Speak basic Japanese and understand Japanese culture

LanguageBeginnerAnywhere

90 minutes

5 steps

·Beginner

After 90 min: You'll communicate in simple Japanese and appreciate the cultural nuances behind the language.

What you need

Language app (Genki, Pimsleur)Hiragana/katakana flashcardsNotebook50 hours minimumCultural openness

The 90-Minute Plan

Learn hiragana first0–15 min

48 characters representing all sounds in Japanese. Takes 2-3 weeks of practice.

Learn katakana15–35 min

Same sounds as hiragana, used for foreign words. Practice alongside hiragana.

Master polite vs casual forms35–55 min

Japanese has formal (です, ます) and casual speech. Context matters enormously.

Build conversational phrases55–75 min

Hajimemashite (nice to meet you), sumimasen, ありがとう (thank you), いただきます (before eating).

Study kanji and cultural context75–90 min

Kanji: Chinese characters adopted into Japanese. Also learn why bowing, eye contact matter differently.

Pro Tip

Japanese respect effort; locals respond warmly to foreigners attempting their language.

90 min·5 steps

After 90 min: Have simple Japanese conversations about daily topics and basic needs

2,300

see the plan

90 min·5 steps

After 90 min: Read and write all 46 hiragana characters fluently

3,200

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90 min·5 steps

After 90 min: You'll introduce yourself, order food, and handle everyday situations in Spanish.

8,200

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90 min·5 steps

After 90 min: You'll communicate confidently during travel and impress native speakers with effort.

7,400

see the plan