keyboard config not under preferences in x how to do it?

[Duke Togo]

I had this problem when first using ubuntu i.e. keyboard symbols were all mixed up
this was solved by going to system --> preferences --> keyboard and changing from US en to my laptop language - jp
but in xbuntu there is no keyboard preferences option
I presume I have to change the config file or something
where is it?

[philinux]

Settings Manager >keyboard. IIRC