Two years ago, I was in Osaka and spent part of an afternoon trying out several high-end keyboards in the large "Yodobashi Camera" store. They had the Happy Hacking Professional as well as almost every model by Majestouch, Topre and the like.
For what it's worth, the Fujitsu Libertouch, which had just come out, was my favorite of the bunch (considering key feeling only), and I would have bought it on the spot if there had been an English layout version. The narrow space bar on Japanese keyboards drives me nuts.
Second-best was the HHKB Pro, but it's too minimalist for my taste. I want arrow keys and F-keys without having to chord.
Third was the Topre, but I found it a bit too mushy compared to the first two, and decided it wasn't worth the money. So I came out of the store empty-handed, and continued to use my good old Model M for two years. I emailed Fujitsu, asking them about a US-layout version of the Libertouch, but only ever received polite but noncommittal replies.
But now we have a baby, and since the computer is in the next room to his crib, I can't go CLACKETY-CLACK all night like I used to do. So I broke down and bought a Realforce 86U through a Japanese acquaintance who came to visit a few months ago. That's what I'm using now to type this message. I like it, but had I known the US-layout Libertouch was coming out, I would probably have waited this one out.
