Celebrating 30 Years: The Lightest Key Feel in HHKB History
PFU will release the 'HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S (30g actuation force)' in a limited quantity on June 4, 2026, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Happy Hacking Keyboard. This special model features the lightest key feel in HHKB history with 30g actuation force, a red Control key, and center-printed keycaps. Limited to 3,000 units in Japan.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 4, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 4, 2026 at 11:26
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 22:52 (59h 26m after Collected)
PFU Limited (President and CEO: Eiji Hirahara) will release the 'HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S (30g actuation force)' from the Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) series, a programmer's keyboard, on June 4, 2026, exclusively through PFU Direct (Note 1) in a limited quantity. (Sales volume: 3,000 units in Japan. Also scheduled for sale in the United States and China.)
Supported by many fans, including programmers and engineers, the HHKB will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026.
This product is a commemorative model made possible by the special timing of the 30th anniversary, as the HHKB series has maintained a 45g actuation force for many years despite requests for a lighter touch.
For the first time in HHKB history, it adopts a 30g actuation force, realizing a light-as-a-feather 'feather touch'. While retaining the unchanged HHKB philosophy, this special 30th-anniversary model is designed to offer fans a unique typing experience.
Furthermore, it features a 30th-anniversary design red Control key and center-printed keycaps on all models, creating a subtle sense of specialness within the minimalist design. A special 30th-anniversary sticker is also included.
The HHKB was born from the desire of Dr. Eiiti Wada, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo, a pioneer of Japanese computer research, to 'make my own keyboard'. The first model, 'PD-KB01', went on sale in December 1996. The cumulative global sales volume to date is 770,000 units (Note 2).
Going forward, HHKB will continue to evolve in line with technological advancements and customer needs while cherishing its unchanging basic concepts such as key layout, compact size, and supreme typing feel.
*'The lightest key feel in HHKB history' means it is the specification with the lightest actuation force among the HHKB series products sold by the company to date.
Features
1. Special 30g Actuation Force: Realizing a 'Feather Touch'
For the first time in HHKB history, a key switch with a 30g actuation force has been adopted.
This special specification allows key input with less force than the standard lineup's 45g actuation force.
Based on the typing feel of the HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S, it achieves a light-as-a-feather 'feather touch' typing feel. Because it can be pressed with light force, fingers are less fatigued, allowing for more comfortable typing even over long periods.
2. Special Design Keycap
The Control key, a symbol of the HHKB, features a special design with a 30th-anniversary logo printed using sublimation printing.
The special design keycap is red, creating a striking impression within the minimalist design.
*The special design keycap is pre-installed on the main unit. The standard keycap is included in the product box.
3. Center-Printed Keycaps
All models of this product feature center-printed keycaps.
This achieves an appearance that harmonizes better with the HHKB's minimalist design.
Comparison of Specifications with Current Lineup
Item
Current Lineup (HYBRID Type-S)
30th Anniversary Model
Color
Black, Beige, Snow
Same as left
Layout
English layout, Japanese layout
Same as left
Key Switch
Electrostatic capacitive contactless method
Same as left
Keycap Printing
Top-left printing (Black, Beige), Center printing (Snow) / Black / Sublimation printing
Center printing (Black, Beige, Snow) / Black / Sublimation printing
Interface
Wired, Wireless (Bluetooth)
Same as left
Actuation Force
45g
30g
Key Stroke
3.8mm
Same as left
Silent Type
Yes
Same as left
Dimensions
294(W) x 120(D) x 40(H) mm *Up to top of keycaps
Same as left
Weight
English layout: 540 grams, Japanese layout: 550 grams *Excluding batteries
Same as left
Keymap Change Tool
Supported
Same as left
Included Items (excluding manuals, etc.)
AA batteries x 2
AA batteries x 2, 30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap (Control key), Keycap puller, Commemorative sticker
Price and Product Configuration
Main Unit
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S English Layout / Black (Model No.: PD-KB800BSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S Japanese Layout / Black (Model No.: PD-KB820BSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S English Layout / Beige (Model No.: PD-KB800WSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S Japanese Layout / Beige (Model No.: PD-KB820WSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S English Layout / Snow (Model No.: PD-KB800YSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S Japanese Layout / Snow (Model No.: PD-KB820YSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Release Date
June 4, 2026 *This product is sold exclusively at the PFU Direct main store.
Supported by many fans, including programmers and engineers, the HHKB will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026.
This product is a commemorative model made possible by the special timing of the 30th anniversary, as the HHKB series has maintained a 45g actuation force for many years despite requests for a lighter touch.
For the first time in HHKB history, it adopts a 30g actuation force, realizing a light-as-a-feather 'feather touch'. While retaining the unchanged HHKB philosophy, this special 30th-anniversary model is designed to offer fans a unique typing experience.
Furthermore, it features a 30th-anniversary design red Control key and center-printed keycaps on all models, creating a subtle sense of specialness within the minimalist design. A special 30th-anniversary sticker is also included.
The HHKB was born from the desire of Dr. Eiiti Wada, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo, a pioneer of Japanese computer research, to 'make my own keyboard'. The first model, 'PD-KB01', went on sale in December 1996. The cumulative global sales volume to date is 770,000 units (Note 2).
Going forward, HHKB will continue to evolve in line with technological advancements and customer needs while cherishing its unchanging basic concepts such as key layout, compact size, and supreme typing feel.
*'The lightest key feel in HHKB history' means it is the specification with the lightest actuation force among the HHKB series products sold by the company to date.
Features
1. Special 30g Actuation Force: Realizing a 'Feather Touch'
For the first time in HHKB history, a key switch with a 30g actuation force has been adopted.
This special specification allows key input with less force than the standard lineup's 45g actuation force.
Based on the typing feel of the HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S, it achieves a light-as-a-feather 'feather touch' typing feel. Because it can be pressed with light force, fingers are less fatigued, allowing for more comfortable typing even over long periods.
2. Special Design Keycap
The Control key, a symbol of the HHKB, features a special design with a 30th-anniversary logo printed using sublimation printing.
The special design keycap is red, creating a striking impression within the minimalist design.
*The special design keycap is pre-installed on the main unit. The standard keycap is included in the product box.
3. Center-Printed Keycaps
All models of this product feature center-printed keycaps.
This achieves an appearance that harmonizes better with the HHKB's minimalist design.
Comparison of Specifications with Current Lineup
Item
Current Lineup (HYBRID Type-S)
30th Anniversary Model
Color
Black, Beige, Snow
Same as left
Layout
English layout, Japanese layout
Same as left
Key Switch
Electrostatic capacitive contactless method
Same as left
Keycap Printing
Top-left printing (Black, Beige), Center printing (Snow) / Black / Sublimation printing
Center printing (Black, Beige, Snow) / Black / Sublimation printing
Interface
Wired, Wireless (Bluetooth)
Same as left
Actuation Force
45g
30g
Key Stroke
3.8mm
Same as left
Silent Type
Yes
Same as left
Dimensions
294(W) x 120(D) x 40(H) mm *Up to top of keycaps
Same as left
Weight
English layout: 540 grams, Japanese layout: 550 grams *Excluding batteries
Same as left
Keymap Change Tool
Supported
Same as left
Included Items (excluding manuals, etc.)
AA batteries x 2
AA batteries x 2, 30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap (Control key), Keycap puller, Commemorative sticker
Price and Product Configuration
Main Unit
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S English Layout / Black (Model No.: PD-KB800BSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S Japanese Layout / Black (Model No.: PD-KB820BSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S English Layout / Beige (Model No.: PD-KB800WSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S Japanese Layout / Beige (Model No.: PD-KB820WSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S English Layout / Snow (Model No.: PD-KB800YSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Product Name: HHKB Professional HYBRID Type-S Japanese Layout / Snow (Model No.: PD-KB820YSC1)
Price: 39,600 yen (tax included), 36,000 yen (tax excluded)
Remarks: ●Accessories: ・AA batteries x 2 ・30th Anniversary Special Design Keycap *Pre-installed on Control key *Control key in body color also included in product box. ・Keycap puller ・Commemorative sticker
Release Date
June 4, 2026 *This product is sold exclusively at the PFU Direct main store.
FAQ
What is the actuation force of the HHKB 30th anniversary model?
It is 30g, lighter than the standard 45g, achieving the lightest key feel in HHKB history.
What is the release date and sales volume?
It will be released on June 4, 2026, limited to 3,000 units in Japan, sold exclusively at PFU Direct.
What is the price?
It is 39,600 yen (tax included) / 36,000 yen (tax excluded) for all 6 models (English/Japanese layout, Black/Beige/Snow).