After living in Japan for close to ten years and once never breaking the law I was quite angered when I learned that the next time I re-enter Japan I will be fingerprinted and my photo will be taken. My photograph and the image of my fingerprints will then be ran through a database of international terror and crime suspects as well as domestic records.
It felt like a bit of a slap in the face at the time. I have always believed that Japanese are not racist, at least not to Hakujin (white people). However, this was yet another case of discrimination in a ,at times, backwards country with more than enough social, political and economic problems to worry than concern itself with fingerprinting every foreigner that comes into the country. Japan has been fingerprinting all foreign visitors for security measures since November 2007.
This an another example of Japanese bureaucracy wasting money and resources. Japan is only hurting herself making this move. It will make many people think twice about visiting Japan. It will especially frustrate businessmen. Just imagine you arrive at Narita airport after a 10 to 15 hour flight. Your tired and want to get to your hotel or destination and you are going to be requesting politely requested to have your fingerprints and photo taken. If you refuse you’ll be deported. This kind of bureaucratic nonsense really fuels the fire of my love-hate relationship with Japan.
I can’t think of any reasons that justifies this “security measure”. Japan has not experienced any terrorist attacks by any foreign group or individual. The only recent terrorist attack I can think of was the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995. this attack was committed by the Japanese religious cult Aum Shnrikyo.
Japan can be a wonderful country to visit and live in. However, the longer you live there the more you realize the less you understand. After ten years and many experiences I knew that Japanese could never really be a home for my family. It was a difficult decision to leave, but it was the right decision. I certainly didn’t want my son exposed to certain aspects of Japanese culture. His mother is Japanese and he was born there, but he was always considered a foreigner or half before a Japanese because of the way he looked. I think growing up in Japan would have been very difficult for him.
I lived in Japan for almost 10 years, married a Japanese, had a child in Japan and I couldn’t even apply for permanent residency. My wife, on the other hand was able to apply and received permanent residency immediately to my home country of Australia last year.
Looking for Japanese Kanji lessons?
Want to learn how to read Japanese kanji in context?
In this sample Kanji lesson you’ll learn how to read Japanese. If you really want to start reading Kanji check out “Read Japanese Fast ” – it will have you reading Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji in 30 days. It focuses on reading rather than memorizing Kanji. Trying to memorize lots of Kanji adds up to whole lot of wasted time if you can’t read. You don’t need to know all the readings of each Kanji. You just want to start reading as soon as possible.
Read Japanese Fast Kanji Lessons
For more Japanese Kanji Lessons visit Read Japanese Fast
Are you thinking about investing in taking lessons at a Japanese language school? Well, before you fork out several hundred or thousand dollars it would be wise to do plenty of research on where you intend to study.
I studied at language schools in both my home country of Australia and in Japan. I did a few certificate courses in Australia before moving to Japan. In Japan I studied at a private language school in Tokyo.
I always recommend friends and students interested in learning Japanese to take some free lessons or a short course before investing in a fulltime education at a private Japanese language school.
If you are a beginner level student then finding a short course should be no problem. If you are currently living in Japan then your local ward office can provide you with information on where you can take lessons for free. If you are living outside of Japan, then try your local community center. Chances are there will be someone conducting a short course on Japanese in your local city.
Should You Study at a Japanese Language School
Taking a few lessons will give you a good idea of the time committment involved in learning Japanese. Once you are sure you want to learn Japanese at a Japanese langauge shcool you need to be clear on what you want to learn. Thinking about and setting goals is always a good idea. Here are some questions I recommend you contemplate and answer
- Why do you want to learn Japanese?
- How much time will you have for study?
- Do you want to focus on spoken Japanese or written Japanese?
- Do you want to learn about Japanese culture in the classroom or only language?
- Do you intend to take the JLPT sometime in the future?
- Is it important that you have a native Japanese teacher?
When I lived in Tokyo I found it quite hard to find a language school that could cater to my level which was intermediate at the time. There were plenty of beginner courses that taught all the basics like hiragana, katakana and daily conversation, but I couldn't really find a language school to meet my needs. I ended up joining a school that provided advanced courses for the JLPT.
Taking the JLPT was one of my goals at the time, but the classes were far too advanced for me . I struggled through the lessons and found it very frustrating. I was paying a lot of money for a course that didn't really help me improve as a speaker. Unfortunately, I was far to trusting of the school and believed what they promised. I was unable to change classes and told to hang in there "gambatte" .
I recommend you do plenty of research online and try to find out as much as you can about a Japanese language school before paying any fees. When possible hunt students down prospective language schools and see if they are satisfied with their lessons and teachers. It is not only important that you get your moneys worth, but also that you are inspired to learn at the school you end up attending.
For most students the hiragana syllabary is the first area of study they focus on when learning Japanese. Hiragana is considered as the basic alphabet of Japanese. One phenomenonI have noticed over years is that many students memorise the Hiragana syllabary, but few actually end up reading Hiragana at a proficient level.
This is a result of a lack of hiragana practice -- reading hiragana with kanji characters in the context of meaningful sentences
In this video we will do some hiragana practice involving reading hiragana with a little kanji. Yes, it may be a little challenging, but watch the video a few times and see what you can learn.
Japanese Hiragana Practice Video Lesson
If you want to learn how to read Kanji in context with Hiragana and Katakana please check out Read Japanese Fast - http://readjapanesefast.com
In my final year of high school every Friday a period was dedicated our headmaster. He looked and acted a lot like the dark Sith Emperor from Star Wars. He pretty much commanded respect and we were expected to listen. Anyway, our headmaster would lecture us on current events and things that he thought were important . Sometimes we would have guest speakers come in and talk about AIDS, charities, Australia’s bid for the Olympics, the fall of the Berlin Wall and another important events or subjects.
On one particular occasion our headmaster dicussed with us the importance of learning a second language. I can’t really remember the points he made, but I do remember that he was very passionate about it. What was interesting was he couldn’t speak a second language, and not learning one had been when he was young was one of his biggest regrets. It was also one of the few times that he opened up and shared a part of himself.
Several years later I was working in the hospitality industry. We had many Japanese tourists staying at the hotel where I worked. I decided to learn Japanese thinking it would lead to career progression in my industry. I’m glad I made that decision. It changed my life and has given me many opportunities to grow and learn. So I want to move the mojo forward and encourage you to learn Japanese or another language.
So, here are my 7 reasons why you should learn a second language:
Employment and Business Prospects
With the world getting smaller and more connected each passing year having a second language under your belt definately gives you a competative advantage in the workplace and business world. For example, many jobs positions in the tourist industry require staff to speak a second language like Japanese, Korean or Chinese. I make money online from several websites referring or selling my Japanese language learning information products.
Make the Most of Your Traveling
I believe everyone should travel for an extended period of time outside their home country. And to make the most of traveling in a forgein land having language skills certainly helps. Being proficient in the native language removes a lot of the uncertainty, risk and fear involved when traveling. It will also open up the door for some exciting cultural opportunities and moments that you would normally never experience as a tourist.
Cultural Understanding and Appreciation
For me learning Japanese has introduced me to an amazingly unique and unusual culture. Before learning Japanese I had many assumptions about the kind of people Japanese were and the life they lead. Soon after learning the language and visiting Japan I discovered most of my assumptions were wrong or greatly exaggreated. Learning Japanese and living in Japan also made me appreciate my Australian culture more.
Family Roots
Another important reason as to why you soon learn a language is personal heritage. There is probably and good chance that one or both your parents was born in a different country to you . If not perhaps one of your grandparents. If not, someone in your family tree. You also may have foreign friends who would love to share their language and culture with you. For many people exploring their roots has been a very transformative and life changing experience.
Friends of an International Flavor
Lacking for friends? If you are feeling lonely and want build some great friends start learning a second language. You could visit your local community centre and make plenty of friends with other people wanting to learn a language. Also, you could join and language club or International social group. The exchange of culture brings out the best in people. You never know what could happen. I feel in love with a Japanese girl and married her.
Volunteer and Charity Work
If you enjoy helping others then learning a language could be the perfect endeavor for you.. With more and more refugees seeking asylum in safe countries like Australia, England and the U.S the chance to welcome and help people relocate to a new country in their native language would be an incredible act of kindness and hospitality. Learning a foreign language to provide help to people who need it most could be one of the greatest acts of charity.
For the Fun of it
Learning a language can be lots of fun. Sure, there is study and expenses involve, but communicating with people in a different language is a blast. I sometime took my Japanese study too seriously, thinking I had to be the perfect speaker and learn thousands of kanji.
I hope you found at least one reason that resonated with you. Learning a language is like taking a journey that never ends. Each new word is a step taking you to bigger and better world. A world where you can discover, exchange and find a different perspective on life.
