I need a visual basic routine that will convert Japanese Kanji to
Hiragana. I prefer VB.NET but will except VB 6.0 or even C#. This must
work on an Englsih version Windows XP (I'm running the latest version
of the Japanese IME.)

The capability to do this is exposed by the IME's API. The IME will
allow you to select a Kanji character, right-click and select
Reconvert from the shortcut menu and press 'F6' for Hiragana. I want
to do the same thing programmatically. I found source code to do it,
but was told it only works with Japanese OS.

Here is the link to that if it is any help:
http://www.psytec.co.jp/tips/0104/

Also, here is a link to some MS IME API pages:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/intl/ime_038z.asp

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Request for Question Clarification by mathtalk-ga on 17 Aug 2003 07:57 PDT

Hi, Max:

I'm wondering what level of functionality is needed.  Would it be
sufficient to work out a mapping at the Unicode character level (Kanji
in, Hiragana out)?

Or is there more to your requirement?

regards, mathtalk-ga

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Clarification of Question by maxhodges-ga on 10 Sep 2003 11:49 PDT

Sorry, I didn't see that this needed attention until now. 

You can't just create a one to one correspondance between Kanji
characters and Hiragana characters. For one, several hiragana
characters could be used for a single Kanji. i.e. the Kanji for SUSHI
is one character in Kanji but two characters in Hiragana (SU SHI.)
Secondly, the same kanji has different readings when used as
compounds.

I basically need someone to just figure out how to use the IME API to
do what I can do with the IME GUI.