Japanese KB layout vs US

[codek]

I'm looking to get a compact KB  like the HHKB PRO2 and wanted to maybe keep the arrow buttons which is present on the japanese version but the space bar is tiny.

Will pressing the space bar with my right hand be effected by this version?

Any benefits of using a japanese keyboard layout?  Any negatives?  I'm not japanese btw.

[chimera15]

You get access to unicode characters.  Like musical notes and all kinds of different shapes for one.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080104205836AAzrkh6

All of the shapes listed there have names they you can access through the unicode drop down. I've never found a good site that lists them though.

  It can tend to get a little uncomfortable to type in english on a Japanese board, a bigger spacebar is usually better.  It can also tend to slow you down by a few wpm on average as you do have to reach a little more than usual.