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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: TacticalCoder on Thu, 03 July 2014, 21:13:43

Title: Blank coloured Topre keycaps in Japan?
Post by: TacticalCoder on Thu, 03 July 2014, 21:13:43

Hey all,

I've read in the "Post your Topre keyboard" thread that blank coloured replacement keycaps for the HHKB (and Realforce and other Topre I guess) were hard to find.

Are these any easier to find in Japan? Either on japanese websites (shipping only to Japan is ok for me) or maybe in Tokyo / Akiba ?

On Amazon.co.jp (were I bought both my HHKBs), I can only find a set with a blue esc and a blank blue keycap and control + a key puller. But then my japanese is not strong and I don't even have a font showing kanjis / kanas correctly so searching for keycaps on these japanese websits ain't easy for me.

If you find any link on amazon.co.jp or rakuten.co.jp or any address of a physical shop to visit, I'm interested  :p

Title: Re: Blank coloured Topre keycaps in Japan?
Post by: Xowie on Thu, 03 July 2014, 21:37:38

I *think* that they are disconnected. Interested as well to hear what others have to say

Title: Re: Blank coloured Topre keycaps in Japan?
Post by: riotonthebay on Thu, 03 July 2014, 21:57:30

EK sells HHKB sets here (http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,toprekeys). The RealForce sets however have been discontinued and have become very hard to come by. The blank sets are especially coveted simply because people tend to like them more.

Title: Re: Blank coloured Topre keycaps in Japan?
Post by: Puddsy on Fri, 04 July 2014, 13:55:46

you can buy a white set and dyes it, but it's extremely unlikely that there are any new ones in Japan, considering that a large % of programmers there use Topre

and they're discontinued anyway

Title: Re: Blank coloured Topre keycaps in Japan?
Post by: Michael on Fri, 04 July 2014, 14:42:48

Quote from: Xowie on Thu, 03 July 2014, 21:37:38

I *think* that they are disconnected. Interested as well to hear what others have to say

Topre corp hasn't discontinued them. There just haven't been enough orders through any retail or other source to meet their MOQ. Less demand has stalled their production. If EK or another retailer ordered them and met their MOQ, then you will see more. I don't see that happening, though.

Title: Re: Blank coloured Topre keycaps in Japan?
Post by: Puddsy on Fri, 04 July 2014, 14:45:15

well, whats the MOQ, let's see if we can get an order going

and i thought it was realforce who discontinued the making of topre keycaps, not topre themselves

Title: Re: Blank coloured Topre keycaps in Japan?
Post by: Michael on Fri, 04 July 2014, 14:59:06

Quote from: TacticalStache on Fri, 04 July 2014, 14:45:15

well, whats the MOQ, let's see if we can get an order going

and i thought it was realforce who discontinued the making of topre keycaps, not topre themselves

I believe it is 30k sets? Something like that. And Topre is Realforce (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Topre_Realforce). It's their direct to market product line. PFU manufactures HHKB.


More info (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Topre_Corporation)

Title: Re: Blank coloured Topre keycaps in Japan?
Post by: Puddsy on Fri, 04 July 2014, 15:00:49

herp

my mistake

Title: Re: Blank coloured Topre keycaps in Japan?
Post by: TacticalCoder on Fri, 04 July 2014, 15:08:20

oh ok... Thanks to all for you answers.

Bah, bad luck then: I'll keep mine as is  :)