Learning Japanese is like playing chess blindfolded, that’s why I love it
Ever wondered why Japanese feels so hard for Western language speakers, and why English feels just as tricky for Japanese speakers? After 30 years of studying Japanese (and speaking five Western languages), I can tell you: learning those other languages was a walk in the park compared to Japanese. This one is a whole different mountain.
Western languages thrive on rules. Learn them, apply them, and you’re good. Japanese? It’s a language of context and nuance, where meaning shifts depending on who you’re talking to, what the situation is, and even what’s left unsaid. It’s less like following a map and more like feeling your way through a forest at night without a torch.
That’s why I often hear from my native speaker husband:
“You can’t use this perfect sentence in this context.” Grammatically flawless, socially awkward. Japanese is all about reading the room.
Here’s the funny part: at a recent event, I understood another non-native Japanese speaker perfectly, while my Japanese colleague said he was hard to follow. Honestly? I’ve had the same experience with native speakers! Sometimes, shared struggle creates its own clarity.
And here’s something surprising: for me, learning kanji is the easy part. There’s a logic to how they’re built, and they’re fun to memorize, like solving little puzzles. The real challenge is mastering the subtleties of formal Japanese.
For Japanese speakers learning English, the challenge flips: suddenly, directness matters, pronouns matter, and word order can change everything. It’s not just language, it’s culture.
So yes, it’s hard. But that’s what makes it beautiful. Languages aren’t just tools, they’re windows into how people think, feel, and connect. And Japanese? It keeps me curious every single day. Keeping up Japanese outside of Japan adds another layer of challenge, so I make it a point to dedicate time daily, not just to maintain my level, but to keep improving.
What I’m using to keep learning abroad:
WaniKani for kanji & vocabulary
Watching Japanese movies and series for listening and reading practice
Catching up on news and documentaries via YouTube for contemporary Japanese
I should really read novels, but that’s tough after a long day at work. So now, I’ve decided to bite the bullet and get (re)immersed in formal Japanese, and I’ll start working with a private coach.
After 30 years, I’ve learned one universal truth: in Japanese, the only rule that always applies is… there’s always an exception.
