But is Studying Japanese Necessary for Living in Tokyo?
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”
Hi there Stylish Friends,
Today I want to discuss a common question about living in Japan: Should I study Japanese if I want to live here? I did some research on what other articles say and it always comes down to the same thing: not really, especially if you live here short term. I almost completely DISAGREE with this. I have lived in Japan for more than 8 years and speak a good amount of Japanese (business level if I had to classify it in LinkedIn terms) and I think you should, no matter how short or long you want to live in Japan. Here’s why:
Why people say you don’t need to study
The first thing that needs to be cleared up about all these articles and suggestions is what the definition of studying in Japan and the short term are. In my opinion, the short term is a couple of months, not years. Honestly, I can’t blame people that are only living here for a short bit to not study the language, but a couple of years? Nah, not an excuse.
I get that the language is difficult, but covering the basics is not rocket science (trust me I know, I work in the space industry). This brings me to the studying part. A lot of people think that studying means mastering a language, which isn’t true. I feel like making a genuine effort can be enough for many cases, especially short-term ones.
Why you should study Japanese
Yes, the amount of English signs and menus has significantly increased and more and more Japanese have been trying hard to learn English, but Japan still has a long way to go to become an international city. Tons of stuff still is fully in Japanese (quite some hilarious Facebook/Instagram pages about that) and the amount of people speaking proper English is limited.
So how much should I study?
Of course, it’s personal, but here is what I suggest:
Gonna live here for less than a year?
I suggest covering the real basics, not those ‘survival Japanese’ phrases you see in LonelyPlanet. Just try to cover template phrases like ‘i want …’, ‘where is …’, counters, etc. Save yourself some time so you can explore more!
1~3 years?
Definitely learn the hiragana and katakana, and around 100 kanji. It’s not as much as you’d think and it helps you so much. Pointing and choosing is something you can do anywhere, but it’s very satisfying to learn the basics, making a conversation with shop/restaurant staff so much smoother. A lot of places stick to a very standard script/template when dealing with customers and this makes it very easy to master these basics.
More than 3 years?
Let’s be real here, this isn’t short-term anymore, and ‘I’m not sure how much longer I’m staying’ is not an excuse. We all know how that ‘I will clean it tomorrow’ mindset ends up like.
I suggest taking some classes if this is the case. I was fortunate enough to have studied while I was in university, so I had a good base level before even moving here, but I got stuck after living here for a bit. So I wanted to drag myself out of this habit
Signing up for classes really helps to step up your Nihongo game. You’re pushed by both having a schedule and financial investments. Just once enough is already enough to get you into the study habit. Also, consider signing up to take the JLPT (Japanese Language and Proficiency Test). Any level would help for daily life but consider going all the way up to N2 if you want to work in Japanese. Rather than motivating yourself to study, try to make it a habit.
‘But I know tons of people who live here for years and manage perfectly fine without Japanese!’
Yeah sure, it’s totally possible, but think about what you miss out on. I managed to discover so many new places, meet so many cool people, and enjoy so many unusual meals, just because I speak Japanese. Surviving isn’t the reason to adjust, it’s enjoying life more.
Where and how should I study
Apps
Call me old-fashioned but I don’t think apps are the best option for studying languages, especially language learning apps. If you would use an app to study a language I recommend just sticking to a Flashcard app because the rest is too inefficient. The most commonly used flashcard app is Anki. They have apps as well as a desktop version of their app, including many decks to study Japanese.
Language Schools
The best way is still to attend a language school. It will cost you more than using apps and studying yourself, but you will greatly benefit from it. First of all you will not only learn how to read and write, but also speak. Being able to speak Japanese without an accent is difficult so you need all the exposure you can get. Tackling this from the start helps you become more fluent over time too. Besides that, you have someone to correct you and give you more examples.
Here are some recommended language schools:
- Coto Japanese Language Academy
- Kudan Institute of Japanese Language
- Tokyo Central Japanese Language School
Make life in Japan even more fun
Quick orders
Of course, you can point out stuff when ordering food/drinks in an Izakaya and that usually gets you there, but many menus aren’t readable without good old google translate or asking. And google is coming a long way, but it still goes bananas sometimes, leaving you in the dark when ordering. Having the ability to order and ask about stuff on the menu makes life easier and gives you more time to enjoy things that are worthy of your precious time.
Love
If you live in a certain place for a longer term, the chance is that you will end up dating a local. Even if your partner speaks great English, the chance is that her family doesn’t. Think about how it makes them feel and how you miss out (although some consider that a blessing) on communicating with your (future) in-laws.
Blend in and be Polite
Appreciation goes a long way. Think about your time back home when you saw tourists/immigrants/expats trying their best to order in the local language. And how it can annoy locals when people don’t put effort to adjust to your culture. Now think about how a lot of Japanese will feel about you doing exactly that to them! Communication is key everywhere, it makes people treat you so much better if you adjust to their ways of thinking.
Save yourself the embarrassment
I am not talking about messing up while trying to speak with locals here. That is, in my opinion, the best way to get better. So keep trying, no matter how much you know or understand!
What I am talking about here is that moment when people ask you how long you have been here. Usually, after hearing you live in Japan for years, they will reply ‘oh your Japanese must be good then!’. If you don’t speak a word and have lived here for 5 years, I can not imagine that question will make you feel good.
Save yourself the embarrassment, confidence comes in many forms, and one of them is the ability to communicate.
It’s always a choice
At the end of the day, it all depends on the person. What you enjoy depends on you, and is personal. Very personal. My reason why I vouch for studying Japanese, or any local language for that matter, is to be able to enjoy what you do even more. No exceptions.
Don’t live differently, live better.
