This is so true. When I learned to write (French) when I was a child, the teacher also gave us strict guidelines to the order and shape of the characters. I do

This is so true. When I learned to write (French) when I was a child, the teacher also gave us strict guidelines to the order and shape of the characters. I don't see any difference except that in my country, most people stop caring about it once the exam has passed. Japan is awesome when you really dive into the culture and language and try to understand it. If you don't, you'll probably have a hard time (hence the number of expats ranting about anything and everything, I guess). I always wondered why it is always the target for articles about "weird stuff". You can find weird people and concepts in any country if you search for it long enough...