Why Learn Japanese - 12 Great Reasons to Start in 2025
With the rise in popularity of anime shows on Netflix, the demand for learning Japanese has surged worldwide over the past few years. More people than ever are interested in Japanese culture, media, and travel, leading to an increased motivation to study the language.
But why should you learn Japanese? Whether for personal growth, professional opportunities, or cultural appreciation, here are the top reasons why studying Japanese is worth your time.
Key Takeaways
Japanese Enhances Travel Experiences – Whether you're visiting Tokyo’s bustling streets or Kyoto’s serene temples, knowing Japanese helps you navigate transport, order food, and interact with locals more easily, making your trip smoother and more immersive.
Access to Japanese Media and Culture – Learning Japanese allows you to enjoy anime, manga, and video games in their original language, preserving cultural nuances, humor, and wordplay that get lost in translation. It also deepens your appreciation for traditional arts, history, and cuisine.
Career and Business Opportunities – Japan is a global leader in technology, gaming, and manufacturing, and knowing the language opens doors to jobs, business partnerships, and networking opportunities with Japanese companies like Sony, Nintendo, and Toyota.
Cognitive and Personal Growth – Learning Japanese sharpens memory, improves problem-solving skills, and increases mental flexibility. It also makes it easier to pick up other Asian languages like Korean or Chinese due to shared grammar structures and Kanji characters.
Stronger Social and Family Connections – Whether you’re making Japanese friends, talking to in-laws, or planning retirement in Japan, speaking the language fosters deeper connections and smoother interactions in personal and social settings.
Top reasons to learn Japanese
Learning Japanese opens up opportunities in travel, career, and cultural experiences. It helps you navigate Japan with ease, enjoy anime and manga in their original language, and build meaningful connections with native speakers. Knowing Japanese also gives you a competitive edge in global business and sharpens cognitive skills. Whether for personal growth or professional success, here are the top reasons why learning Japanese is worth your time.
Travel to Japan with Ease
Japan is one of the world’s most visited countries, welcoming a record-breaking 36.9 million visitors in 2024 alone. It’s known for its breathtaking landscapes, historical temples, and bustling cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. Learning Japanese makes your travel experience smoother by helping you:
Navigate public transport
Order food confidently at restaurants
Communicate with locals
Even knowing basic phrases like "sumimasen" (excuse me) and "kore wa ikura desu ka?" (how much is this?) can go a long way in enhancing your travel experience.
Enjoy Anime & Manga in Their Original Language
If you love anime and manga like One Piece or Naruto, learning Japanese allows you to consume them in their raw, unfiltered form without relying on subtitles or translations. This means:
Understanding cultural nuances better
Picking up authentic expressions used by characters
Appreciating puns and wordplay that don’t translate well into English
Many fans notice that subtitled translations often simplify or alter phrases to have them fit the English context. By learning Japanese, you get a deeper connection to the characters and stories as they were originally intended. Plus, you can explore Japanese-exclusive content, such as light novels and video games, that might not see much attention outside of Japan.
Work in Japan
Many international professionals move to Japan for work opportunities in technology, engineering, teaching, and business sectors. With plenty of large Japanese companies like Toyota, Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Daikin, Mitsubishi, Honda, Yamaha, and Nintendo, knowing Japanese can help you:
Land jobs in these companies more easily
Communicate with coworkers effectively
Integrate better into Japanese workplace culture
Japan has a unique work environment with customs such as Keigo (respectful speech) and business etiquette. Understanding these cultural nuances will help with smooth integration into their work environment. Moreover, sectors like automotive, robotics, and IT continue to expand, making Japan an attractive destination for skilled professionals.
Expand Business Opportunities
Japan has one of the world’s largest economies, making it a key player in global trade and business. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or a business executive, speaking Japanese and understanding the cultural nuances can:
Strengthen professional relationships with Japanese clients
Open doors to business partnerships and collaborations
Give you a competitive edge in the job market
Certain industries in Japan like anime and gaming have been booming in the past few years, with Japanese studios producing some of the most popular content in the world like Demon Slayer or One Piece. Likewise, tourism is a rapidly expanding sector, with millions of visitors flocking to Japan each year. Understanding the language and its cultural nuances can open you up to an entire potential market.
Personal Development
Learning a new language is one of the best exercises for your brain. Studies show that bilingual individuals have better memory, problem-solving skills, and cognitive flexibility.
Learning a foreign language can:
Improve your mental acuity
Boost your confidence
Enhance your ability to multitask
Additionally, mastering Japanese can improve your patience and discipline, as it requires consistency and effort. Many learners experience a sense of accomplishment when they begin to understand conversations, read Kanji, or hold a meaningful discussion in Japanese. This journey of self-improvement can spill over into other aspects of life, making you a more resilient and adaptable individual.
One of our team members has been self-studying Japanese for almost a year, and he shares that this has helped him to sharpen his focus in work and school.
Form New Friendships
By learning Japanese, you can connect with native speakers and fellow learners worldwide. Whether through language exchange apps, online communities, or in-person meetups, you can:
Make friends from Japan
Join Japanese language Discord servers
Engage in meaningful conversations beyond basic greetings
An example is joining your local Japanese Association and making friends with the Japanese volunteers there to practise speaking Japanese.
That’s what we did and it made learning much more enjoyable.
Easier to Learn Other Asian Languages
Japanese grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary share similarities with other Asian languages like Mandarin and Korean. If you master Japanese first, it will be much easier to:
Pick up new Asian languages
Recognize shared characters (Kanji in Chinese)
Understand linguistic patterns across East Asia
For example, Korean and Japanese share similar grammar structures, such as verb placement and honorifics, which gives a headstart in comparison to if you were starting from 0. Likewise, Chinese and Japanese share thousands of Kanji characters, allowing learners to build vocabulary quickly. By starting with Japanese, you create a strong foundation for mastering other languages in the future.
Love Japanese Food? Learn the Language!
Japanese cuisine is beloved worldwide, from sushi and ramen to tempura and okonomiyaki. Learning Japanese can help you:
Read Japanese menus confidently
Discover authentic recipes and cooking techniques like soba-making
Order food like a pro when dining in Japan
Many restaurants outside of tourist hotspots don’t provide much English support, and knowing the language grants you access to hidden gems and more humble stores closer to life as a local. Most owners of such places are extremely kind and understanding, and will appreciate the gesture of taking the time to understand their culture. Plus, if you love cooking, being able to read Japanese cookbooks and recipe blogs unlocks a whole new world of traditional flavors and techniques.
Talk to Your Japanese In-Laws
If you have a Japanese spouse or partner, learning the language will deepen your connection with their family. It shows respect and effort in embracing their culture, making family interactions more enjoyable.
Japanese families often place importance on politeness and formality, so being able to communicate in Japanese—even at a basic level—helps build stronger relationships. Simple greetings, asking about their day, and participating in family traditions become more meaningful when you speak their language. It can also show your genuine interest in getting to know them and their culture.
Retire in Japan
Japan is a top choice for retirees due to its high quality of life, excellent healthcare, and peaceful environment. The Japanese government has also been launching an initiative to welcome more foreigners to Japan to live in the countryside by giving away unoccupied homes for free. Learning Japanese before retirement will help you:
Adapt smoothly to life in Japan
Make local friends in the community
Enjoy a stress-free retirement in a beautiful country
Many retirees are drawn to Japan’s safe neighborhoods, rich culture, and affordability in rural areas. However, daily life—such as handling paperwork, visiting the doctor, or shopping—requires a level of Japanese proficiency. The ability to communicate will deliver a more comfortable and independent lifestyle during your retirement years.
Connect More Deeply with Japanese Culture
From samurai history to tea ceremonies, Japan has a rich cultural heritage. Learning Japanese allows you to:
Understand traditions and customs firsthand
Read historical texts and poetry
Fully immerse yourself in their arts and festivities
Culture is deeply tied to its language—certain concepts and traditions don’t translate easily. By having a grasp of the language, you gain a more authentic understanding of customs like Shinto rituals, calligraphy (shodō), and haiku poetry.
Challenge Yourself with a New Language
If you have been looking to pick up a 2nd or 3rd language, Japanese is an exciting and rewarding challenge.
The complexity of the language—especially Kanji and grammar—may seem intimidating, but it offers a unique intellectual challenge that keeps your mind sharp. Due to its linguistic distance from English, Japanese invites a fresh approach to thinking and structuring sentences, making it an excellent way to broaden your horizons.
FAQs
Is Japanese hard to learn?
Not as hard as you think! While it has three writing systems and different grammar from English, there are aspects far simpler compared to that of English such as pronunciation. Learning the basics is very achievable.
How long does it take to learn Japanese?
It depends on your goals! If you want basic conversational skills, 6–12 months of regular practice can get you there. For full fluency or achieving JLPT N1, it may take a few years, but daily effort goes a long way.
What’s the best way to start learning Japanese?
Start with Hiragana & Katakana, then move on to basic phrases and numbers. Use resources like:
Language learning apps
YouTube tutorials
AI-powered conversation tools like Sakuraspeak
Conclusion: Should You Learn Japanese?
Absolutely! Whether you’re interested in anime, travel, business, or personal growth, learning Japanese opens up a world of opportunities. The key is to start small, build your skills gradually, and stay consistent.
If you want to find a faster and more convenient way to practise conversational Japanese, Sakuraspeak is your AI-powered conversational partner.
It's one of the most efficient ways to become fluent at speaking Japanese. Practise beginner-friendly conversations without pressure - you can make mistakes freely and get instant feedback.
