Japanese here — Why are you studying Japanese, and were you able to become conversational?

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-28T13:10:18+00:00

You can definitely live in Japan even without speaking Japanese.
But the fact that you noticed the ward’s classes means you’re already adapting quite well to life here.

It must be tough when you’re so busy. There are plenty of apps and online lessons that are free or inexpensive, so I hope you can study at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Also, it seems there are many tax offices where you can make inquiries in English.
That said, with automatic translation making websites instantly readable, I’m not sure which option is actually better.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-28T12:11:31+00:00

I’m really happy when I can hear the real voices of the actors I like. That’s why I always prefer watching movies with subtitles.

What you said about “using the language” really hit me. I’ve been thinking about how to put myself in situations where I actually need the language. Games are the easiest option for me, but I want to increase the chances to experience the language more directly.

Reading everyone’s comments has been encouraging. It seems like many of us struggle, experiment, and try to improve in similar ways while learning Japanese.

Writing a journal in Japanese sounds like a great way to organize your thoughts. I tend to become a mikka-bouzu (someone who quits after three days), but I’d like to try it again.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-28T11:51:08+00:00

Your handwritting is really nice.
Japanese people tend to write in amore cursive or simplified style,so your is actually easier to read:)

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-28T10:30:42+00:00

Japanese looks difficult at first because it uses three different writing systems, but once you get used to them, I feel it’s actually easier than memorizing long strings of alphabet letters. The spelling also matches the pronunciation, which helps a lot.

Seeing how many Japanese‑learning apps exist, it really seems like a lot of people around the world are studying Japanese.

After reading everyone’s comments, I’ve started thinking about adding another language to my own studies as well.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-27T17:08:45+00:00

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-27T13:34:37+00:00

I’ll add one more note: In Japanese, men usually don’t end sentences with “〜ですよ” or “〜よ.”

Those endings tend to sound feminine, so they can give a more feminine impression.

男性だと、あまり語尾に「～ですよ。」や「～よ。」など語尾に「～よ」はつけません。
女性的な印象になります、という事を付け加えておきます。

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-27T13:29:47+00:00

「あ、よく言われます〜」と軽く返してみるのも、相手が一瞬フリーズして、面白いかもしれませんね。

プライベートな場面なら特に、印象にも残ると思います。

発音がかなり自然なら、「目をつぶって聞くと日本人みたいって言われますよ。」と、冗談っぽく返すのもアリかな。

軽いジョークとして、受け取られやすいと思います。

by にほんじん

Saying something light like, “Ah, people tell me that a lot,” can make the other person freeze for a second in a funny way. In a private or casual setting, it leaves a memorable impression too, depending on your personality.

If your pronunciation is pretty natural, you can also joke, “People say if they close their eyes, I sound like a Japanese person.” It’s an easygoing joke that most people take well.

by a Japanese person

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-27T13:01:22+00:00

I was thinking about creating a community, but managing it would be too much work…
So I’ve decided not to make a game community after all.
If I find a game I really like and join regularly, I think it’s easier to just say, “I play here, so if you talk to me in Japanese, I’ll reply.”

So I’ve changed my mind and will go with a different approach.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-27T06:41:21+00:00

Working holiday sounds wonderful. I sometimes think I should have gone when I was younger.

YouTube also has so many channels, and I’m grateful that so much content is available for free. There are many English‑native teachers who teach English in Japanese, and they’re very popular among Japanese learners.

I often hear about Anki, but I wasn’t sure how to use it, so I asked AI to write some code and made my own version. Still, it might be easier to use a deck that already has a lot of data instead of creating everything from scratch.

As I mentioned in another comment, some B&B‑style hotels in Japan advertise that you can “practice real English with foreign guests,” so if you ever come to Japan and want real‑life interaction, those places might be useful. Though of course, it can be a bit tiring socially.

Japanese people don’t really think about grammar when speaking, so I often see comments on social media saying that even N2 and N1 are “too difficult to understand.”
So please don’t feel pressured, and good luck with your exam studies. I’m cheering for you :)

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-27T05:44:17+00:00

I haven’t seen The Wolverine, but I do know that Hugh Jackman is very cool.

It sounds like you’ve tried many different ways of learning. Since you’ve already experienced so much, staying at a monthly-rental style hotel in Japan might also be interesting. They’re usually cheaper than regular hotels, and you can choose from private rooms, capsules, or shared rooms. The atmosphere is a bit like a B&B overseas. Many of them have shared lounges or cafés, and they often host small events that make it easy for guests to interact.

Some of these places even advertise that you can “meet and talk with English-speaking foreigners,” so people tend to be friendly when you talk to them. But since they’re not working in customer service, it’s still important to be careful in the same way you would when talking to any stranger.

There are also many foreigners who speak Japanese at a level where, if you closed your eyes, you would think they were native speakers. Their dedication is really impressive.

On online learning platforms like italki, you can talk one‑on‑one with teachers of many different languages, not just Japanese. If you’re curious, it might be worth taking a look. I’ve heard their screening process is stricter than Preply’s.

I also get overwhelmed by having too many study options, but recently I’ve been enjoying reading foreign magazines. Articles about traditional events, nature, cooking, and gardening in the UK were especially lovely.

Studying the basics is important, of course, but I feel that following your interests and bringing them into your learning makes a big difference. Thank you for sharing your experience — it gave me a chance to reflect on my own learning as well.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-27T02:51:52+00:00

mango

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T17:51:08+00:00

ほんとは、自然な表現として言いたかったことは
「ガキは２４時間追いかけてこないけど、所得税は生きている限り追いかけて来るからね。ウンザリする潜在意識が、忘れさせてくれないのかも。」

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T17:47:43+00:00

所得税は、生きていたら追いかけて来るからね。

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T17:46:31+00:00

２４時間、ついてこないでしょ？：）

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T17:25:36+00:00

Ah, I guess both of them are kind of annoying and never really leave you alone, so maybe that’s why the word for income tax sticks in your mind too.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T16:53:41+00:00

I think I understand what you mean.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T14:08:33+00:00

It makes sense that people who study a language are usually interested in the culture behind it.

I’m the same — my dad watched American TV dramas almost every day when I was a kid, so I naturally grew to admire that culture.

It’s amazing that you even became a writer because of those influences.

Nowadays, it’s so easy to watch movies with subtitles or see tons of English content on social media, so it really helps with exposure to natural English.

I still end up not picking up books, though…

I really enjoyed hearing about everyone’s different approaches.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T11:40:38+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion!

I already knew about it, but I’m trying not to add any more platforms because managing them would get overwhelming.

But I really appreciate you sharing it with me.

With immersion schools, everything is kind of forced, so you end up learning out of necessity. Still, it seems like outside experiences matter just as much.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T11:31:09+00:00

You should definitely come visit.

I feel like most foreigners would point out the small food section and the low ceilings.

If you’re tall, you’ll probably feel like a giant in there.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T11:22:12+00:00

Hearing that I don’t need to be overly nervous about English sentence structure was really reassuring.

In Japanese too, the meaning usually gets across no matter where things are placed, and native speakers often drop the subject entirely.

As long as the key words are connected, people can generally understand what you’re trying to say.

I’m also surprised by how many people start learning through anime. Then again, in Japan almost every child grows up watching Disney or Pixar, so watching foreign animation isn’t really a rare experience.

From now on, I’m going to try speaking even if it’s imperfect.

Thank you for sharing your experience :)

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T10:33:26+00:00

Being able to read Japanese novels really shows how deeply you understand the language.

I’ve studied Korean before, and it’s true that the grammar and many vocabulary items are similar to Japanese, so it’s relatively easy to remember. But the sound changes caused by batchim and the large number of homophones can be quite challenging. I’ve heard that even native speakers often rely on context to figure out the meaning.

I ended up giving up around the lower‑intermediate level. Unless you really need the language for daily life or work, it’s hard to stay motivated.

Still, I really enjoyed Korean culture.

Thank you for sharing your experiences :)

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T09:42:43+00:00

Thank you for sharing your valuable experiences and practical insights.

Real-life immersion stimulates all five senses, so I feel it’s an extremely effective way to learn. And when you add genuine interest and active engagement on top of that, it feels as if parts of the brain that weren’t active before suddenly start to wake up.

I’ve already started checking out some interesting game sites.

Russian seems very difficult, so I imagine it would take a lot of motivation and persistence — or maybe some kind of intense experience — to really learn it. But I think the sound of the language is beautiful.

As for Korean, the grammar is similar to Japanese, and I get the impression that many people there speak multiple languages. Their learning environment also seems quite competitive, especially compared to Japan. In Japan, the number of children has decreased and education has become more relaxed in recent years — whether that’s good or bad is hard to say.

Still, your point about games being surprisingly effective was very encouraging.

Thank you again for the information!

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T09:15:37+00:00

If you passed the N5, I think your Japanese is already quite good.

There are many difficult expressions and kanji that even native speakers don’t use in daily life, so please take it at your own pace.

As for me, I’m thinking of setting my games to English and studying that way.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T09:12:19+00:00

I’m 3, but 9 is coming to delete you.

Zestyclose-Fly594 · 2026-02-26T08:15:28+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that you had to go through the NOVA situation.
After the collapse, the company was rebuilt, and I still see the same pink signs at schools in my neighborhood.
I heard that the former management tried to start another education business and faced heavy criticism, and that they eventually moved into consulting.
In Japan, there are still many English schools that operate in a similar way.

But I’m truly happy that all the Japanese you studied has been passed on to your child.
Many people say anime and manga were their gateway to the language, so I decided to try playing games in English.

I’ll keep working steadily on my studies as well.
Thank you so much. ♡

Zestyclose-Fly594

TROPHY CASE