If you’ve been following my journey, you know that 2026 is the year I finally move to Japan. But there’s a massive elephant in the room: the language.
For years, I’ve been a “passive” fan of Japanese. Thanks to countless hours of watching anime and Japanese films in their original language, my ears are somewhat tuned to the rhythm of the speech. I can catch a “Yatta!” or a “Naruhodo” here and there, and I know the basic greetings. But if you put a Japanese newspaper in front of me? It might as well be a beautiful, complex map of stars.
The sounds are familiar, but the symbols are a mystery. Today, that changes. Today, we start writing.
The Strategy: Why I’m Starting with the Basics
After falling down a rabbit hole of TikTok tutorials and YouTube “polyglot” advice, I’ve decided on my roadmap. Many experts suggest a specific order, and it makes total sense: Hiragana first, Katakana second, and then—the final boss—Kanji.
1. Hiragana: The Soul of the Language
This is where every beginner starts. Hiragana consists of 46 characters that represent every sound in Japanese. Once I master this, I’ll be able to read basic children’s books and understand the grammar particles.
2. Katakana: For the Foreign Words
Katakana is used for foreign loanwords (like “computer” or “coffee”). It’s essential for navigating menus and signs as a traveler.
3. Kanji: The Artistic Challenge
I’m saving the thousands of complex characters for a little later, but I’m excited (and terrified) to dive into them eventually!
My Toolkit: Apps and Resources
Since I’m doing this from scratch, I’ve been scouting for the best tools. TikTok is buzzing with recommendations, and I’ve decided to put two of the most popular apps to the test:
Hey Japan (The Pivot!): I originally planned to use Pingoai because I’d seen so many people raving about it, but I quickly realized it’s not available for Android yet. Since I didn’t want to lose momentum, I switched to Hey Japan. It’s incredibly visual and game-like, which is exactly what I need to keep my brain engaged while tackling those first characters.
Memrise: Known for its spaced repetition system and “real people” videos. I’m hoping this will bridge the gap between the anime phrases I know and actual, useful conversation.
The Power of Social Media: I’m also curating a list of YouTube and TikTok creators who break down stroke orders (the specific way you draw each character). There’s something so satisfying about watching someone draw a perfect Kanji!
Bridging the Gap: From Anime to Real Life
It’s funny—I’ve heard characters in Naruto or Studio Ghibli films say certain words a thousand times, but I never knew what those words looked like.
There is a huge difference between hearing “Arigato” and recognizing ありがとう. My goal for this week is to be able to write my own name and recognize the basic vowels: A (あ), I (い), U (う), E (え), O (お).
Let’s Do This Together!
I’m not doing this behind closed doors. I want to share the struggles, the messy notebooks, and the moments where my brain feels like it’s melting.
Are you also starting your Japanese journey? If you’ve used Pingoai or Memrise before, please let me know your thoughts in the comments! Or, if you have a favorite YouTube channel for learning Hiragana, share the link below.
Learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint. But every stroke I draw is one step closer to my new life in Japan.
Next update: I’ll show you my first attempt at writing Hiragana. Wish me luck!
I’m building this ‘bridge to Japan’ day by day. If you find value in my story and want to support the blog and the secret projects behind it, please know that every coffee donated will bring me one step closer to my dream of moving to Japan.
