I’ve used this program for years- It’s called the NJStar Japanese Word Processor. It’s totally free to try… and the best alternative if you can’t get the Global IME for whatever reason.  (You can’t get the IME, it’s not your computer, you run linux, etc) You can download it here: http://www.njstar.com/cms/njstar-japanese-word-processor-download.

When you open it, there’s a bunch of text showing off other font samples. I assume that if you were to purchase the software, it’d go away. It says it’s a 30 day trial, but you can continue to use it once 30 days is up. ( I installed this version 9/30… more than 30 days ago. It still works fine for me!)

So delete the demo text & you’re ready to start!

Make sure that the option for Romaji is selected in the bottom left corner. If it’s not, just keep clicking it until it is. This is the input selection method, and what allows us to type in Japanese with a non-Japanese keyboard!

So lets type “Hello, My name is ____.”
こにちわ、わたしは　＿＿＿です。
Konnichiwa, watashi wa (ha) _____ desu.

As you begin to type Konni… just to the right of the romaji button a box shows what you typed, and the Japanese it has come up with.

Generally, box 1 is hiargana & 2 is katakana, but it changes with what you type. Finish typing Konnichiwa & then click box 1.
It’s as easy as that! You just typed in Japanese!

But lets finish our sentance. Put a space after こんにちわ, and type watashi. when you do the 2 boxes will be back, one with hiragana & one with the kanji for watashi. When you mouse over the boxes it gives you a dictionary of all the uses of the parts of the word. Sometimes it’s overkill & not always what you’re looking for in the definition, even though what you put in is correct. Add は (ha) to the end of watashi. (It’s a subject particle, but we’re not going to get in to grammar in this post. Just take my word for it ^_^)

Now you need to add your name. Unless you are Japanese, you name will almost always be in Katakana.  Mine in Japanese is キャシ.
To switch to Katakana, just click the button in the right bottom corner that says  カナ(kana).

If you don’t know your name in Japanese, this site can help: http://japanesetranslator.co.uk/your-name-in-japanese/ it’s pretty reliable.

When that’s done, click off the kana button & add desu.

You’re finished! You just typed a whole sentence in Japanese!
There’s so many more features of this application (even the trial version!) that I just can’t cover here. Just note the dictionary function is really handy (Tools Menu –> Dictionary).

But that’s it!

がんばって!