When I travelled to Japan, I already knew that Japanese would be completely different from any language I had learned before. I expected challenges, because Japanese has a completely different structure, sound, and logic than e.g. German or English. I was aware that, unlike with other European languages, I would not be able to guess or understand words by their similarity. Still, I was curious to see how far I could get in daily life without speaking Japanese.

At the airport, everything seemed easy at first. All signs were in English as well, and the staff could communicate with me without any problems. Even the announcements were made in both Japanese and English. I managed to find my way through the immigration process, baggage claim and to the train station without difficulties. But when I heard the first longer announcement in Japanese, I was proofed that I didn’t understand a single word. The language sounded fascinating but also completely foreign to me, and I wondered how I would manage to communicate once I met people who spoke no English at all.

In Tokyo, many public places, such as stations or airports, are bilingual. But as soon as I started exploring my neighborhood and living my everyday life, I quickly reached the limits of how far English could take me. My first supermarket visit was a good example. A simple shopping trip took me almost four times as long as it would have taken at home in Liechtenstein. Many products were only labelled in Japanese, so I used my phone camera to translate the text. It worked, but it was slow and tiring. Still, I was positively surprised that some products already had small English labels.

In my neighborhood, Nishi-Ogikubo (西荻窪), which is quite traditional and not a tourist area, there are countless great restaurants, but most have only Japanese menus. Without the translation function on my phone, I would have been completely lost. My phone became my constant helper. I use it also to have short conversations in the translate app’s conversation mode. That helped me in several situations, especially when asking for something specific.

At university, however, language has not been a problem at all. All my courses are in English, and most professors and students speak the language fluently. In fact, I was surprised by how well the Japanese students in my classes spoke English, especially their pronunciation. It was much better than I had expected, and it showed me that many young people in Japan now grow up learning English more actively than older generations.

But outside of university, English is often not enough. One important example was when I had to register at the local city office within my first two weeks. I had already been told that on Mondays and Fridays there would be English-speaking staff available to help foreign residents. I went there on a Friday, and I was really glad that I did. The paperwork was all in Japanese, and it would have taken me hours to translate everything myself. The staff were helpful and friendly, but I could tell that on other days it would have been almost impossible to handle this kind of bureaucracy without help.

Over time, I have learned to deal with these language barriers quite well. I plan my tasks carefully and rely on technology when needed. But I also started to learn a few basic Japanese words to make daily life a bit easier. The first word I learned was arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます), which means “thank you very much.” It is one of the most important phrases in Japan, where politeness and gratitude play a big role. I also learned sumimasen (すみません) – “excuse me” – which I often use before speaking English to someone. It works almost like a small icebreaker and shows respect before I ask for help.

The reactions from Japanese people are always very positive when I try to speak their language. Even when I only say a few words, they smile and appreciate the effort. I have learned that many Japanese people are shy to speak English, even when they know some, because they don’t want to make mistakes. As I already noticed in my first blog, Japanese culture values perfection and precision. If people think they can’t do something properly, they often prefer not to do it at all. That is why many avoid speaking English, even if they could.

Some situations with the language have also been funny or heart-warming. When my friends and I go out for dinner in our neighborhood, the restaurant owners already recognize us. We often communicate with a mix of English, a few Japanese words and gestures. Sometimes misunderstandings happen but people are always patient and kind. If it really doesn’t work, I simply thank them and try to find someone else who can help. What matters most is showing respect and friendliness.

Learning Japanese is not something I actively pursue in a university course, since my semester is only four months long and the language is extremely complex. I would not have enough time to learn it properly without neglecting my main studies. Instead, I try to learn from daily life and from Japanese friends. Still, I have realized that Japanese is not only difficult to pronounce, but also incredibly hard to read. The written language uses different systems: Katakana, Hiragana and Kanji. Katakana is mostly used for foreign words and names, while Kanji consists of complex characters that often represent whole ideas or meanings, not just sounds. Many symbols can have several meanings depending on the context. I also noticed something interesting when I watched people typing on their phones: as they type several smaller characters, the symbol in the text field keeps changing until it becomes one single, more complex sign. It shows how layered and intricate the written language really is. For me, it is almost impossible to read them, which makes signs or menus even more confusing.

Looking back, I have learned a lot about communication, not only in a linguistic sense, but also in how people connect beyond words. I realized that friendliness, patience, and respect can bridge language barriers much more effectively than perfect grammar. When people see that you are polite and genuinely try, they are always willing to help.

This experience also changed how I see myself as a communicator. I have become more patient, more adaptable, and less afraid of not finding the perfect words. In many ways, I learned that communication is not only about language but also about attitude. I believe these lessons will be very useful in my future, whether I work with international colleagues, travel abroad, or simply meet people from different cultures.