I think all visitors need is a few words of Japanese and translation app. If you showed the locals your effort to communicate in Japanese any way you can, they’d most likely appreciate it and try to be helpful. It’s all about showing your respect.

not wrong. but at some point down the line english might be their only way out if they want to attract foreign workforce to get the income tax, unless the japanese are willing to have 3-4 kids per household to not become extinct as a country and be able to produce more worker. the homework Japan has.

if that's the case, a japanese like me can't travel to any where other than english speaking countries and indonesia (and probably Malaysia). i'm still lucky i can speak those languages... wait, then. what happen to those who are not good at learning languages in japan? i think ayumi yori is important. loving and caring each other to get closer. enjoy being in japan!

It's a garbage opinion, i grew up in an area in germany with tons of japanese tourists, busses full of them... They neither spoke german nor english. Now i am in bangkok - tons of japanse workers and tourists here that neither speaker thai nor english. Not even the absolute basics, no one complains about their attitude because they are polite and spend money - and that's all that matters.

English speakers also expect japanese tourist to speak english when they visit western country, seems fair

Coming from an education system that teaches English as a second language since first grade, I was surprised to learn that Japanese dont learn English until they are in high school. In this age where flying has become very affordable, you cant be expected to learn the native language of every country you are going to, so I do think everyone should have a basic command of English. The Japanese government clearly recognise this as well as they started teaching English at younger school age.

It’s OK. It’s their own choice and their own consequence.

As a Malaysian, I honestly don't see what's the fuss. Most of us are multilingual. When we meet someone, we speak whatever language that suits everybody. I don't know Japanese. So when I was in Japan, I got by with online translator, some body language, and just smile a lot when asking for assistance. I had fantastic time 😁

I've seen that my husband, who's been learning Japanese because of his ancestry, has been using Japanese and many people respond in English. Many people do speak English, but it's probably the assumption that they SHOULD that's the problem.

learning an entire language just for a 1-2 week holiday somewhere seems wildly disproportionate. learning a few basic phrases is always a good idea.