Working and Studying In Japan: Studying Japanese language and culture

Japanese is considered a difficult language to learn. This is certainly true for native speakers of European languages, such as English, because Japanese is fundamentally different from European languages.

Compared to many European languages, basic Japanese grammar is relatively simple. Complicating factors such as gender articles and distinctions between plural and singular are missing almost completely. Conjugation rules for verbs and adjectives are simple and almost free of exceptions. Nouns are not declinated at all, but appear always in the same form. These facts make the language relatively easy for starting students.

As well as the language, there are opportunities to study other aspects of Japanese culture, from pottery to playing the shakuhachi (a traditional flute). In order to get a cultural visa , you'll need documents from the institutions where you plan to study, including one stating that all tuition fees have been paid, and a letter of guarantee from a private sponsor, preferably Japanese. Full-time courses are expensive, but once you have your visa you may be allowed to undertake paid work to support yourself.

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