Whats the best way to study Japanese?
147993
Get a book first. Learn some basic stuff (couple of nouns, verbs, adj...etc) and see if you have anyone that speaks the language around you. \nReading Roomaji (the way pronounciation is written) is pretty easy. "fu" is "fu" in Roomaji, and never "f" or "ph" like English (this used to confuse the hell out of me when I was younger).\nIf not, going to Japan is the best way. Oh yeah, you'll learn fast (esp, "kore ikuradesuka?")
894228
Retaining a learned language is hard when your skills are not put to practice. But you have many solutions available. Go to Japanese chat rooms. Do NOT be embarrassed by grammar mistakes etc. they will be more than happy to correct you as well as help you. People generally enjoy telling people how to say things correctly! \nAlso, watch Japanese television programming on your basic cable. If that is not on your cable package, see if you can upgrade to get that channel. Put the enthusiasm back into the language by making the effort. Also, you can join a club in your area like a culture club as well as attend classes at community college.\nWhen you talk out loud to yourself, and we all do, say it in Japanese.\nI wish you luck on this. Please keep the language, you worked hard to attain it!!
396876
I've been learning Japanese for two years now and have a Jpanaese girlfriend and I still can't string a sentence together.  It's hard but not impossible, but unless your really good at learning languages I'd go for Spanish, which is a beautiful language anyway.
937685
JAPANESE.      \n\nThe textbook 'Japanese for busy people' is a good start.  Also people usually starting by learning Hiragana script, I found it more useful to start with katakana as it is used mainly for 'borrowed words'.  It makes reading a menu easy.
83590
Take a japanese class.
79278
I think you should start learning conversational Japanese first. Your local community college or community center might have a conversational class for a decent rate. If you are interested in learning the written language, this will probably take many years. The Japanese language uses katakana, hiragana, and kanji to convey there written language. The 'kana' are relatively easy to learn but you will not be able to function in Japan without "Kanji" or Chinese writting. The Japanese use several thousand kanji on a daily basis. Your community college or university is probably the best way to learn the total language.
383468
Consider language exchange with a Japanese person wanting to learn English. Many have had some schooling in our language and have enough of the basics down for understanding but want to improve and are willing to help you learn! \n\nIf you work with a Japanese "penpal" for this purpose its free. \n\nTry this: http://www.japan-guide.com/local/  \n\nFor awesome beginner lessons to get started on your own, try japanese.about.com
1005679
When I was learning Japanese I found Jim Breen's site to be absolutely indispensible. It covers hiragana, katakana, and kanji and has a brilliant search tool for when you come across kanji that you don't recognize. [1] [2]\n\nThe Yamasa Institute also has some great tools available on their site. [3]\n\nThe J<->E Dictionary site has some awesome resources that will help you out in numerous ways. [4]\n\nLastly, everything is available via a Google search. There really are a lot of sites devoted to the Japanese language and with some time you will find some great sites that suit your needs.
1038881
You can go to Japanese-Online.com and learn for free.\nor look at LanguageQuest.com for a full list of book, tapes, cds, and software.
604786
Get a "LEARN JAPANESE" DVD...\n\nthey aren't terribly expensive (I see them advertised in flight magazines)... and you can learn ANYWHERE\n\neven in NC.
779382
http://japanese.about.com/\n\nClicking the Introductory Lessons link may be a good place to start\n\nOr you could find a few more usefull things here\nhttp://japanese.about.com/blbeginner.htm
815150
Are you a high school student? If so, AFS has a excellent program. I went on it and it was great! Heads up though- deadlines for next year are really soon. If you're a college student, I recommend Tokyo International University or Kansai Gaidai as they have both excellent programs. Keep in mind, most programs recommend or require you to take Japanese for at least a year. In either case, you should be talking with an advisor or school counselor- they can tell you what you need.
809141
move to japan.  if that doesn't work find some other way to immerse yourself in the language.  if all you hear and are able to communicate is in Japanese you will learn faster
151435
Hmmm... What do you mean by fast? Is 4 years fast? This is how much it got me to actually say I can use my Japanese... I think all the languages you would like to learn take at least 2 or 3 years. For Japanese, there are plenty of good sites on the internet. You could use them. I dont know any courses, though. Don't worry for your spelling. It's perfectly understandable. Good luck with the others!
23932
You should grab a copy of the book "Remembering the Kana" by James Heisig.  You may be able to find it at your library or from Amazon.com.  If you find a more recent version of the book it will teach you both the hiragana and the katakana.  You should be able to master both in a matter of hours (over the course of a few days at least) with this excellent book.  It worked for me!
495814
The best way is to study in the Shinto Theology School in Japan where those who finished the educations become the "kannushi" and "miko" or "onmyoji"...etc.  The second best is to interview some priests (kannushi) and/or "divine maidens" (miko) of Shinto shrines in Japan.\n\nThe third choice is to acquire Shintoism study texts in Japan (if you understand the language).  The worse of all is to use the internet to get incorrect image and interpretations of Shintoism from the Westerners view point.\nTechnically, Shintoism is very complex even on the surface appears simple:\n\n- Classical Shintoism\n- Imperial Shintoism (teachings that add the royalties)\n- Shugendo Shintoism (influenced by Shugendo)\n- Onmyodo Shintoism ("onmyoji" = exorcist, master mage)\n- Others\n\nI do NOT recommend to study Shintoism online for obvious reasons.\n\n"Shinto wa, shukyo dewanai, michi desu." -- Shintoism is not a religion, but rather, a way of life.  To a shintoist, "religion" is not interpreted in the Western sense, but in the literal sense -- re (in Latin: "returning") + ligion (Greek: "light", "wisdom") = Enlightment.\n\n\nThis is the web-link to the International Shinto School in Japan: http://www.shinto.org/\n\nIn case you are at loss on which to click, I have made this help for you -- this link will take you to the site's English section:\n\nhttp://www.shinto.org/isri/eng/top-e.html\n\n--Add-On Note--\n\nHeron, the only book that is published in the English for Shintoism that I would recommend is this one:\n\n"Essentials of Shinto, an analytical guide to principal teachings" -- by Stuart D.B. Picken, Greenwood Press; ISBN 0-313-26431-7.\n\nI am aware that, there are many English publications upon Shintoism; however, I will only recommend the one stated above because the author presents Shintoism near to the correct idea in his researchings.  Also, you can email the International Shinto School in English requesting materials that explains Shintoism in the English language; I am sure they will be happy to offer you some.
83717
Visit following site but need to read japanese.