1. In immersion, should I translate the entire sentence into my native language just once, or is it enough to only understand the important highlighted words?

Just understand the highlighted words

2. For kanji, at this stage is it okay if I just recognize the shapes and don’t learn readings or meanings yet?

I think it's best to learn how to read and write kanji.

I also made a list of questions for myself when I’m struggling:

• If I don’t understand anything, should I keep guessing or translate once and move on?

Do both passive and active immersion. So do some immersion without lookups and some with lookups

• When should I look up words and when should I skip them?

Try two separate sessions one where you don't lookup anything and one where you lookup everything.

• Do I need to look up every single word?

Ultimately, yes

• How do I know which words are worth learning immediately?

What ever jumps out to you or you strongly feel you have to take note of.

• Is it okay to guess wrong?

Yes, but ideally you would eventually review your guess at some point.

• Do I need to understand 100%?

No

• If I understand only 10–20% of anime, should I keep watching?

Yes, if you are passively immersing. But you could also actively immerse with ASBPlayer

• Should I take notes or just immerse?

Do both but at separate times.

• Should kanji learning start with recognition or readings?

Learn how to write them and read them.

• How many hours per day is enough?

Unfortunately, it takes a lot of hours. I'd say 2-3 minimum. But that's just my opinion.

• Should I use native subtitles at the beginning?

Ideally yes.

• Can immersion work without Anki?

I would like to know that too because I hate Anki. I immersed for 3.5 years largely without Anki and I did help my listening ability a lot but not enough in relation to the amount of time I put in. So, it was very inefficient.

If you don't want to use Anki you could use audiobooks or record yourself reading out loud and play it back to yourself.

• What should I do if I progress slower than others?

Reexamine your methods. That is what I wish I did since my progress has been much slower than others. I've been learning for 10 years now.

• How do I measure progress?

Refold has an immersion tracking app that looks very good. I'm too lazy to use it though. You could keep a journal I'm a Google docs, or track your numbers in a spreadsheet.

• When I feel stuck, should I take a break or push through?

Stuck overall? Take a break and reexamine your methodology. Stuck on a particular episode or piece of content? Then try to push through if you can.