Reasons You Should Learn the Japanese Language (Part 2)
Japan’s government has a policy to cultivate the tourism industry that has been in effect for a few years now. The sector has seen a sharp growth in recent years in contrast to the weakening competitiveness in the manufacturing and other industries. Spending by foreign visitors hit an all time record of 4.5 trillion yen ($40.1 billion) in 2018. This is quadruple compared to 2012, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. Also, with the 2020 Olympics coming next year, and Tokyo scheduled to host, there is sudden urgency for Japanese companies to increase the number of foreign work force. This is Japan’s way to be more international and competitive in an increasingly globalized environment. This is a perfect opportunity to learn Japanese and have a promising future for many in Japan.
More benefits of learning Japanese
Learning Japanese will make it easier to learn other Asian languages.
Languages in South East Asia vary but they also have certain similarities. For example, Japanese grammar is similar to Korean grammar and both have a lot of words that have honorific terminology used to demonstrate respect. The Japanese kanji writing system is also derived from Chinese characters. This gives anyone familiar with kanji an advantage in understanding Chinese.
It is advantageous to know the Japanese language with the increased growth in the market for Japanese cultural exports.
Japan is increasingly responsible for the latest trends such as animé, manga, video games, costumes, and more. The fan base of Japan’s kawaii culture and animé and manga have constantly brought fascination, uniqueness, and fun to avid Japanese pop culture fanatics all over the globe. Knowing the language of animé, manga, and the like will give you special insights into the true nature of their origins and better appreciate them.
Learning Japanese gives you more options for career opportunities.
Japan has leading automotive companies such as Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi and electronic companies such as Sony, Panasonic, and Toshiba. Japan prides itself on maintaining excellent quality with their products. And it isn’t just in the automotive and electronics industry that you can set your goals. If you plan to pursue a career in Japan, in any field, it would be an advantage to speak the native tongue.
Teach English in Japan.
Learning the Japanese language is a vehicle to teach English in Japan. The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) is an annual program where foreign students who meet the criteria and review process are granted the opportunity to stay and teach in Japan for one full year. JET seeks to promote internationalization through the development of mutual understanding between Japan and other countries.