Are you on Windows? If you use my EPKL, you can have Extend mappings that input for instance (); then move the cursor between the parentheses! Like an IDE light if you like. You could do the same with, e.g., AltGr or dead key mappings if you wish.
I recommend Colemak-DH and ideally a Wide mod too! You'll deviate from the OS-packed layout soon enough anyway if you're a little adventurous and want what's best for you. Plus, Colemak-ⲔⲰ[eD] is awesome! d( ^◇^)b
]]>I will try modifiers though, thanks. Actually decided to go with similar key positions as in your extend layer. Works great for arrows and backspace.
About the Japanese keyboard, I think it could use something other than colemak since bigram situation is very different
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Since a Japanese IME should use letter mnemonics (I think?) it makes more sense to me to base it on Colemak since you type latin letters with Colemak. I think it's possible to keep both QWERTY and Colemak fresh though; I just don't want to.
]]>I have reached 38wpm today. It is still not enough but will probably get better soon.
I had some problem with switching because I decided I will type with qwerty when typing in Japanese. and i switch A LOT daily. I'm still getting confused sometimes.
I also decided to use my custom extend layer on caps lock (mostly arrows and backspace) and I have one dead key for symbols between "o" and enter.
Colemak is comfortable so I probably won't switching back. I am still not sure what to do about the Japanese.
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