (You can reduce menu choice of input method)
    * Start UIM input method by CTRL-SPACE
    * Toggle (on/off) input method mode with SHIFT-SPACE (Usually, direct input mode)

In above, toolbar is started without relying on session manager. In order to prevent duplicate toolbars to be started upon relogin, you may register s * Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.
ession manager not to (re)start "{{{uim-toolbar-gtk}}}".

Japanese input in console can be enabled by {{{uim-fep}}} package. (I am not familiar with {{{jfbterm}}} which enables Japanese display in console.) UIM has a merit in this functionarity.

  * Obtain standard en_US environment by unsetting {{{MODIFIERS}}}.
    * Execute "{{{im-switch -c}}}" and select "none".
    * Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.

  * Regain default behavior.
    * Execute "{{{im-switch -a}}}".
    * Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.

  * Verify setting
    * Execute "{{{im-switch -l}}}" .

<!> Input method started by {{{im-switch}}} depends on the value of locale.

<!> Japanese input method may be started under English environment using {{{im-switch}}}. It is quite useful to have Japanese input method under {{{en_US.UTF-8}}} environment.

<!> In order to start SCIM under non-CJK locale, you need to add list of those locales to {{{~/.scim/global}}} or {{{/etc/scim/global}}} :
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等と列記します。

<!> GTK_IM_MODULE変数に新規のimmoduleメカニズムを設定して使わないとと考えるかもしれませんが、現状はGTK_IM_MODULE変数にximに設定するのが最も安定するようです。詳しくは{{{/usr/share/doc/scim/README.Debian.gz}}}に英語で書いてあります。

== 各プログラムとの連携 ==

=== emacsの状況 ===
  * emacsは賢いのでいろんなエンコード体系に対応しています。それだけにその設定には気を付けてください。
  * emacsはXやFEPなどの外部ソフトに頼らない独自の日本語入力インフラが色々あるようです。(eggなど。)
  * もしXIMを経由せずに日本語入力したい際には、emacsを立ち上げる際の{{{XMODIFIERS}}}の値を"none"としてやればいいということです。シェルからだと:

<!> Some people may think setting new immodule machanism to the GTK_IM_MODULE variable, but currently setting it to xim seems to be most stable environment by experience. It is discussed under {{{/usr/share/doc/scim/README.Debian.gz}}} in detail.

== Working with key programs ==

=== emacs situation ===
  * emacs is quite smart and copes well with many encoding systems. So please pay extra attention to it.
  * emacs has its own unique Japanese input infrastructure (egg etc.) which does not rely on external programs such as X nor FEP.
  * If you wish to input without going through XIM, set {{{XMODIFIERS}}} value to "none" while starting emacs. From shell, execute as:
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です。このようにDebianのmenuを触るのは、{{{/usr/share/doc/menu/html}}}の手順にしたがって{{{/etc/menu}}}にカスタマイズした定義を置いてください。

=== vimの状況 ===
  vimも賢いのでいろんなエンコード体系に対応しています。基本はUTF-8で使うように設定には気を付けてください。特別な入力関係の設定は現在要りません。詳しくは、UTF-8 vim[:UTF8vimE: (English)][:UTF8vim: (日本語)]を参照ください。
In order to adjust Debian menu, place customized configuration in {{{/etc/menu}}} following method described in {{{/usr/share/doc/menu/html}}}.

=== vim situation ===
  vim is also quite smart and copes well with many encoding syatems. So please pay extra attention to it and basically try to use vim under UTF-8. No special input method configuration needed. Please refer to "Method to edit non-UTF-8 encoded text files under UTF-8 vim" [:UTF8vimE: (English)] [:UTF8vim: (Japanese)]

[:JapaneseEnvironment: (Japanese)] [:OsamuAoki: Wiki links]

Japanese Environment

I hereby describe methods to set up Japanese environment under Debian etch for your reference. (This should give good reference to other non-European languages.)

Each command is not explained here in detail. Please refer to the manpages.

<!> In order to setup and use not only Japanese environment but also multilingual environment smoothly, please select the locale with UTF-8 encoding.

Required packages for Japanese environment

Following lists required packages for Japanese environment. (For other languages, refer to the language task contents.)

  • Imput method for Japanese
    • Packages to introduce when scim system is deployed. (I use this)
      • im-switch
      • scim and its auto-installed packages as follows
        • libscim8c2a etc.
      • scim-anthy and its auto-installed packages as follows
        • anthy
        • libanthy0
        • libscim8c2a etc.
    • Packages to introduce when uim system is deployed. u
      • im-switch
      • uim and its auto-installed packages as follows
        • uim-common
        • uim-utils
        • uim-gtk2.0
        • uim-xim
        • uim-fep (required only for console)
      • uim-anthy and its auto-installed packages as follows
        • anthy
        • libanthy0
        • linuim3
        • uim-common
        • uim-utils
  • Japanese fonts
    • unifont
    • ttf-kochi-gothic
    • ttf-kochi-mincho
    • ttf-vlgothic
  • Japanese messages
    • manpages-ja
    • manpages-ja-dev
    • openoffice.org-help-ja
    • openoffice.org-l10n-ja
    • iceweasel-l10n-ja
      • (firefox-locale-ja is old and should be removed)
    • kde-i18n-ja (required only when KDE is deployed)
  • Japanese documentations
    • doc-linux-ja-text
    • doc-linux-ja-html
  • Japanese related tools
    • lv
    • nkf
    • jfbterm

What is locale

The locale is used for LANG environment variable to define language environment. It has structureof xx_YY.ZZZZ and has following meanings:

  • xx

    language

    yy

    region 

    zzzz

    encoding

The language region of Japan is ja_JP but if it is used alone it is treated as tradional ja_JP.eucJP . The language region of US (the best supported) is en_US but if it is used alone it is treated as tradional en_US.ISO8859-1.

For example, the encoding system often used for Japanese are:

These encodings are well thought out to keep them compatible within ASCII code ranges.

If you happen not to created ja_JP.UTF-8 locale, please execute followings to enable Japanese UTF-8 environment.

$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales

Each program behaves differently depending on the set up of language related environment variables.

Here, you have to pay attention to the fact that some program uses PAM (pluggable Authentification Module) and the environment variable set by PAM has priority.

Both /etc/environment and /etc/defaults/locale files define

LANG="ja_JP.UTF-8"

when Japanese is selected during the etch installation processunder etch (as of December 2006).

Under normal X environment, this is OK with me. But I do not like to use Japanese for console session after system crash or for su session. For such session, I like most robust environment for console thus I set LANG definition for them as:

LANG="en_US.UTF-8"

There may be a way to work around this problem using kon2 or frame buffer console. This is purely my taste issue.

But this will make gdm to be in English. (X session itself can be set to Japanese from gdm menu.)

I use PAM to start gdm with Japanese menu as follows. First Let's change the following line defining language environment variable in /etc/pam.d/gdm or /etc/pam.d/gdm-autologin (the actual file depends on display manager and its setup):

auth    required        pam_env.so read_env=1 envfile=/etc/default/locale

into

auth    required        pam_env.so read_env=1 envfile=/etc/default/locale-gdm

.Then create a file /etc/defaults/locale-gdm containing:

LANG="ja_JP.UTF-8"

.Then GDM becomes Japanese. Actual language (value for LANG) can be set through GDM menu. So you can still use English environment in X.

Setup of Japanese input in Debian

Setup of Japanese input in Debian is simplified by using im-switch.

For complicated setups specific to the each Japanese input method is best handled by the accompanying GUI configuration tool for each input method. For these configuration tools can be activated by clicking icon for the setup in the toolbar of Japanese input methods or clicking configuration tool icon on Gnome toolbar as [Desktop] -> [Configuration].

First you install im-switch and one of the Japanese input tool chain packages, uim or scim.

For the detail of setup, see /usr/share/doc/im-switch/README.Debian.gz, /usr/share/doc/scim/README.Debian.gz or /usr/share/doc/uim/README.Debian.gz. Here key points are described.

<!> im-switch command behaves differently if command is executed from root or not.

  • SCIM system (I use this)
    • Install packages with scim as its part of name and looking interesting to you. (Search them using "l" in aptitude) scim, scim-anthy (Japanese), ... etc.

    • Execute "im-switch -c" from user's shell and select "scim".

    • Relogin to user's account.
    • Setup input method and mode by clicking GUI toolbar. (You can reduce menu choice of input method)
    • Start SCIM input method by CTRL-SPACE
  • SCIM system with using X session
    • Install packages with scim as its part of name and looking interesting to you. (Search them using "l" in aptitude) scim, scim-anthy (Japanese), ... etc.

    • Execute "im-switch -c" from user's shell and select "scim".

    • You manually change im-switch configuration set up not to start scim. (Ugly but this is the current limitation of im-switch infrastructure.)

$ cd ~/.xinput.d
$ ls -l
lrwxrwxrwx 1 osamu osamu 28 2006-11-25 00:50 ja_JP -> /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/scim
$ cat ja_JP | sed 's/XIM_PROGRAM=.*/XIM_PROGRAM=/;s/XIM_ARGS=.*/XIM_ARGS=/'>ja.JP.file
$ mv ja.JP.file ja.JP
  • Register "scim -d in session manager started by Desktop->Preferences->Session .

  • Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.
  • Setup input method and mode by clicking GUI toolbar. (You can reduce menu choice of input method)
  • Start SCIM input method by CTRL-SPACE
  • UIM system using gnome-session (following the explanation in README.Debian of im-switch)
    • Install packages with uim as its part of name and looking interesting to you. (Search them using "l" in aptitude) uim, uim-anthy (Japanese), uim-gtk2.0, uim-xim, ... etc.

    • Execute "im-switch -c" from user's shell and select "uim".

    • To display indicator as toolbar, register "uim-toolbar-gtk" to be started in session manager started by Desktop->Preferences->Session .

      • To display indicator in systray, register "uim-toolbar-gtk-systray" instead.

      • For KDE, register "uim-toolbar-qt" instead.

    • Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.
    • Setup input method and mode by clicking GUI toolbar. (You can reduce menu choice of input method)
    • Start UIM input method by CTRL-SPACE
    • Toggle (on/off) input method mode with SHIFT-SPACE (Usually, direct input mode)

The variation of above UIM configuration to register start of UIM to the session manager is to start UIM as toolbar from shell as "uim-toolbar-gtk >/dev/null 2>dev/null &" and let it get auto registered to start upon restart. (I did not test if the delayed start of it after stabilizing uim-xim.)

  • UIM system without using gnome-session (following the explanation in README.Debian of uim)
    • Install packages with uim as its part of name and looking interesting to you. (Search them using "l" in aptitude) uim, uim-anthy (Japanese), uim-gtk2.0, uim-xim, ... etc.

    • Execute "im-switch -c" from user's shell and select "uim-toolbar".

      • To display indicator in systray, select "uim-systray" instead.
      • For KDE, select "uim-toolbar-qt" instead.
      • For no indicator to be displayed, select "uim" instead.
    • Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.
    • Setup input method and mode by clicking GUI toolbar. (You can reduce menu choice of input method)
    • Start UIM input method by CTRL-SPACE
    • Toggle (on/off) input method mode with SHIFT-SPACE (Usually, direct input mode)

In above, toolbar is started without relying on session manager. In order to prevent duplicate toolbars to be started upon relogin, you may register s * Relogin to user's account and refresh X session. ession manager not to (re)start "uim-toolbar-gtk".

Japanese input in console can be enabled by uim-fep package. (I am not familiar with jfbterm which enables Japanese display in console.) UIM has a merit in this functionarity.

  • Obtain standard en_US environment by unsetting MODIFIERS.

    • Execute "im-switch -c" and select "none".

    • Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.
  • Regain default behavior.
    • Execute "im-switch -a".

    • Relogin to user's account and refresh X session.
  • Verify setting
    • Execute "im-switch -l" .

<!> Input method started by im-switch depends on the value of locale.

<!> Japanese input method may be started under English environment using im-switch. It is quite useful to have Japanese input method under en_US.UTF-8 environment.

<!> In order to start SCIM under non-CJK locale, you need to add list of those locales to ~/.scim/global or /etc/scim/global :

/SupportedUnicodeLocales = en_US.UTF-8,en_GB.UTF_8,fr_FR.UTF-8

<!> Some people may think setting new immodule machanism to the GTK_IM_MODULE variable, but currently setting it to xim seems to be most stable environment by experience. It is discussed under /usr/share/doc/scim/README.Debian.gz in detail.

Working with key programs

emacs situation

  • emacs is quite smart and copes well with many encoding systems. So please pay extra attention to it.
  • emacs has its own unique Japanese input infrastructure (egg etc.) which does not rely on external programs such as X nor FEP.
  • If you wish to input without going through XIM, set XMODIFIERS value to "none" while starting emacs. From shell, execute as:

$ XMODIFIERS=none emacs

In order to adjust Debian menu, place customized configuration in /etc/menu following method described in /usr/share/doc/menu/html.

vim situation

  • vim is also quite smart and copes well with many encoding syatems. So please pay extra attention to it and basically try to use vim under UTF-8. No special input method configuration needed. Please refer to "Method to edit non-UTF-8 encoded text files under UTF-8 vim" [:UTF8vimE: (English)] [:UTF8vim: (Japanese)]