I’m 68 and don’t feel old either, although last year’s “tandem” course with a bunch of Japanese college students who were learning German, was interesting.
These days, I don’t know a darn thing about current anime or manga, though as a teenager I liked “Speed Racer” (an anime dubbed in English and shown in the US in the early 1970s) and I once bought a manga in the early 1980s, back when they were difficult to get. In both cases, I liked the style of the pictures.
I don’t know if you will read this, because it’s a full day after your comment. I went to 4 or 5 Japanese classes as a kid before I rebelled and never went back. My parents tried bribery, but my siblings and I were already older and the other kids knew some Japanese and we didn’t. When I got older I met people who had an enormous advantage in learning the language because they had gone to Japanese school. So, like you, I pursued other things and never learned much Japanese. I am in Japan now and one advantage I have found about being a heritage learner is that Japanese people speak to me in Japanese, often very rapidly. Teachers also have a positive expectation that I will do well. I am older than you and you are absolutely right about having more time after retirement. So, although I’m sorry I waited I wish I had done a little bit of study when I was your age.
Thanks for sharing! I’m actually currently in Japan, and will be spending more time here because I have aging parents who have recently returned to live here after many years in the U.S. I’m not retired, but take on project work which allows me more time to study, but not limitless time. And I’m glad to hear that you have an encouraging teacher. Though tbh, I find when people just speak to me in rapid Japanese because they assume I’m a local/fluent, I barely understand what they’re saying! It’s all good though. My attitude these days is just not to get too stressed about it. I think more grammar and speaking practice will help. Hope you’re having a good time in the homeland!
11 days later. I reached level 6. It’s starting to get harder and longer each level now.
I’m currently rewatching ‘First Love’ drama with japanese subtitles. Even though I watch this japanese drama 3 years ago with english subtitles, I feel like I forgot everything about the story. So it feels like I’m watching it the first time.
8 days later, I reached level 7. I’ve been using wanikani for almost 2 months now.
I reached level 8. I’m going at a pace of 8-9 days a level.
I’m not 50 but am in my 40s. I successfully learned Thai to fluency in my 40s and it was my first new language and I didn’t think I could do it. I really recommend sites like Comprehensible Japanese that have graded listening materials for learners, because that is basically how I learned Thai (there is an amazing YouTube channel for Thai with 1500+ hours of videos with slowly increasing difficulty and I basically just watched it all then did some speaking practice). I really think listening is the rate-limiting step in learning a language so you might as well do it as much as you can from the start. You will naturally acquire a lot of words and then when you see the kanji for them in Wanikani it will be easier to learn and your reviews will go faster. Also, my biggest recommendation is to do your reviews every single day.
What was the reason to learn Thai? I had a thai girlfriend for a few years but never learned any Thai.
For comprehensible Japanese, I watch a few at the beginning. But they started getting boring. Would watching japanese drama and anime be just as useful as comprehensible input?
I unexpectedly moved to Thailand, and figured I would have a much better experience here if I learned Thai (which turned out to be true).
Are the Comprehensible Japanese videos boring because they are too easy for your level, or is it the content of the videos? The topics do get more interesting as the level increases. You can always just watch a few videos a day until you get bored and move onto something else. Or, it might not be your cup of tea and that’s ok too. I think dramas and anime only work as input if you can actually understand a good chunk of it (80-90%) otherwise it’s hard to pick up new words and grammar.
Another Comprehensible Input Japanese user here. Currently at around 970 hours of their content clocked (yes, I repeat their content). I agree on some videos being not the most entertaining, but they have to work with very limited vocabulary, as they are for Complete beginners. Also, I think that (as an example) whiteboard videos are actually the most effective one for acquiring the language. They are full of visuals and the brain can easily understand what is being said. I am also not among the youngest learners. I am 45 and for me anki or WK is quite hard to use. My retention and accuracy is laughably bad. On the other hand, doing just CIJ for 10 months got to me close to intermediate level and I am getting close to transition to easier native material. It takes time and is slow but in this case it is time over effort method.
I’m 61 and just reached level 4! My USMC son married a Japanese lady and I want to make her feel like family (because she is!) Let’s keep at it!
That’s such a lovely reason, rooting for you! 
congrats on reaching level 4. I also leveled up today.
I reached level 9.
Somebody today posted that they are 86 years old, I think that’s the record holder
I really don’t think that age means anything if you keep your mind active. I taught a 97 year old man and he was brighter and quicker than students who were generations younger. He just made it a point to always be learning and challenging himself.
Get him to join WK to break the record!
Unfortunately, he passed away last year at 103. He had an amazing life as an engineer and a navy veteran.
I reached level 10. Wanikani has been a good experience so far.
As for anki flashcard vocabulary words, I’m starting to forget alot of words I learned earlier. I have around 2,000 known words.