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Japanese Input with Mozc + Fcitx5 on Arch Linux (Wayland + Hyprland)

A step-by-step guide to setting up Japanese input on Arch Linux using Fcitx5 and Mozc. Perfect for new Linux users who need reliable Japanese text input for study, work, or communication.

By Nishimiya

This guide specifically covers installation on Arch Linux (and derivatives like Manjaro) using pacman. If you’re using a different distribution (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.), the package names and installation commands will vary. For example:

  • Debian/Ubuntu: apt install fcitx5-mozc
  • Fedora: dnf install fcitx5-mozc
  • OpenSUSE: zypper install fcitx5-mozc

Always check your distro’s documentation for the correct packages and setup steps. The Fcitx5 configuration (environment variables, themes, etc.) will remain similar across Linux systems.

1. Install Packages

Run the following command to install Fcitx5 and Mozc:

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sudo pacman -S fcitx5 fcitx5-configtool fcitx5-qt fcitx5-mozc-ut

2. Set Environment Variables

Add these lines to your shell config file (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, or ~/.profile):

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export GTK_IM_MODULE="fcitx"  
export QT_IM_MODULE="fcitx"  
export XMODIFIERS=@im=fcitx

Apply the changes:

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source ~/.zshrc  # or source ~/.bashrc/etc

Log out and back in for the variables to take effect.

3. Configure Fcitx5

  1. Open fcitx5-configtool from your app menu or terminal.
  2. Click + β†’ Uncheck “Only Show Current Language” β†’ Search “mozc” β†’ Add it.
  3. Remove unnecessary input methods (e.g., “Keyboard - English”) if desired.

4. Enable Japanese Input

Press Ctrl + Space to toggle between English and Japanese (Hiragana). Test by typing nihongo β†’ にほんご.

5. Install Themes (Optional)

With yay:

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# Dark theme  
yay -S fcitx5-skin-fluentdark-git  

# Light theme  
yay -S fcitx5-skin-fluentlight-git  

# Material Color  
yay -S fcitx5-material-color

Apply themes:

  • Right-click the Fcitx5 tray icon β†’ Configure β†’ Addons β†’ Classic UI β†’ Select a skin.

6. Customize Mozc

Right-click the Fcitx5 tray icon β†’ Mozc Settings to adjust:

  • Input mode (Romaji/Kana).
  • Dictionaries.
  • Keyboard shortcuts.

Troubleshooting

  • Fcitx5 not starting? Add it to your desktop environment’s autostart.
  • Input not working in apps? For Electron apps (e.g., VS Code), add these flags to their .desktop file:
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    --enable-features=UseOzonePlatform --ozone-platform=wayland

Done! You now have a functional Japanese input setup. For advanced options, refer to the Fcitx5 Wiki.