I’ve been diligently studying Kanji through Wanikani, and while I’ve made significant progress, I’m now eager to delve deeper into other aspects of Japanese culture. However, I find myself at a bit of a crossroads, unsure of where to start.
I’m reaching out to this wonderful community for advice and recommendations on how to expand my understanding beyond just the language. Are there any particular books, movies, or websites you would recommend to gain insight into Japanese customs, traditions, and contemporary society? Maybe there are cultural events or local gatherings (either in-person or online) that you’ve found enriching?
Also, I’m curious about personal experiences. Have you encountered any challenges or surprises when delving into Japanese culture that you’d like to share?
Any insights or tips on how to navigate cultural nuances respectfully would be greatly appreciated.
I personally find exploring how my hobbies are seen/done in Japan really enjoyable, which really helps keep your attention if you enjoy something, of course.
Specifically, as I am really into cooking, I love watching Japanese street food videos on Youtube, although not very culturally enlightening, it definitely helps to get a feel for the place.
If you want to see how daily life is in Japan from various professions, I recommend Paolo fromTOKYO on Youtube. He makes videos about peoples lives, what they do, their families, etc. Really enjoyable to watch.
Another great way, albeit the hardest, is of course to spend time with Japanese people. I ran into a Japanese exchange student in my current student accommodation by pure chance, ended up spending the next few weeks meeting all his Japanese friends, going to bars, restaurants, and shopping. If you ever think you’re really starting to be able to speak a language, talk to natives and be immediately humbled. That was my experience anyway
Regardless, Paolo fromTOKYO would be my biggest おすすめ！
That’s a really good suggestion - in fact, one area that I’ve been intensely interested in for a very long time is ‘amateur radio’ (a.k.a. アマチュア無線 or ‘amachua musen’). I’ve been paying attention to Japanese web sites and magazines supporting the hobby, and have also from time to time directly talked to Japanese amateur radio operators via a particular app, as well as directly via shortwave radio (when conditions permit). In addition, when I have visited Japan in the past, making personal contact with other amateur radio operators has been an important part of my plans (and on my most recent visit I applied for and was issued a temporary ‘guest’ amateur radio license for my use while in the country).
As far as other approaches - not sure whether you are willing to disclose your general location - but in my area (Connecticut, USA) there are local “Japan Society” branches which sponsor cultural festivals and classes and otherwise serve as focal points for local residents who have an interest in Japan, whether they may be Japanese nationals visiting or working in the US, or US citizens with Japanese ancestry or family or friends, or simply folks with some level of interest.
There also are (or have been) local Japanese language and culture meetups (through meetup.com), through which I have made a number of friends and acquaintances over the years with local folks who share my Japan-related interests.
When I get a bit of free time I intend to put together a forum post sharing some of those resources, for other Connecticut (or other nearby NY or New England) residents who may frequent the WK community.
I would just in general recommend consuming as much Japanese media as possible. From manga, light novels to newspaper articles, more serious reports, broadcasts, etc. to understand various aspects of using and understanding Japanese.
As a weeb I would initially approach Japanese with a sort of reverence, considering the language special and different than English, German, etc. However, at the end of the day Japanese is just a language like any other.
One big mistake many Westerners make when approaching Japanese culture is trying to view it through a “western” lens. When thinking of Japanese culture, think of it as an Asian culture, with a different set of customs, values, etc. Try to view Japanese culture as a Japanese person would.
If you have the resources (money, time, etc.), consider going to Japan. Once you’re directly exposed to the country it really helps to contextualize certain language and cultural concepts and make them relatable.
Try to be polite, humble, but honest when needed. Importantly, don’t be afraid of making mistakes.
