| ATOK | |
| Developer: | JustSystems |
| Released: | 1983 |
| Latest Release Version: | ATOK for Windows (Tech Ver.34) |
| Latest Release Date: | February 1, 2024[1] |
| Operating System: | Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android |
| Genre: | Input method editor |
| License: | Trialware |
ATOK (; Japanese: エイトック pronounced as /ja/) is a Japanese input method editor (IME) produced by JustSystems, a Japanese software company.
ATOK is an IME with roots from KTIS (Kana-Kanji Transfer Input System) come with JS-WORD, the Japanese word processor software for PC-100 in 1983,[2] but it now supports a variety of platforms including macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.
Once ATOK meant Automatic Transfer Of Kana-kanji. Now, it means Advanced Technology Of Kana-kanji Transfer. It is occasionally taken to stand for Awa-TOKushima, site of the headquarters of JustSystems, or Alphabet TO Kanji.[3]
Functions vary between versions for different platforms, and the following list is not exhaustive.
the latest version for Windows is 31.1.6; for macOS, 31.0.3; for iOS, 1.6.2; and for Android, 1.8.15.[4] They are available via the ATOK Passport subscription and an annual subscription which comes with Ichitaro.[5] Linux, OS/2, Palm OS, Pocket PC, and Windows CE are no longer supported.[6]
KTIS and ATOK was originally a component of JustSystems' word processor software. Ichitaro released in 1985 allowed the use of ATOK 4 in other MS-DOS applications of the PC-98 platform. ATOK 7 was bundled with Ichitaro 4, and was available as a standalone product in 1992.[7] In DOS era, ATOK was spreading with Ichitaro despite competition from VJE, Matsutake, and some other software. Windows 3.1, the first retail version of Japanese Windows, bundled the Microsoft IME (MS-IME) input method. MS-IME 97 contained notable improvements, and was bundled with a new retail box of Windows 95 and Office 97. The difference between ATOK and MS-IME went smaller.[8]
In 2008, JustSystems began a subscription service, ATOK Passport.[9] ATOK 2017 was the last version to be physically shipped as boxed software.[10]
Sun Microsystems chose ATOK as their input method when running under the JP locale in Solaris 10 and above, enhancing Sun's already strong Japanese language support.[11]
For embedded systems, JustSystems has developed +ATOK. Some Japanese mobile phones, PDAs, video game consoles (PSP, PS3 and Wii), digital video recorders, automotive navigation systems come with +ATOK.