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How I Became Fluent In Japanese [Bike Commute To Work in Japan]
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How I Became Fluent In Japanese [Bike Commute To Work in Japan]



In my [commuting by bike to work] series, I talk about various topics including cycling and life in Japan. Today’s topic is how I learned Japanese and how long it took me to become fluent in Japanese. I will be talking about my personal experience with learning this language, mistakes and struggles I faced along the way, and my advice for anyone interested in studying Japanese. Have any other questions, leave them down below in the comments.

Interested in what gear I am using?

Cycling Camera Gear

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38 Comments

  1. Two Wheel Cruise

    This is my first attempt of a new series I want to start on this channel, where I talk about various topics (cycling and Japan) during my bike commute to work. Let me know what topics you'd like me to go over in a separate comment, and also let me know if you have any good ideas for naming this series!
    Enjoy!

  3. Zadanye

    I just got back from studying Japanese in Japan for the past three months, and listening to you talking about your experiences makes the goal of making it to a high level of Japanese feel more possible, and I just wanted to say thank you!

  6. dark angel

    I love how you narrate your stories and how passionate you are with your endeavors, it really inspired me to do something too..love the vlog keep doing what you love👍👍👍

  7. Craig M

    Your video/story totally reminded me of that Mylo Sunworshipper song. Like it's some kind of sequel.

  8. Red Horse Comics

    I'm glad this video popped up. Wondered when I happened on your channel what the whole back story was. As far as I knew you might not even have a western accent when conversing. Great story. I live in a border town in the great lakes Canada and 98% of my very large family hails from Michigan. (I would add that your midwest accent is gone). I always knocked myself later in my 20's that I dropped french because there are an unbelievable number of opportunities for bilinguals.. Editing, business, government services and customs etc. I'm guessing it's the same for someone at your level. English teaching, western history, embassies.. The list goes on for days. Thanks for sharing mate.

  11. John Laws

    Thanks for sharing you experience. I started learning the language back in 2003, but haven't been to the country in over 12 years, so I've lost fluency since then. Good news is, I've been brushing up via JLPT exercises and Vtuber streams over the past month.

    But yeah, one of my biggest pet peeves with textbook Japanese is that we're forced to conjugate every verb with ます and です in the classroom, which isn't really practical for most conversational Japanese.

  14. Zzz Z

    I started learning japanese this year but bc of covid it does make it hard for me to feel motivated cuz i dont have someone i can physically communicate with in the language to practice everyday and staying in the house everyday

  15. IAMPEACHY11

    He says Japan is humid and hot in many vidoes guess he have never been to India , believe me as an Indian , it is pain in summer specially may June 😂😂😂😂😂😂,

  18. Moto Din

    Learning german, russia, norway, arabic and morse code all at the same time, wish me luck

  19. Sebastian Schade

    Trying to learn japanese for roughly 2 years now with breaks in between and a year ago I only got my N4. Since then I mostly just try to learn the Kanji and some vocab connected to those and less grammar which I keep forgetting 😀
    I try to practice listening and a bit reading but still feels like no progress at all except kanji and vocab if I see it often enough at some point. When my GF talks in japanese or I watch something I can't understand most of it at all. So pretty frustrating right now but I still love the language. If I'm honest I should spent muuuch more time reading and listening maybe. I always like hearing those stories of people manage to learn it even though I have little hope of understanding it ever.
    I wonder how you approached your study in general. Many Textbooks? Drama/Anime? Reading manga or novels?

  20. HistoryGamerXD

    I want to learn japanese only because my m Japanese American and I will be going to see my uncle and I need to learn japanese to of course communicate with him and other people to get food and other stuff

  23. Ryakkimaru

    translating 100% of the time to learn pretty much everything with japanese is so tiring to the point i have difficulties memorizing new vocabs because i forget them right away

  26. Kelala Music

    Cruise, I was always under the impression that learning to speak Japanese would be extremely difficult, even leaning how to read Japanese, for that matter. You've given me food for thought, especially now that I'm thinking of perhaps moving there one day. You're story is inspiring. To learn something as difficult as a new language, you are right. It has to be a passion, and you have to be dedicated. Having a partner really helps. Maybe I can convince my wife to study Japanese as well. Aren't you glad that you were talked into attending your first class, or observation class. You might not have moved to Japan and not meet the love of your life. This might sound silly, but from the start of my watching your videos and hearing you speak Japanese, I couldn't help but think of a song from the early 80's called, "Turning Japanese." I don't know why, HAHAHA!! Mahalo for the video.

  27. Neta Chavoinik

    Hey! First time watching your videos and just wanted to say I love hearing your story!! I recently began learning Japanese (about 2 months in now) at my university (also my last year) and I've become suuuper passionate about it too — it really is so fun!

    I had a question for you and was hoping you could give some advice. Since everything is virtual now (and I'm living at home), it's been really tough finding ways to practice my Japanese since I don't know anyone in my class really, and there is nobody I encounter outside of class that can help me practice. What do you think I should do? I'm definitely going to start labeling everything in my house in Japanese LOL as per your suggestion, but what else would you recommend? I'm also supposed to study abroad in Tokyo in the spring, but worried it might get canceled due to covid 🙁

    Thanks so much in advance and looking forward to watching more of your vids! 🙂

  29. Thomas Soler

    Hi Mr. Cruise! Living in Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island (U.S. Territory), makes it difficult to expand on the learning process since the Japanese population is almost non existent here. Of course one has the internet and can easily find reading material to learn the Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji alphabets, but the part that's left out is the being able to speak with a native speaker or a person that's at the very least fluent in Japanese making it difficult to grow or develop the spoken skills… I guess my question is, do you know of a way that one may have to be able to speak with someone that's fluent with the language, so as to be able to practice and develop that part of the language?

  33. Bill's Japan Life

    You're a self taught programmer. Maybe a good opportunity for you would be to develop an English – Japanese translation app that allows one to chose between casual and formal Japanese. (??) I would most certainly purchase that!!! I struggle a lot. Enjoyed riding to work with you.

  34. Rudy Villanueva

    You are really a tough guy dude I really admire your passion. Actually I'm a fun of your founded website jlptsensei.com I use it for my study of Japanese language. It is really surprising for me at first because I couldn't believe if you are really the guy who made that site and the guy I use to watch here in YouTube just because of your cycling vlog. Anyway, I m a Filipino also staying here in Japan for more than 2 years as of now and very much struggling with the Japanese language also love with the sport of cycling. Thank you Cruise for inspiring me a lot.

  35. Kurogi Sensei

    Hi, I heard a beep whenever you stop and start. Is that your cycling computer? What brand and model are you using?

  36. Sam Prakash

    Your way of communicating & observations on learning any complicated language, where is one & where to reach especially in achieving fluency, not only that but also there is extraordinary clarity in where are you, where the life is leading & taking decisions against normal routine, for example, returning to Japanese language even after putting a full stop or decision of your marriage, the wonderful relation you share with your beloved wife, its extraordinary!! I have started with Japan Walk but I am also watching lots & lots of your past videos! I think I shall be learning a great deal by the time I complete all your videos. 😊

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