Ubuntu 18.04: how do I enable the Japanese keyboard and conversion to Hiragana?

I am new to Ubuntu. I downloaded 18.04 and have struggled to get the Japanese conversion working. I saw many older answers on this forum. In the end I found my solution on this page on a Japanese web site.

I thought I would share it; it is in Japanese but the screen shots are very good.

2 Answers

Using Gnome/Ubuntu 18.04:

1. Install Japanese language for your SO:

   References in Writing Japanese with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Bionic Beaver and Japanese Input.

   The path to install:

   System Settings > Region & Language > Manage Installed Languages > Language Support > Install / Remove Languages > Installed Languages and check Japanese. Click Apply and log out.

2. Install at least one of the below IMF (ibus comes by default on Ubuntu):

   sudo apt install ibus
   sudo apt install fcitx

3. Install at least one IME for your IMF (mozc comes by default on Ubuntu after install the japanese language):

   If you chose ibus run one of these commands:

   sudo apt install ibus-mozc
   sudo apt install ibus-anthy
   sudo apt install ibus-kkc
   sudo apt install ibus-skk

   If you chose fcitx run one of these commands:

   sudo apt install fcitx-mozc
   sudo apt install fcitx-anthy
   sudo apt install fcitx-kkc
   sudo apt install fcitx-skk

After all of that, select the input method (IME) from your language selector on icon tray (IMF).

The IMF (ibus) on Gnome Status Menu (is represented by a language icon selector).

All selectable IMEs (portuguese, spanish, english, japanese-mozc, japanese-anthy, japanese-kkc, japanese-skk) from this IMF (ibus).

Using the Gnome shortcut to fast-switch between IMEs: hold Super and press Space.

I tried adding the Mosz keyboard but that does not seem to work. what worked for me was adding the Anthy keyboard.