Using an OS in Japanese is a very big part of creating an all encompassing environment, even more so if you spend most of your day on the computer in which case the transition is vital. Typically I would expect that you will have memorized how to do the things you commonly do. You should know by heart how to launch Firefox or whatever web browser you use without reading the icon’s label. There will be more complex things that do require your attention. For these it helps to be able to switch between English and Japanese, for instance while I may be able to expand a partition by memory that’s not necessary something I would want the average user to do by feel. Actually changing the language for many will be an obstacle even though the process itself is trivial.
 
Changing OS language – Linux
If you are a user of Linux then lady luck is on your side, provided there is an actual Japanese version of your distro, you will be able to get away without reinstalling in most cases. For instance Ubuntu user’s can follow these instructions to changing the primary language. You are on your own as to finding solutions for other distros.
 
Changing OS language – Windows
Microsoft loves segmenting the market as such changing languages on Windows is a lot more obstacle prone.
 
For Windows XP it is possible to change language but only if you have access to a Windows XP MUI(Multilingual User Interface). The problem you run into is that Microsoft only sells the MUI packs to OEM, companies such as HP, Dell and Gateway who build and sell computers. Chances that your computer maker bought a Japanese MUI and then bothered to bundle it with your English computer is so slim any reasonable person would round the odd down to zero. This leaves you with really only three options, buy a Japanese copy of Windows XP, commit civil violation of Microsoft’s copyright, or a third option I will cover later in this article.
 
Windows Vista changes this for the better, translations are not only much easier to come by but are also are more complete. If you are one of the few people who shelled out for Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Business then your in luck, MUI packs can be gotten directly from Microsoft and switching between English and Japanese is a piece of cake. To switch languages on Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Business all you have to do is go to Windows Update and select Japanese, boom your done. Don’t have Windows Vista Ultimate or Windows Vista Business? Luckily there is a hack to get MUIs for other Windows Vista versions such as Home Premium, this article walks you through it. Prefer not to resort to a hack or violating copyright laws? Well in that case this should help you:
 
The Third Option
One of the most likely users of Linux are students, especially geeky students. Microsoft knows this and has not let this fact go unchecked. Microsoft’s Dreamspark program gives away copies of many otherwise expensive Microsoft program for free to anyone with a International Student ID card. One of these programs is Windows Server 2008, Server 2008 is much like Vista and is able to use drivers made for Vista as well as working with any Vista compatible program. This option is not without its downsides not least of which is that many programmers use checks in program installers and will refuse to install on an “unsupported” OS, it will also require a reinstalltion of your OS. I suggest that if you do plan to go this route that you do so first in a dual booting environment so that if it does turn out that one of your programs does not like Windows Server 2008 then you can always go back. For more information on Using Windows Server 2008 as a desktop operating system see this very helpful website .