Really nice post. It's great to have a little more insite on who the real danny choo really is!
That's quite a write up there Danny ;), thank you. I'm learning Japanese right now (self-study & once week course) but you're right. Passion is pretty much the key. And I never thought about slapping a Japanese localized OS onto a PC. Thanks for the idea. Now I just need to finish off the Master's degree and learn more Japanese and I'll be all set (or so I think). Which leads me to this question, how beneficial is an IT related Master's in Japan/getting hired in Japan?
Wow....it was a long way...and glad that you made it at the end.... and for myself....too old to pick it up now....guess i can only stay here to do what i am doing right now.....
i wonder if passion for anime can translate into passion for the language... i am slowly attempting to learn japanese, usually through reading raw versions of mangas/light novels and watch unsubed anime, i will probably start some serious courses in the near future. as to the subject of Kanji, just how close does it resemble Chinese? i can pick out the Chinese characters in novels 20% of the time and get a very rough idea of wut the sentence says.
hmmm....my friend gave me a pretty reliable site to learn japanese from, but right now, im too lazy er....'busy' to learn anything ^^
Just thought I'd let you know - Hackney was recently selected as the worst place to live in the UK. Guess it's great you got out in time.
For me, I just took up Japanese because it was offered by my school. I didn't really watch anime (at least not exclusively) up until that point, so it was more of a case of the language sparking off my interest in the pop culture. Once the foundation and interest were there, I found it much faster to learn on my own through games and anime instead of lessons. But that's probably a problem limited to school-based courses. Commercial courses are MUCH, MUCH better and faster by my experiences. Another way to learn lots of words and grammar forms fast is to do fan translation. When you force yourself to translate something, you tend to pay more attention to the words and meanings and do more background research. Whereas simply watching a show unsubbed means that you tend to guess the meaning of words you don't know and be done with it. Translating takes a lot of time, though. I usually keep it to one show at a time. Right now it's Happiness! (Please support Shiawase Fansubs! kthxbye!) And I'm not sure if I should be recommending this... but I personally think that bishoujo games are the best way to learn. :P They are voiced, which helps your listening like anime does, and they have text too, which helps your reading like books do. 一石二鳥ってやつさ。 JLPT in less than a month's time. 皆さん、がんばれ～ （でないと死刑だからね。）
Great post Danny! I'm going to go and look into those books. I've been studying Japanese on and off now for a good 4 years. My Hiragana is down pat and my Katakana isn't too far behind. The hardest part is easily the Kanji. For me, I find watching the things I'm interested in helps immensely in learning the language, as well as cultural aspects. However, most of the time, they're awful for proper Japanese as they tend to use a lot of slang. Something that might help you guys is to check out this website. http://www.thejapanesepage.com They have some great resources and grammar sections for learning Japanese. They even have a few programs for learning Hiragana and Katakana (UNIX and Windows).
Wow Danny i really like your website, it's a must-see-every-day page and about this post, my congratulations, you did your best to make your dream come true. I hope someday i can go there and live a wonderful experience like you. I'm gonna take your advices to learn japanese in a better way....
Danny, what an awesome post! Thank you for sharing your pseudo life story and language learning tips. If only more os us had your kind of passion ...
Nice post Danny. Japanese indeed is a very unique language, just like Chinese. But I believe in order to really improve, one must really intellect frequently with another. I used to pick up some words by constantly exchanging words with my Japanese-speaking friends...
What was the typical format for the Japanese Language Proficency Test? I plan to take the test next year. My initial goal is to receive a 3, but in order for that to happen I have to (re)learn a lot of Kanji which I find the most challenging when learning Japanese. The grammar appears to be very easy to pick up, but that darn Kanji. I need to visit Japan again (or stay). Akiba was a lot of fun and deserved a full day instead of an hour. P.S. Where is the Black Ranger avatar?
Wow...your basically in the same boat i am, raised by chinese family, lame with the language. (Cantonese by the way) I was thinking about doing Jap in uni, now you just gave me another reason for me to do it..^^ Cheers ps. keep up the good work. Love the site.
Determined and self motivated, that is the keyword. And never ever give up. I admire you for it.
Sounds like you put a lot of hard work in everything you do! I know a bit of japanese, which was useful when I went, but I would like to know a lot more so I could perhaps apply for a job there. Jobs in the CG industry in Japan are often for japanese speakers only. Intresting that your love for anime and idols spurned you to learn this fiendishly difficult language!
Cool, didn't know you have Chinese Malaysian heritage, cos I'm one as well. And I have a relative who lives in Hackney! btw, do you still speak Cantonese? I've just finished my 2nd semester of Japanese in university, but I've still got a long ways to go to achieve minimal proficiency...
Hmm, good advice, all of it.
Wow, very interesting and personal post. I assume you are talking about YAOHAN PLAZA in London? I used to go there to be amazed by Japanese magazines & snacks. I also applied to go to SOAS University in London, but was unfortunatley rejected. Which in my life turned out to be a good thing - I ended going to Wolverhampton University and got deep into DJ and techno club culture, one of the best things about the U.K. Your post makes me think about what could have been for me... I know that U.K. culture is hard to get into if you dont drink or smoke (weed), and you are not interested in Electronic music / club culture. I think a lot of British asians (aka "Orientals") miss out on a fun and worthwhile aspects of youth culture, by not wanting to upset or disgrace their families. That is my personal observation from spending 9 years in England with Chinese British friends.
いいところでしたね～ ずっとどうやってこの仕事を辿り着けたって聞きたかったんで！ でもメールアドを見つけられなくて（笑） やっぱりこれは憧れですね！ ずいぶん成功らしいし！すごいだな！ ところで、自由翻訳者になった前にもう日本語を大学で勉強していたんですか？ それとも、日本語能力2級の資格だけを持っていたの？ ちなみに倫敦に住んでいましたか？いいね～ あそこはたくさん輸入商品があって。 ここ（スコットランド）には何もないんです。 ネットなければ何も手に入れないなぁヽ(´∇｀)ノ That was a nice read and very inspiring. For me, I spent a year self-studying using a book named "Japanese in Three Months" and corresponded via letters with a native Japanese. Internet wasn't very common at the time and was still expensive so I had to resort to snailmail. It was good though because it forced me to learn how to write Kana and JP Kanji. I started out writing in Romaji then slowly picked up on the script. You know... those huge dial-up phone bills sounds like me when I found Anime encoded in Real Media and broadband wasn't available yet (apart from ISDN). I was just really getting into Anime at the time. Nowadays, broadband is cheap enough for everyone to afford. The amount of "free" content you can get access to really spoils people =P
quite an informative post Danny. ^^ I didn't know your that your native Chinese dialect was Cantonese. ^^ unfortunately most Cantonese words I know are curses, since I'd often pick them up from Cantonese friends who only use their native tongue whenever they're aggitated angry or talking to their mother. ^^
Wow..didn't know your parents from Malaysia. Have you been to Malaysia? Anyway, I always have a fascination with Japanese culture ever since I was a kid. Currently learning Japanese...till not very good at it though
so you have learned japanese and overcame major hurdles in getting to japan. kudos to you. but the next challenge is even greater - how to befriend those japanese idols and actresses?
Very very Interesting... I agree with the fact you need to have passion, that help a lot. Your story shows that if you work and catch opportunities, you can go far.
I thought your parents are from Hong Kong but I was wrong. I am Chinese Malaysian too. :D Anyway I need your help with JET program that you mention in your blog. I know English is not really native language for Malaysian, but you did mention your friend who are Malaysian teaching in Japan. Can I know more about it?
こんにちは！私はレモス·ロドリ－ゴです。アレゼンチン人です。国で１年から日本語を勉強します。 I started learning japanese a year ago, because i want to study IA in Japan when i finish university. I'll try to do my best to make my dream come true. I love your blog Danny! Rodrigo Lemos from Argentina.
great stuff, danny!!! always having fun and learning a lot from your post everytime!!! I wish i could be as self-motivated as you >_
i would like to learn japanese... if i had the spare time to do so.
i would love to learn some Japanese, i know only a few word and I was told I have a good pronanciation. I guess for me learning english as second language when I moved to USA is enough. However I still think I would love to learn some and maybe one of my friends will teache me I kind of think the ebst way to learn is to be in that culture and talk, talk talk
I started learning via the Pimsleur method for a trip to Japan last November. I can now carry on (VERY basic) conversations. I just discovered the NHK lessons online as well! I hope to master enough spoken language so that it will hopefully be easier learning to read and write as well. It's a long road ahead... but I'm determined to get there!
Just returned yesterday from a business trip to Hong Kong. I had the opportunity and couldn't pass it up. Which I believe is a point you are making. Always take and look for every opportunity to learn and improve. It's what takes a person from dreams to reality. You are right, having passion to learn the language and the culture is so important. To be good a person needs to eat, sleep and live Japanese as much as possible. If someone is passionate about the language and the culture in time, it will lead to meeting the girls. My life is a good example. *^^* When I was younger, I had the opportunity to help out in a office that was mostly staffed by Japanese. It's what helped spark my interest in Japanese and helped me learn about more about Japanese people. Spending time with the Japanese and in Japan becomes so much better knowing Japanese. Thanks as always for the great post. Don't give it a second thought. It's hard not to make a post like and not turn it into a life story. ^_- It's always encouraging to know I thinking in the same direction as someone who has already made the journey.
Hi to the new posters ^o^/ Soon in the US, Yes - I know a few folks who were not native English who managed to get on the program. I think they took some tests to have a look at their grammar and pronunciation. Artreyu, Yes - been there a few times but not lately - usually to KL and Penang - sometimes Ipoh. 仁葉工芸さん、 その諺知らなかった。ありがとうございます！ Sean, Never went to Yaohan to get my stuff - was too far. Ãngelu§, Yep - do speak Cantonese. shou' , Its all multiple choice out of 4 - so you have a 35% chance of passing I suppose ^^; DarkMirage, Didnt know you dont fansubs - post the link for everyone ^^ Good luck with JPLT although Im sure you will pass though. Rongmomo, Great news! Doc, Yes it can ^^ Leo in San Fran, Depends really - experience is more important though. I personally dont think it helps too much (through experience).
Very inspirational and useful. I was wondering about the secret of your success and now i know. now if only i could apply these lessons to my own life...
I've been aiming to get back into learning the language and this entry has inspired me to really go for it. So now, I'm aiming to take the JLPT within the next two years. Considering how I'm stuck with a job that only provides four hours a week, it'll give me something to do ^^;
has its funny, I used to scour that japanese shop at St.pauls for anime books regularly! As well as Japan Center..but the st.pauls one was a goldmine if u went there at the right time of the month! wildone_106@yahoo.com
owh wow... u're a chinese malaysian? hehe good 4 u! ganbatte-ne! (am i pronouncing it rite? ;-p)
wow cool, my GF is half Malaysian chinese half S'pore chinese!! But she was born in Australia.....hehe!! I hope we can learn Japanese together......that'll be cool.....no MORE SUBTITLES!!
Thats a really great article Danny. I have a passion to learn Japanese, but am having trouble trying to get lessons or tutoring, as i didnt do Japanese class this year, i have no chance at getting into next year. I know i'll live in Japan at somepoint in my life. Is it too much to ask for some help? Chances are no, but i should ask just in case.
That's one of my goals for this year and for 2007. Learn japanese. My source of motivation? Anime. Hahahah. Really, I'm getting tired of subs and would like to watch it raw. I can read the kana's now and a few kanji...but I still can't form sentences of my own. >_
Hey guys! I tried making a website where we learn Japanese language. Tell me your impression. Is it too easy to you guys?
I had a foreign exchange student at my house last year who taught me basic phrases, both kana, and some kanji (20) Next year in high school, I'm planning to take Nihongo.
I have always loved Anime, but for the last five years i have been yearing for Japan. I have studied myself raw of everything Japanese. I love the culture, and I feel i am well versed on it. However, it has always been my dream to learn Japanese and live the rest of my life where i belong - Japan. But no matter how hard i try, i can't teach myself Japanese, and my school doesent offer it. I am going to take it next year in PSEO, and i can't wait. I promised myself i would learn, and it will happen. I can say stupid Otaku stuff like What the hell? and i know a few Kanji...
Great post and great site btw, I've been coming here almost everyday since I discovered it and love all the improvements you've made. I share quite a lot of similarities with you, grew up in a Chinese Cantonese speaking family here in Australia but can't read or write Chinese for shit. I imported a Sega Megadrive, PC Engine Duo (I thought I was the only one) and a Super Famicom. My passion for learning Japanese never went as deep as you however, furthest I got was playing barely playing and finishing the Japanese version of FFVII and taking a beginners Japanese language class. My biggest love is manga though and wish I had seen Nishida Hikaru and fell in love like you did. Anyway, keep up the great work and when you get a chance, let us know if you know anyone that poos standing up and tell us all about you selling Kylie Minogue merc... ;) Cheers G.
Hi! Gosh, a bit of a late response in relation to when your entry was posted, but I only found your blog today so there's my excuse. I just wanted to thank you for an insipiring entry - you certainly had plenty of innovative ways to get things to sink in. I'm currently self studying, trying to continue on my own after a Japanese course at uni last year. It's going slowly to say the least, but I'll be going to Japan myself for a year in July. Using some of your tricks may just help me improve even more before then. Thanks again for a great post and an interesting blog. :)
interesting post, i going to use some of you tricks, if you want to call them that, and hopefully get better and go to japan one day.
reading ur post on learning japanese makes me wanna truly master the language!!! DAMN!!! currently, i'm studying it in school, but once i'm out, i'm planning to study somemore. JLPT...hmmm..if i have the chance, i would like to take it. and they say you learn jap from porn..kinda true for u...
I didn't took up some japanese lessons but i did learn a few phrases from the anime ^_^;
Hi there! I built up a web site where we can learn Japanese kanji and idioms used in Manga One Piece. I'll be happy if it's useful for you. Thanks! http://www.japanesebooks.jp/learn-japanese/manga-one-piece-episode1-part0.html
Hello! When I had started to learn Japanese language I had found that my native language(Chuvash) in its grammatical structure and in pronounciation of some consonants is like Japanese. I had found the Japanese word -jin(man)in Chuvash! It is not accidentally! Our ancestors lived in the Northen China. Is it easier for me to learn Japanese because of my native language? What do you think? Thank you.
Very true... determination and passion are two important factors in learning any language. I started learning japanese when I was in grade 8 but that was on my own. Then in grade 9 I finally got into a school where there was a japanese course without french in my studies. Once from there I have been learning quite alot because I joined a class that had some japanese experience before while I didn't. At the time I only knew a few words with all the hiragana with katakana and very little kanji but, as the year went by I actually managed to reach a point where I could actually go to japan and survive with alittle help. The year after that I progressed quite alot and then we started learning conjunctions and advanced grammar structures. Once grade 10 was over my teacher told me that now I could go to Japan and survive without any help from anyone. Once I heard this I was happy and lucky my family actually planned to japan. (OH crap I just realized I have just made a blog instead of an message). Anyway yah, with determination and the passion to learn Japanese. Anyone can learn and succeed but the amount of work to accomplish what you want is always different. Later Narmi..
Your story is truly inspiring! ;_; It goes to show that money is not a hindrance if you have the passion & determination to overcome it! I took elementary Japanese classes twice but dropped out twice too. =.= Seeing your blog really encourages me & moreover self-learning Japanese is easier now thanks to the internet.
yea it was meant to be tips for nihongo learning..but it became a nice and encouraging true story :) what a great experience... u said u did major in Japanese n Korean go in london-dai but u ended up being a computer engineer? or u did have a degree in the that field? if they accept self-study programmer that would be at least an advantage to some of us here :) ps: at least u didnt screwed up ur english like my friends who study there..lol
Some really nice tips there, especially the toilet charts, must try that myself ^^ Next March I will be going for 10 months as an exchange student to Japan so I hope learn a lot then. I've been quite busy studying Japanese for almost a year now, so I've got some understanding of the language. Apparently exchange students usually pick up the language of the host country pretty well and can speak it fluently when they return. Do you think this will be the case with Japanese? Or is that being a tad too hopeful?
*squil!!!* Wow!! Lol, well, first of all, made me laugh so hard, I almos fell off of my bed. Next, WOW!!! Amazing tips! Love em! Thanks sooooo much Choosan! Love em! Hopefully *crosses fingers* I can be just like you....Yes, you're my super hero now. You live in Japan, you work in Japan, you love Japan(and everything in it...almost i guess) AND you're helping others! A great super-hero reward for you! *Personally designed by me. XD* One day, *I* will be in Japan too...and *I* will be living a great life...even if I don't exactly fit in. ^-^v *Learning Japanese nowadays...not going too far though*
Very nice post. I kind of laughed when i read the part about you saying you will work and live in Japan someday because I said the same thing a few months ago. Yes, I also want to go to Japan because of Japanese girls(i think i have a fetish for Japanese girls in kimonos ^^) but the main reason I want to go to Japan is the culture and I'm glad you said something about that. I really never heard of people wanting to go to Japan because of them liking Japanese girls but mostly of them loving anime.
hi danny, i did japanese in '03 and '04 but went there on an exchange trip in '06. so yeah, i was kinda struggling to communicate with my host fam. but i actually learnt alot more words and phrases over there than i did in school (not blaming the teacher) i made a dipshit out of myself cos my friends convinced me that "watashiwa chikan desu" meant "i dont understand". i actually said that to my host mother and father to which they just stared at me. now i know that "wakarimasen" is the proper phrase to use. note: i wasnt into janime/jdrama at the time so only knew formal words.. not chikan.
