5 Reasons You Should Learn Japanese

Many westerners are rightly accused of being a bit lazy when it comes to learning a second language. And yet learning a new language is one of the things on many people’s bucket lists. And so it should be! If we can speak to people in their own language, we have the world’s most powerful human connector on the tip of our tongue.

Learning Japanese is no different. If we want to travel, study, work or just stretch ourselves then we couldn’t pick a more interesting language to learn than Japanese. Here’s 5 brilliant reasons why:

If you do nothing more than learn Japanese from your armchair you’re still expanding your horizons – mentally that is. The ability to speak a second language has been proven to improve your memory and concentration, enhance problem-solving and critical thinking, as well as increase your ability to multitask and think creatively. And what better way to impress your friends than by showing off your new found language skills in your nearest Japanese restaurant?

Interested in studying abroad? Japan is a great choice. Its mix of urban lifestyle and heritage locations make it a unique learning environment. Japan has a reputation for its fiercely competitive education system but, surprisingly, University education is actually much more relaxed, focussing as much on extra-curricular activities as the subject. Learning Japanese would be essential to access higher education but would also be a great gateway language for further studies or for travelling across Asia. 

Japan has some of the world’s most extraordinary scenery. From the iconic Mount Fuji to the transient beauty of the Cherry Blossom Festival, from the cultural diversity of Tokyo to the sacred sites of Kyoto and Itsukushima, Japan is definitely a traveller’s dream destination. But while English-speaking travellers are accommodated with translations on signs and menus, the ability to connect in a more meaningful way with the language will make every part of your journey slicker and more pleasurable. And finding out those secret spots that only locals know cannot be beaten.

Leading the way in the automotive, communications and electronics industries as well as in the financial sector, Japan can offer foreigners a variety of career opportunities. Confidence in Japanese would be a must for a fully integrated experience. But if a move to the country for work is not on the cards, learning the language will mean your skills are always in demand. You won’t need a translator, for a start, and you become the segue between your company and a highly prosperous Japanese market.

Japan has a rich and distinctive culture. By learning Japanese you would have much more insight and understanding of the country’s lifestyle and traditions. The wealth of cultural material that would be opened to you by learning Japanese would be vast. Think only of Japan’s artistic and spiritual heritage, its ancient and recent historical events, its sporting interests and specialities such as the martial arts, and that is to say nothing of the food, fashion and other pastimes that make Japan such a unique country.