So, you want to learn Japanese? A guide for anyone interested in Japanese study

Hello, my name is Peter, and I've lived in Japan for nearly ten years, working as an English teacher for five years, and since 1996, as an exporter of cool Japanese pop-culture related items (toys, magazines, CDs, Video CDs and DVDs, etc.). If you're interested in Japan and are reading this now, I hope you'll stop by and see my life's work, J-List, a "wonderful toybox of things from Japan."

Living in Japan, as I do, I am often asked two questions from people interested in Japan. The first thing people ask me is how they can find information on teaching English in Japan. For them, I've got a page entitled Peter's Generic Teaching Information, which offers a little useful information on teaching ESL in Japan, in addition to various witty comments by myself.

The other question I'm often asked is, how does one learn Japanese. Since I truly love Japan and the Japanese language, I wanted to be as helpful as I could to people who asked me for information on studying Japanese. It's impossible to answer everyone's questions with as much detail as I'd like in individual emails, so I've decided to create this reference file.

So read on, if you're interested.

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3 Comments:

JUNNGERL said...

thank you 4 putting that nfo up. i really needed it. i didn't no where 2 start. i am anothr person u hav helpd. irregardless f d rotten comment i saw on d next page. THANX I APPRECI8 UR EFFORT & D TIME U TOOK TO WRITE THESE PAGES

4:23 PM

Kelly said...

I think junngerl needs to work on english first...

Thank you for this, it's very informative and helps a great deal. Each summer I study Japanese and each year anime is a little easier to understand without subtitles. I always come back here for a quick refresher before getting into harder things.

4:53 PM

Kirby Uber said...

fairly off topic, peter, but as i have a lack of japanese speakers to run this by, here goes.

kanji tattoos.

in 2003 i lost a friend to suicide. he had a tattoo on his left shoulder that said, in french "born to die"

he was obsessed with french culture and literature.

i, am a bit obsessed with japanese culture and literature, Yukio Mishima being a favorite.

so.

i have been wanting a tattoo on my left shoulder, in japanese, reading as close as possible, "born to die"

the closest i have been able to come is Shôja hitsumetsu, which i am under the impression means "all that lives dies"

your advice would be most greatly appreciated.

k.

8:42 PM