There are many reasons to learn Japanese. An ancient culture, a booming economy, interesting people, and breathtaking landscapes are some of the things Japan boasts of. A hop to the Land of the Chrysanthemum Throne needs to convince you if this list does not. But first, the list.
Director Extraordinaire Akira Kurosawa
You have missed out on the best films of all time if you haven't seen Akira Kurosawa's art works. The sweeping landscapes, exciting scenes, painstaking attention to detail, amazing stories, and timeless elegance make his movies - Seven Samurai, Ran, Throne of Blood, and Dreams, to mention some - a requirement for any avid cinema fan. To see these films in all their glory, you must understand Japanese because these are made in his native language.
Japanese anime
Obviously, not everybody enjoys anime. The common features of anime - over-the-top physical attributes, speech bubbles, and onomatopoeic typography - can be strange when you are accustomed to Disney and Pixar cartoons. However, it does possess engaging storylines and fantastical creatures. Consider Dragon Ball Z and Naruto, and you'll have a very good idea of why you must study Japanese.
Chindogu, A Japanese Art
Among the many Japanese art forms like origami, ikebana, and tea ceremony, the chindogu is the most note-worthy. This art form is all about inventing everyday items with noble intentions, but lead to being useless anyway. As a matter of fact, the only thing these items achieve is bringing on the giggles.
Do you need a hairguard to keep your hair away from your noodles? How about a tissue dispenser on your head as a hay fever hat? As funny as these may seem, these could actually be profitable. To talk to the inventors, learn Japanese.
Japanese Dishes
Japanese cuisine is a feast for the senses, from wasabi to sushi. The presentation and creation involve a perfectionist's attention to detail and a lot of effort, although it seems very basic and easy on the surface. To quicken the process of learning how to cook like the Japanese, you should learn Japanese! After all, you do not want to annoy your chef-mentor with questions on what umeshu and anko are.
Japanese Street Fashion
Even New York cannot rival the outlandish street fashion of Japan. You'll love the avant garde costumes worn by Tokyo's young people such as Ganguros, Lolitas, Bosozoku, and Kogals.
The world's fastest growing economy is also the Japanese one. Not only that, the Japanese are also the third largest Internet users. Think about the business ventures that the country has to offer. This should be reason enough to study Japanese.
