Why are you learning Japanese ?

[ZellX]

i am going and learning the kanji cards very slowly i just started a minute ago and i know 1-5 so far.

[XxSirenxX]

im hoping to take some classes at my school since i think its one of the requirements...the only language that seems to interest me..and seems like all my friends at the moment..so i will be able to understand them..and maybe be able to understand a few of the japanese manga i have

[Esse]

Nihon de riugakushitaindeskara......

[Lady Skywalker]

Initially, my motivation to learn Japanese was due to an upcoming trip to Kyoto. I thought learning some basic 'travel' Japanese might come in handy. Being a bit of a language nerd, though, I became interested in the language itself and made the decision to study it properly (well, by self-study anyway).

I'm also mad about sushi/sashimi and Japanese traditional culture so learning the Japanese language should help me delve deeper into these interests. I wonder if anyone's ever tried learning Japanese just because they liked sushi...I'm quite tempted to 'specialise' in food-related Japanese.

[Janet Merai]

I found interest in Japanese when I wanted to understand what was going on in a Doujinshi I found.

Later on, because I was incomprehensible back then to understand the language, I recently got inspired by Inuyasha on Adult Swim long ago about 4-5 years back and looked for subtitled episodes online and found out about the Japanese language.

From there, I studied Japanese but still had issues with my comprehension.
Years later, now, I am actually understanding Japanese more than I ever did and finally I can know what I am reading

In some Manga's I read, I can understand around 7% of it without having to look at a Hiragana and Katakana list XD

I am extensively learning it too

However, I plan to create video games, visit Japan and make Japanese friends, not only that but write Japanese in my art (I am an artist) and be a translator to make a huge sum of money XD

I have A's in all my English classes, and Japanese is going to be my second language, then I plan to learn other languages too, the most sought out ones, really :P

Other than that, Japanese was started with me because I wanted to know what was going on in a Doujinshi XD

[BEAT]

Every other thing I do somehow rolls back to Japanese. With it I could have an easier life, being able to Read, and speak Japanese rather than hope for a translator and such. And it's just Cool.
I am bent on moving out of the country and living somewhere else because the US is getting to me, so my ideas are Australia, Europe (as in England or Ireland) or Japan.

[LeePhilippines]

ahm, hello everyone!!! happy greetings. I wanted to know Japanese language because I am very interested to make a manga. Actually, I am now finalizing it but it took me many months to assemble it because I don't know how will I name my characters in Japanese since I am a Filipino.

[vulcanmeister]

Hi,
This is my first post. I am learning Japanese because:
1. I have always been interested in Japanese culture
2. Learning about other languages is fascinating.
3. I like Japanese music (Spitz, Miki Imai,etc) and want to understand the words.
4. My son wants to go to Japan someday and live.

My son and I are just beginning our study. We are using the Pimsleaur Japanese I tapes right now. We both have learned Hiragana. He is ahead of me though. He already knows Katakana and has started learning Kanji. I am just starting on Katakana. We like to watch anime, listen to music, and watch Japanese movies (we watch The Blind Samurai series every week)!
It is sometimes challenging teaching ourselves but we are commited to study every day! It is nice to be able to see how others have learned and to get helpful information so we may improve our study. Glad I found this forum!

[moyashi]

@samuraitora
you got yourself a deal there

@vulcanmeister
yoroshiku,

wow, that's any interesting way to bond with your son!!! Great!!
gee, and I thought playing catch was the typical way but studying together and watching same types of shows. dam, I'm impressed!

cheers

[samuraitora]

@ vulcanmeister
douzo yoroshiku
welcome and enjoy your stay...this is one of the best places on the net.

@ moyashi
Where are you in Japan, Sapporo???

[moyashi]

Yep, Sapporo. East side if you can call it that. About 15 minutes to the congestion clogged downtown.

Sapporo is pretty special for a city. Within city limits we have 3 ski jumps and 3 or 4 ski resorts (errr slopes). So, if you use the big TV tower (like the one in Tokyo or Osaka) as the center of downtown, it's only a 20 minute drive to ski areas, at most.

Sapporo cheats though and adds land that's like an hour away from the Tower. So, city acerage and population is a bit padded.

[samuraitora]

Sapporo sounds cool...do you ski???
I have never been on a pair of skis...thought about it a few times though.

[moyashi]

yeah, I ski and play ice hockey too. Sapporo is one of the most popular cities to work in Japan for foreignors. Of course, Tokyo and Osaka are great but if you love to live a healthy active life, Sapporo is a great city.

We even have horse ranches not too far away either. A bit further South of Sapporo are several famous ranches that breds and trains horses.

We have everything except Taco Bell

[deborah gormley]

wow moyashi that places sounds like my dream home,, ranches and ski slopes,, lolol if only, if only,, well when I go there I'l let you know and we will have loads of fun, the two men can go to the local pub(you and my husband) and the two women can go to the slopes,then to the ranches,,,, we will both need a baby sitter!!! can you organise that?? lololol..

somebody pinch me!!!the day i get to japan there will be a hugh celebration,,,

[moyashi]

yes, it's really a nice city in general.

lol ... of course! I'd love to have the chance to get out of the house

[grooveallaturca]

hmmm why did I start to learn japanese? i suppose cause of people whom are not stopping saying that i do look like a japanese person. Not kidding. I thought it would be easier for me to learn japanese lol

Anyway I had courses for 6 months, just on the saturdays; but stopped the courses before more than 2 years -i am now working on saturdays too and unfortunately there is no courses on sundays, I am trying to do my best not to forget what I have learnt, but not sure if I would be able.

[samuraitora]

No Taco Bell??? I couldn't live there ... LOL

[moyashi]

No taco Hell, no Carl's Jr., No Wendy's, No Burger King, No Subway up in Sapporo.

No subway sucks big time let me tell you!!!

[samuraitora]

I thought that most large Japanese cities had the normal American fast-food chains there...I am really shocked that there is no Burger King.

How do they deal with no Subway???...lol

[moyashi]

We do have a subway as in public transportation, but not one dang blasted NY Deli style shop .... this sucks the most about Sapporo, outside of the horrible streets in winter. Otherwise, it's a great city to live in.

Now, if I were in Osaka ... subway at least once a month that's for sure .... ughhhhhhhhh

[samuraitora]

I have a Subway across the street from my house. 2 doors down from that is a great Japanese restaurant. "Tokyo Sushi and Grill".

Very nice

[moyashi]

[miyuki]

We have a subway and Wendy's but Burger king.

our subway
It is \200 for one station(3-5 minutes).
I think it is expensive.Isn't it?

[miyuki]

tashika ni...bimyo.....dakedo....

[Maciamo]

No taco Hell, no Carl's Jr., No Wendy's, No Burger King, No Subway up in Sapporo.

No subway sucks big time let me tell you!!!

What's Taco Bell ? What's Carl's Jr. ? I thought that Burger King withdrew of Japan because the competition was to strong (MOS burger, Freshness Burger and of course MacDonald and its green tea menu )

I've never been to Wendy's, but I go almost everyday to Subway to meet my students (eventhough I never buy anything... there are too many good sushi and ramen-ya around )