Top 9 languages if you need a translator in Japan

I love Japan but the people there have a dickens of a time learning to speak other languages …especially English. There are lots of reasons for this, that are beyond the scope of this post.

Still, if you do need a translator in Japan, finding one who can do English is your best bet.

Here are the top nine languages that have Japanese holding foreign language guide licenses.

1. English 6,417 people hold a license

2. Chinese – 839

3. Spanish – 475

4. French – 453

5. Korean – 424

6. German – 405

7. Russian – 182

8. Italian – 91

9. Portugese – 64

In a nation of 120 million plus, it seems to me to be a bit sparse that only 6,400 people hold licenses to translate in to English and back…much less the fewer people for the other eight languages listed.

What do you think?

Asahi Nenkan