Are the majority of Japanese in Tokyo able to speak in English?

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CarefreePerson

From my experience, most do not really understand English well. If you need to ask for directions, try to approach the office working class people instead of the middle-aged and above people as the older generations are mostly monlingual. Also, speak slowly and emphasize on the main point with some good hand gestures to indicate your needs. This should help others to figure out how to help you or redirect you to others who can help.

Ofu Ofu

No. Most of Tokyo people cannot speak English. Many of them can speak "broken english" but not
just as English for conversation. If you go to a sight seeing place where foreign travellers visit, you can find a few people speak English fruently. However, in center of Tokyo such as Roppongi, Shinjyuku, Marunouchi etc, many business persons can speak English. In short, some can speak and some cannot. It depends on the place. For your info, Japanese cannot speak English better than many of other Asian countries because of unnecessity. Common language in ASEAN conference is English. But a Japanese prime minister does not speak English so well. But please do not be afraid. Most of the train station has English sign boards and many of restaurants displays a picture of dishes or even imitations so that you can poin out even if you cannot speak English. Also you can find Seven Eleven or equivalent shop everywhere. You can buy anything anytime.

fizzy stuff

You are right to plan ahead and learn some useful phrases. You may need them. And, its always a good idea to show your interest in the place you are traveling to.
You are wrong about national pride- in fact many Japanese people place a high priority on learning English. The problem lies in the education system, which pretty much focuses on grammar and books, in order to get a passing grade. They dont spend much time, if any, speaking English during the lessons, so thats why Japanese are extremely under-confident about speaking. Also, Japan is still a very homogeneous country- so the average Japanese person has very few chances to speak a language other than Japanese. There are many other points and issues I could bring up related to this topic, but basically you should try to use Japanese in Japan and if someone speaks to you in English then thats great too! Just dont walk up and speak English, that puts them on the spot.
EDIT: I just read the rest of your question. What other economic advantages do they need? Japan has been doing quite well for itself since the end of the war, in fact it has come a long way, without a bilingual population. Its not a closed economy, the last time I checked! Its 2007.

Yasaiman_Reborn

The majority of Japanese are living and working with Japanese who speak Japanese. There's no need to speak English.

Advanced = speak English? I don't think so. But I think it's good to learn other languages. So it's good to learn basic Japanese phrases when you go to Japan.

tonalc1

Most learn some English in school, but many are not fluent. You will probably find more English speakers in shops than on the street.

I would suggest learning basic phrases to enable you to get around, shop, get information, etc. One thing that's helpful is that a good deal of signs are in English.

I traveled there and spent a few months beforehand learning a bit of the language; it helped immensely.

And since the US is such an "advanced" country, why are we all monolingual? Is it because our national pride says that English is the national language? Oh wait, it does.

Mon Ray

They live in Japan. What do they need to learn English for? That's like me asking you "Why don't you speak Japanese?" when you live in an English-speaking country.

Suzu

Tokyo is a big city and most of the signs at train stations and department stores are bilingual. However, I think less than 15% people on the street in Tokyo would speak English, so it's a great idea to pick up some useful phrases before you visit Japan. Speaking a little Japanese word may make them be a little more friendly to you! and when you are talking to Japanese in English, try speaking slowly, simply and clearly like a textbook, and also try making a sentence as short as you can.
oh there are many foreigners in Tokyo, so maybe you can ask them for help if you can't find any Japanese speaking English. Anyway, I hope you'll have a fun time in Japan.

Max

When I was in tokyo, the stores and hotels could speak english but the mainstream population didn't. Still if you ask anybody on the street for directions or help they will go out of their way to make sure your taken care of. Very nice people.

Spinaround

The Japanese people are warm, helpful and kind. They will help you if you approach them politely. Remember to get your maps ready - they will come in handy.

I agree that the issue of training good teachers in Japan is one of the key hampering factors hindering the learning of English in Japan.

JingleBells

The real and pressing issue is that, as much as the Japanese government tries hard to find good local and foreign teachers, it has a large pool of local teachers in great need of training to level up their proficiency of English.

You've posed a good question. I've read an article which emphasised on this educational problem in Japan which you've asked. This is the reason why the concerned Japanese government tries to recruit many English teachers into its schools to widen the pupils' exposure to native speakers of English and to train their listening and comprehension skills.

among_myself

well are most Americans able to speak Japanese?

tsibi as in mouse

While I was in Tokyo, No, there is no big predilection for English, its not because they don't want to learn it, but because the lists to get into any Educational institution are so very very long. They do however have Japanese cell phones that when you take a picture of a Japanese sign, it will translate into English. Learn please, thank you and excuse me, also if you want, good morning, afternoon and night. They really appreciate any effort of anyone trying to speak the language. (I made a lot of friends there that wanted to practice speaking and understanding English)

Carl_the_Truth

Most Japanese do not speak English. And most of them have no need to.

Confuzzled

most people can't have a fluent conversation in english, but when you're asking for like a street or a place or an item they usually get it.
some business people however are fluent in english.

they learn englihs in shcool but really slowly, like their middle shoool's like 3rd grade here. some adults forget what they learned, but some also take additional classes.

in tokyo however most of the poeple working there know what ur saying, but they just cant have a real conversation with u. the hotel staff also help u.

i dont think u need a transltor unless you really want to be able to discuss things with them.

Mrsjvb

wherever did you get that idea? In point of fact, most middle aged and younger Japanese have had extensive English lessons in school,and they understand it QUITE well. BUT they often have difficulty SPEAKING it , and as such, are reluctant to attempt to carry on a conversation with a Native English speaker. many of the consonants in English they do not have( they have no 'L' for instance)

HOWEVER. Tokyo is mostly Bi lingual, The airports and road signs are Bilingual. and at least one person at most restaurants and hotel swill be fluent. But it's considered polite to at least learn some basic phrases. They will be more polite to you and more willing to help out a lost gai-jin if you took the time to learn something about their country.

ä¸€æˆ¸å»ºã¦

You seem to be making assumptions here.

Actually, most people in Tokyo can speak a little English, as almost everyone studied it at school at some point. Currently, most Japanese kids study English for 6 years in the public school system, then possibly more at university, or on their own through various means.

Why is Japan mostly monolingual? Maybe for the same reason China is. If you've got a language and can get by, then so be it. My parents are monolingual. They never had a reason to learn any other language. Sucks to be them though.

It sounds like you're more intent on being angry at Japanese for not learning English, than you are on knowing whether or not you can communicate effectively in Japan.

And who are you to lecture about economic advantages? Japan is the second largest economy in the world. Not bad for such a small country. For some reason, I think Japan's doing just fine in those regards. Also, again, people in Japan DO speak English, and those who need to use it, need to use it.

Do you want to communicate with Japanese, or do you just want to whine about what isn't?

Maybe you're just upset because Japanese is too hard for you. As you said, you can speak several languages. Maybe you became sort of used to seeing yourself that way, but Japanese trumped you.

I can't wait until the next time I go out and can order the best things from a Japanese menu, while you're complaining at KFC about the chicken in Japan or whatever.

lol200hp

A lot of controversy on this question.

I just want to say that if you are going, pick up a real nice translator before you go. It will make your stay much more enjoyable.

Also, in my expieriance, I was very impressed with how well many Japanese speak English in Tokyo.

Frankie B

Most Japanese people, especially younger ones, learn English at school. They do this, however, primarily through writing and listening, so their speaking skills are often poor and lots of people are embarrassed to use them. This isn't to say everyone is - many people I know who live in Japan are amazingly fluent, but the majority of people people will have little/no use for English in their everyday lives and the skills they didn't obtain very well in the first place wither over time. The same happens to everyone who learns a second language.

Let me put it this way. If America is so advanced, how come they're mostly monolingual in English? Many Chinese people live there, so how come you can't all speak fluent Mandarin? Being able to speak English, especially in a country where it's 99% Japanese-speaking Japanese people, is not a factor in whether or not a country is advanced. Smacks of Western imperialism to me!

Simple Japanese phrases aren't difficult to learn, and even if you can't say them properly, attempting will pretty much always get you some form of help. The people are, on the whole, enormously helpful and giving of their time. If you get completely and utterly stuck, gestures say a lot.

Edit - Oh, Twinkie, you're just wanting your imperialist question answered in an imperialist way. Surprisingly, the great majority of people will not encounter exclusively English speaking people on an everyday basis. Shocking, I know! We should throw more of you Yanks in there, that'll teach the people for being concerned with what should concern them.

Haha, burrrrned. I have poor English skills, huh? Hell, I should drop out of university right now and go to the English School for People Who Have Different Opinions To Americans.

boohoo_Jebus

Have you been on this site long ? Most Americans can't even write proper English ! You seem to ignore the fact that the average Japanese person has no use for English. Also remember 99% of Japanese can read and write. Can we say the same ? Nope !

kUtE MyRA

yEA MOSt OF DEM DO SPEAk ENGLiiSH, ii WENt tO JAPAN BEFORE iit WAz MAD FUN!!!!!!

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