William. Just watched a TV show about the challenges non-Western foreigners face in Japan. I arrived on what was expected to be a short visit but then met my wife, and when it became clear that she wouldn’t leave Kumamoto, I had to tackle Japanese from the age of 27. There are, though, many resources for those looking to learn Japanese. I learned much from a kind tutor at YMCA, and then there is the International Center. I also learned conversation from talking with my wife but realized a spouse is not an ideal tutor - things often devolve into a quarrel. I’d like to hear experiences in learning Japanese from others on this page.