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Indeed, Japan consistently ranks dead last in terms of English proficiency among OECD countries. Heck, it’s even last among Asian economies including developing

by niztk 8y ago

Indeed, Japan consistently ranks dead last in terms of English proficiency among OECD countries. Heck, it’s even last among Asian economies including developing ones. There’s hardly any i18n for apps/services/portals implemented in Japan barring very few exceptions with minimum and rough execution. The few times I tried to hire Japanese engineering talent, I was shocked by the extreme lack of English aptitude for those out of CS curriculums and we are talking about top universities such as Tokyo University (Todai) and other prestigious institutes of technology. I can’t help but think that Japan will sink deeper into mediocrity if they don’t fix their language problem.

ascar 8y ago
It already starts at school. Learning English with Katakana leads to such an incorrect pronunciation that they basically have to relearn talking in English, when they eventually meet foreigners. I have been to multiple school visits as part of the university program and it's a sad state. But in my experience they are trying to improve it, e.g. by bringing us foreign students to the schools and raising awareness.
- mirimir 8y ago
  For "Sukiyaki Western Django", I've read that Miike just had his Japanese actors memorize the classic western drawl. And that's what it sounds like, to me.
tokyodude 8y ago
This is also IMO one of the big reasons Japanese salaries are so low. The Japanese only know Japanese so they can't jump to better labor markets.
- tjpnz 8y ago
  It's getting better at least in Tokyo where the job market has been heating up of late. People aren't as prepared to accept the same shitty salaries that they used to and companies that want to do well are realising that they need to pay their people properly. The companies that haven't have already lost their most capable devs with only the most mediocre, last cab off the rank types remaining.

by niztk 8y ago

ascar 8y ago

It already starts at school. Learning English with Katakana leads to such an incorrect pronunciation that they basically have to relearn talking in English, when they eventually meet foreigners. I have been to multiple school visits as part of the university program and it's a sad state. But in my experience they are trying to improve it, e.g. by bringing us foreign students to the schools and raising awareness.

mirimir 8y ago
For "Sukiyaki Western Django", I've read that Miike just had his Japanese actors memorize the classic western drawl. And that's what it sounds like, to me.

tokyodude 8y ago

This is also IMO one of the big reasons Japanese salaries are so low. The Japanese only know Japanese so they can't jump to better labor markets.

tjpnz 8y ago
It's getting better at least in Tokyo where the job market has been heating up of late. People aren't as prepared to accept the same shitty salaries that they used to and companies that want to do well are realising that they need to pay their people properly. The companies that haven't have already lost their most capable devs with only the most mediocre, last cab off the rank types remaining.