Google banned April 1st jokes in 2020. October 1st is as far away as you can get on the calendar from April 1st.

I'd like to think that the Japan office was allowed to keep doing it because they are just so good at it.

There were a lot of good Googe April Fool's jokes, but way too many confusing/weird/lame ones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_April_Fools%27_...

Welp, (part) answered my own question:

Translated from Japanese from the announcement^:

Q. Today is October 1st, isn't it?

A. Yes, today is October 1st!

Q. What is the significance of today?

A. When we were considering the perfect day to announce the keyboard, we noticed the widespread use of the "101-key keyboard"—a type featuring 101 keys. So, we decided to launch it on October 1st as a nod to that standard.

^ https://blog.google/intl/ja-jp/products/android-chrome-play/...

This is hn where irony does not exist. Someone will take your comment literally and correct you.

And to make your own: https://github.com/google/mozc-devices/tree/main/mozc-convey...

Wow, they have several other input devices: https://github.com/google/mozc-devices

Geez, apparently there's still a corner of Google where the people are getting paid (presumably) to goof off...

I was curious about the history of these fancy custom split mechanical keyboards.

If I understand correctly.. the ergodox was the first popular open source keyboard (or maybe the first split one).

But it was the Helix keyboard, and then the Corne which built upon that design, which lead to an explosion in popularity of these split keyboards for makers. Both of these were designed in Japan.