Travel / Business Trip / Working Holiday♡ Teaching you Japanese that you can use immediately upon arriving in Japan (^^)/

Learn more about Saori

• Did you grow up speaking this language? Or were you inspired by a trip abroad, an individual or a certain aspect of the culture?

  Japanese is my native language. I was born and raised in Japan, so I speak Japanese fluently.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  "Natsume Sōseki"
  
  Natsume Sōseki was a novelist active during Japan's Meiji era, and his major works, such as "I Am a Cat," "Botchan," and "Kokoro," continue to be loved and read by many people today.
  The early 20th century, when Sōseki was active, was a time when Japan imported all sorts of information and new values from Western powers such as England, Germany, and France, spanning literature, science, technology, politics, military, and lifestyle.
  It was also a time of struggle and conflict between traditional values and these new influences.
  In the midst of these turbulent times, Sōseki's works, which depicted the lives of ordinary people lost in life's uncertainties, captured the hearts of many readers.
  At one point, his face even graced the thousand-yen bill, and his slightly melancholic portrait is known by everyone.
  Even today, many of his works are displayed in bookstores as paperbacks recommended for summer reading.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or expression in the language that you particularly like?

  "Hanami"
  
  Hanami is a special event for Japanese people.
  From mid-March to early April, when the cherry blossoms start to bloom, we can hardly stay calm.
  During this time of year, the cherry blossom forecast is reported on TV almost daily, just like the weather forecast.
  People ponder how they can successfully enjoy hanami under the full-bloom cherry blossoms.
  
  In the past, securing a spot for hanami was an important first task for new employees who joined companies in April.
  Instead of going to the office, they were assigned the duty of waiting for their bosses for hours on blue sheets spread under the cherry trees.
  
  In Japan, where the new fiscal year starts in April, March is the graduation season, and April is the season for school and company entrance. Cherry blossoms color these life milestones.
  Cherry blossoms signify encounters and farewells, which is one reason they are special in Japan.
  Moreover, cherry blossoms bloom for only about a week, or two weeks at most, and their fleeting beauty symbolizes the transient nature of life, which further captures our hearts.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  I can confidently say that speaking Japanese will enrich your world.
  This is because when you travel to Japan for business or leisure, you will be able to communicate directly with the local people.
  Additionally, you will understand your favorite Japanese anime and manga in their original language.
  Through Japanese, you can deeply appreciate and enjoy Japan's unique culture, including tea ceremonies, Japanese cuisine, festivals, kimonos, Noh and Kabuki theatre, sumo wrestling, and judo.
  Furthermore, since Japan is one of the world's economic powerhouses, being able to speak Japanese will open up more business opportunities for you.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  "kanji"
  
  One of the most difficult aspects for many learners is probably mastering 'kanji'.
  There are as many as 2,000 kanji characters used in daily life (equivalent to N1 level).
  In addition to the 46 characters in both hiragana and katakana, Japanese requires distinguishing and freely writing these three types of characters, which is the biggest challenge of the language.
  
  However, in modern times when opportunities to write by hand have decreased, it has become almost impossible even for Japanese people to remember and write all the kanji correctly.
  For now, if you can read kanji and select the correct candidates from those converted by your computer or smartphone, there will be no hindrance in daily life.
  
  To start, try learning simple kanji characters like '山' (mountain), '川' (river), and '木' (tree) that are modeled after objects in the natural world. When you understand the meanings of kanji, the joy of learning increases, and you'll want to read other more complex characters.
  
  Additionally, watching anime or reading manga and learning from kanji that catch your interest is also recommended.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  I was captivated by American TV dramas like "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Ally McBeal," and I studied English by shadowing their lines repeatedly.
  I admired the sophisticated protagonists who didn't seem like typical high school students, and I was fascinated by the American lifestyle and culture, such as home parties and graduation proms, which are not common in Japan.
  Learning a language is about learning the lifestyle and culture of the country as a whole.
  I believe that is the true charm of language learning.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  When I visited Melbourne, Australia, I was very happy to be able to walk into a café alone, order coffee in English, and pay for it.
  I was also able to shop at supermarkets and pharmacies.
  The people in Australia were all very kind and friendly, which made me feel comfortable speaking to them.
  By communicating with the locals, I gained confidence in my language skills and felt that I could move freely just like I do in Japan.
  It was a valuable experience that I couldn't have had in my home country.