Lunacy Kanagawa Gaming Keyboard Review – A Work of Art

Lunacy recently released a new mechanical keyboard, the Kanagawa, inspired by the famous woodblock print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. We’ve had a look at the new keyboard and are ready to share what else it has to offer, beyond its distinctive appearance.

Technical specifications

• Form factor: 98%
• Structure: classical
• Switches: mechanical G3ms Diamond
• Number of keys: 96 + roller
• Layout: ANSI, en/ru
• Hot swappable switches: yes
• Keycaps: PBT, CSA profile
• NKRO: yes
• Backlight: RGB (customizable)
• Multimedia: Fn+keys
• Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz radio
• Compatibility: Windows, macOS
• Body material: plastic
• Wrist rest: no
• Dimensions: 431 x 192 x 65 mm
• Weight: 1010 g
• Battery: 4000 mAh
• Cable length: 1.8 m
• PO: yes
• Features: additional USB port, display

Equipment and design

Lunacy Kanagawa comes in a large, thick cardboard box painted dark blue. The lid features a schematic of the model, while the sides feature the keyboard’s name and Japanese- inspired icons . At the bottom is an engraving and a message addressed to the owner.

The set includes a lot of cool accessories:

• USB-A to USB-C fabric-braided cable for wired connection and charging;
• Set of additional keycaps;
• Set of spare switches;
• Double-sided keycap and switch remover;
• 2.4 GHz dongle and adapter for it;
• Key for disassembling the keyboard case;
• Plate and additional layers of sound insulation for customization ;
• User manual and welcome card;
• And also a wide and durable mat with a polyester surface on a rubber backing, made in an oriental style.

Essentially, the Lunacy Kanagawa is a premium version of the previously reviewed Lunacy In Space keyboard , inspired by Eastern aesthetics and enhanced with exclusive upgrades: premium G3MS Diamond switches and a beautiful mousepad. Furthermore, it’s a limited edition model: 2,222 units were produced, and each sample has its own serial number—for example, our device is number 2213.

The keyboard features a 98% form factor and 96 keys, including a numpad. The tightly packed design allows for a compact design, meaning it doesn’t take up much desk space—roughly the same as TKL models, or even 75% of the space.

The Lunacy Kanagawa design is inspired by the woodblock print “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. The keys feature a colorful print, creating a beautiful artistic composition depicting a mountain landscape, cherry blossoms, and a setting sun. The developers also included the Lunacy brand symbol—a crescent moon—on the Esc key.

By the way, if you are attracted to Eastern aesthetics, but want something in Chinese style, Lunacy has released a limited edition Longwei model, which refers to the legends of the Chinese dragon .

The new model’s case is made of plastic and is well-assembled—no creaks or flex. The front edge features a stylized model name. The volume control roller is on the left. The rear edge features a USB-A pass-through port (for example, a mouse dongle), a USB-C port for wired connection and charging, a three-position switch for selecting connection modes (2.4 GHz, USB, Bluetooth), and a switch for switching between operating systems (Win/Mac).

The base features silicone feet to keep the keyboard stable on the desk surface , and a pair of fold-out feet that can be used to raise the rear of the case for more comfortable typing.

The finishing touch to the Lunacy Kanagawa’s design is a small display that, by default, displays the date and time, connection type, and battery level. It can also be used to customize the keyboard backlight and display an image or GIF animation.

The keycaps are made of high-quality, double-molded PBT plastic. The characters are wear-resistant, ensuring the keyboard will retain its original appearance even after several years. The Latin and Cyrillic characters are translucent, allowing you to work and play even without external light. The CSA keycaps feature rounded corners and a wide contact surface, making typing even more comfortable.

Connection and setup

The Lunacy Kanagawa supports three connection modes: wired USB, wireless 2.4 GHz, and Bluetooth. For gaming, the first two options are recommended, as Bluetooth can cause significant input lag. However, Bluetooth allows you to connect the keyboard to up to three devices and seamlessly switch between them—for example, if you use the device not only with a PC but also with a tablet or TV .

Hotkeys allow you to control some of the device’s functions out of the box. They can be used to launch system apps, switch music tracks, and select the backlight effect, color, brightness, and speed . For more flexible customization, download the proprietary driver   from the Lunacy website.

The app lets you assign key commands, record macros, select backlight effects, set custom display animations, reset keyboard settings, and more. While the keyboard is ready to use immediately after powering on, the software allows you to take advantage of a few more advanced features beyond the basics.

Impressions of use

As noted above, the Lunacy Kanagawa differs from the Lunacy In Space in that it features premium G3MS Diamond switches, which feature a gold-plated double spring, resulting in a firmer key press compared to the G3MS Onyx switches: 55g of actuation force and 67g of full actuation force. This eliminates accidental key presses and provides a noticeable tactile feedback.

At the same time, thanks to hot-swapping support, the included switches can be replaced with any compatible ones without soldering.

The model features top-notch noise isolation. The circuit board and plate are isolated from the case by dampers, which dampen vibrations and unwanted typing sounds, while layers of foam and silicone under the plate and circuit board ensure smooth and pleasant typing. As a result, the keyboard sounds refined and quiet. Additionally, you can further customize the device’s sound using the included plate and noise isolation.

The built-in 4000 mAh battery provides approximately 12–14 hours of battery life with the backlight and display on. The keyboard can be fully charged in approximately one and a half hours.

Conclusion

The Lunacy Kanagawa is a unique piece that lovers of all things original and oriental will surely want to add to their collection. This model attracts attention with its unique appearance, but it also has other advantages: high-quality assembly, premium switches, a built-in display, and a comprehensive set of accessories, including a very nice mouse pad.

One of the downsides is the high price, but considering the limited number of samples and the decent set of accessories, this nuance is quite justifiable.

The Lunacy Kanagawa is definitely worth a look, and this keyboard will surely look perfect on the modern gamer’s desk, but the final decision on which one to choose is, of course, entirely up to you.