This is an authorized translation in English of a post in French by @japon: Partir au Japon sans parler japonais?
Note that the person that speaks here is NOT me, Vincent Celier (@vcelier), but @japon, a French guy.
When I decided to visit Japan for three weeks, I asked myself at one point the question of the language. I speak English reasonably well, but my various readings on Japanese culture all came to the same conclusion: the Japanese are not very open to foreign languages. That's why for over a year I took classes in Japanese, so that I could be a little autonomous over there. So what is it really? And finally, is it really different from us in France?
It is easy to criticize and to say that some countries are not very good at languages, but we forget a little too quickly that France is far from being a good student. If, in hotels or restaurants in France, the language of Shakespeare is not a problem, in the street it is quite something else. And in Japan it will not be very different. But first, let me tell you an anecdote.
I flied from Bordeaux to Amsterdam, from where I took a flight to Tokyo. But I only had 50 minutes between the two airplanes in Amsterdam, so let me tell you that I ran as fast as I could, especially that the Schiphol airport is huge. And it happened what was bound to happen: I was on the plane bound for Tokyo, but my suitcase missed the plane in Amsterdam. The holidays were starting really well!
I was automatically notified by SMS when I arrive in Tokyo, so I went to the counter of the airline and I was told that my suitcase should arrive the next day by the next flight, and it will be delivered directly to my hotel.
I now had to explain this at the hotel reception. As I had just spent 15 hours flying, I was completely exhausted, so I did not want to make the effort of speaking Japanese. I asked the receptionist, a young Japanese woman in her twenties, if she spoke English. She answered with an air of annoyance that her English was very bad.
So here I go to detail my luggage problems in Japanese, that I left the phone number and address of the hotel. I hear her then congratulate me on my level of Japanese (me who thinks that I speak as well as a five years old child, I am a little flattered). I answer with the standard courtesy that I still have a lot to learn before I can speak properly. We continue our discussion about the room, and I see the director of the hotel who also comes to congratulate me for speaking Japanese so well. Wow!
This story could have stopped there, except that two days later I saw this same receptionist talking to another tourist ... in English ... I had been had!
So are the Japanese so closed to foreign languages? Not that much. They are mainly afraid of not being up to the task, of not being able to make themselves understood. But in big cities like Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka you will have no trouble finding someone who speaks English. But if you plan to get out of the beaten path, some words of Japanese will be welcome. Although, for a standard tourist, it is still better to have a good level of English than just a bad level of Japanese.
However, I do not regret having made the effort to learn this fascinating language. I could talk about that for hours, as it is a reflection of Japanese culture. But speaking Japanese allowed especially to create connections. As soon as people saw that I spoke their language a little, their eyes started to sparkle and they were delighted to see that I had made this effort. The revert of the medal is that they often thought that I spoke fluently, and so they started to talk to me like to one of their countryman. I had to temper them a little!
I have excellent memories of some meetings with Japanese people, such as with an adorable person who is managing a ryokan in Kyoto. When I arrived, I started talking to her in Japanese. She was surprised and I replied that her Japanese was still better than mine. From there, a complicity settled during these few days. Every night she asked me what I had visited and she even invited friends of her so we could all talk together. Those were unforgettable moments, a reward for the long hours of learning the language during the previous months.
-- @japon
Travel diary in Japan, by @japon
Tokyo, overcrowded city? Really? by @japon
Are the Japanese too disciplined? by @japon
It's great to know that you can get by with English in bigger cities, although I'd want to get off the beaten path for sure if I get to visit Japan.
Awesome job for @japon to learn some Japanese, wow! It must have been so hard.
Thank you for translating this informative post!
Your anecdote reminded me of a funny story. I and my daughter traveled to Europe. After a long flight my daughter got a sore throat. I left my daughter at the hotel to sleep, and went in search of a pharmacy. I wanted to buy Paracetamol. I found a pharmacy, made a purchase, and gave my daughter a pill. Some time after returning home from the trip, my mother saw the packing from these pills in the home medicine cabinet and asked me: "Nick do you have a problem?". It was not Paracitomol, but PROSTAMOL !!! Then I realized one truth: - I need to know a little the language of the country I are visiting.
P.S. My daughter's throat recovered very quickly, surprisingly)))
Yes, sometimes I had to ask many times for the Japanese what they tried to tell me in English. The way they pronounce in English is a bit weird ;-)
This is really amazing. I remember also when I first reached Uganda from Rwanda. I almost cried. I only knew french, Swahili and kinyarwanda but couldn't speak English.
When I reached i decided to start campus, the funny thing is that I could just hear people speaking and then look down while laughing. The people close to me would know that I'm listening yet I couldn't hear anything at all.
One day, a guy came to my room asking for flat iron, I almost cried. I never knew the meaning of that world and it was just there on my table. So, I decided to tell him that I don't have to stop him from asking me many words.
He suddenly looked at me and was like" how come?"the flat iron is there....so, I really felt ashamed and made a decision of working in my English. It was hard, every day with a dictionary, reading books and cramming class notes without knowing the meaning.
Omg! I can't forget that experience.
Nice story ! Sometimes something has to "kick your ass" to make you learn a language !
my husband is workring at nagoya japan. and he tell me that most of the Japanese people there can't talk english and my husband can't talk nihonggo too very well. that's why in his first month in nagoya, my husband really had difficulties to communicate his japanese co-workers. Gladly that his sachou or boss knows how to speak english and sachou help him to understand thier langguages.
@vcelier, you did enjoy yourself at Japan, i look forward to visiting Japan with family very soon.
But i would like to know; if they have difficulty speaking english fluently, does that mean they never took english classes in their respective schools?
Did you read carefully the first lines of this post?
I have never been to Japan myself.
They do think that japanese is very hard for foreigners to learn and this is why they are so surprised when you actually can communicate even a little.
I will study it as much as possible, hopefully I can be successful as you all 2018 are ready to become more profitable!
I'm sure 2018 will be a lucky day for me ,,, with the help of all of you.
I am sure it was a great fun for you to learn how to speak Japanese and their ways.
Really, it is very helpful if you have some knowledge about local language...because i face that type of situation....
Great info...Thanks...
yes... nice follow you blogs steemit and vote thanks.
Wow! It is amazing that you can speak Japanese. I hope to learn this language someday.
It's not so difficult. It's just work, only work.
Grammar is not very hard. Vocabulary was the most difficult for me. And trying to think like a Japanese too. The way the Japanese make the sentences was sometimes weird for me.
I am loving this japanese story of yours.. Even i am learning a lot about them now.. This is really amazing stuff but i think Japanese still believe in keeping their own language as their top priority like its in china.They do learn English but i think they get very anxious when the speak English .. They got this anxiety thing in them and they know they arent good at it.. But language hardly matters its just peace of mind and heart you want at a place
I went to Japan without speaking the language and it was still a wonderful trip. The Japanese people were very helpful and many spoke English. The culture if very different and foreigners need to be ready for this, but if you just relax and go with it, you an have a wonderful time like I did.
this is a great photography.. i like travelling very much..
Yes, that would be very interesting experience. When I moved to Spain, I had similar experience. I didn't know any Spanish -still not well by the way- but luckily there were lots of similar words we use. But Japanese... that would be very difficult. But it seem you handled it very nicely.
Nice one but english its international languge
When you go will fine people how speak it
As me im a moroccan my languge is arabic
But i deal in steemit by english althogh my english poor hahaha
But i can inderstand and communicate with others .
Have a nice day
I found the Japanese very accommodating and polite even despite the language barrier! I'd love to learn it though
What a wonderful and quite funny experience! 😄I guess learning Japanese pays off!
travel very happy friends, let alone to japanese, very happy for you and success for you @vcelir
Finally the long hours of learning worth it, and it would still be helpful in time to come as you travel more
The Japanese language was very difficult one day I tried to learn but did not succeed
Really great article, my friend, you are a very successful person
Your story reflects how difficult it can be to visit the eastern countries, especially because of their culture and customs.
But your foresight in learning the Japanese language, you made your stay pleasant and I integrate quickly with the people of that wonderful country.
Congratulations!
Ive learned a bit on my own from reading, movies, and tutorials, I don't feel confident in my enunciation in the slightest to have a conversation with someone, however have heard on many occasions that its fairly easy to get by speaking english there. japan really fascinates me, and I cannot wait to visit!
This must have been a real struggle for you, @vcelier! But I have to say that in some way I admire countries like this - where people tend to tolerate their own mother language way more than any other!
This is great to read, thanks for sharing. I will also go to Japan in May and I am studying the language as well – for the same reasons. I have a couple of years of studying Chinese, so I'm happy to know a few kanji characters at least. I'm not studying via a school though, but via online courses and apps. Do you have any tips on that? I am using Memrise, Kanatown, and a few others. Would be great to hear your thoughts on it!
Kanji... The hardest thing in Japanese writing/reading ! A real nightmare for me ;-)
I wonder if that adorable ryokan lady you've mentioned is Michiko-san? (๑✧‿✧๑)
Even though Japanese has some similarities with Chinese, I still find it so hard!!
I am heading to Japan in a months time and I am learning a little bit of Japanese as I go.
I hope I can get by! I can't wait!!
I lived there without speaking Japanese. Love Japan and the people. Make sure you try the beef bowl at a real Yoshinoya and try a teriyaki burger at Mos Burger.... Have fun
The tittle your article very interesting.. Ive read it and very fun 💖 and all picture interesting . Have a nice days for you sir... 😁💖
I want to go to japan someday .
You are right about France being a similar situation as it happened to me there (in Paris, Lyon, and Calais).
Good post 👍👌, Please upvote back me, @hazmisyahputra, thank you.
Nice click @vcelier , I am also a photographer . . and new in this platform
I am following you . .
I wish you to visit my blog once and if upvote this comment i will regularly comment . .
Happy steeming . .
I'm just a little fish not many votes to support you, one word for you good luck and happy ☺.