/jp/ - Otaku Culture

I've been living in Nagoya since March. I'm almost annoyed at how well people can understand me. Take a dictionary/phrasebook and use single words when possible. Lots of pointing and body language. Some people will get very nervous around you, because they are afraid of making mistakes and being unable to help you. Some people will walk right up to you and start practicing their English. Try saying things with a Japanese accent instead of British or American or whatever. In a big city, most signs will be in English as well as Japanese. Maps and local information pamphlets available in subway stations will be multilingual. You should be familiar with at least rudimentary Japanese, though.

For dictionary, I use the free iphone/ipod touch app, Kotoba. I suspect a dry-erase board would be handy as shit.

Good luck.

<--random park in Kyoto.