English language Mandrake 10.1 with Japanese keyboard: Some keys don?t work.
 

I don?t know why, but ever since I?ve switched to (English-language) Mandrake Linux from Winbloat a couple years ago, six of the keys on my Japanese 109-key keyboard don?t work. Also, PuppyLinux, a live CD distro I used prior to getting Mandrake up and running, exhibits the same behavior.

What is normally the Qwerty period key, which is the V key on the Dvorak layout that I prefer, is the only nonfunctional key in the alphanumeric main body. (So I had to remap the letter V to the right of L!) The other five are in the numeric keypad: /, 1, 2, 7 and 8. Also, for the record, the five keys found on Japanese but not US keyboards -- kanji off, kanji on, kana type, yen sign and RO -- don?t do anything either. The zenhan key to the left of the 1/! key functions like a normal grave/tilde key.

Anyway, I?ve been knocking myself out trying to figure out what the problem could be. One theory I have is that maybe these keys have different scancodes on the Japanese keyboard than on the US keyboard, but I may be wrong. Another is that it?s probably set up with the wrong scancode set.

Also, there?s a chance I may be able to go to Tokyo and get a US keyboard instead. If that?s possible, do any of you think I should give that a try?

Problem solved! I simply bought an English language keyboard at a duty-free store in Akihabara (Tôkyô). All the keys work fine now.