I'm studying Japanese on my own. I have lessons on CDs, and every day for a half hour I shout Japanese at my stereo! When I'm done the CDs (soon!) I have books to teach me. I can read kana and I know maybe 100 or so kanji. It takes me about an hour to watch a MM or GnA ep because I have to keep stopping to look up words! For me, I have to work at it everyday, or I quickly forget. #-o

I am taking Japanese lessons.
Soon, i will be having lessons everyday. I don't work nor i'm attending normal lessons in tetiary education. So i could take up full time japanese course. My level allows me to listen, read and write. But to really communicate with a japanese is a BIG NO NO! i still can't do that yet^^ haha

Well, I started studying today! Right now I'm studying hiragana but I remember only few of them. XD I'm so lazy, I'm sure I will stop studying very soon. But I try to study few weeks! XD I know some words and sentences in Japanese since I have watched anime with English subtitles and Japanese language. That's easy way to learn Japanese! Though I can't read or write katakana, kanji or hiragana (besides 'no', 'ku', and 'te' ).

I've learned some basics in high school, but I had no interest whatsoever in anything japanese then, so I kinda regret it. I didn't really listen and our teacher's always absent, so I only learned katakana and hiragana and the basic grammar.

I'm now starting to pick up Japanese again. I might go take a course in University. if my schedule allows me.

I can recognize katakana, hiragana and about 200-300 kanji, but I'm having a hard time with readings.

I can watch a raw drama or anime and depending on how common the words are. I can understand about 70%-80% of the show. If I really pause n listen or read the "drama note" then I can understand up to 95%.

But if it's like an interview or variety show, that I can't understand much, the language used in those are more formal and really fast.

Well, right now I'm still basic conversational, and I can read hiragana, katakana (sometimes Lol) and basic kanji. A lot of kanji I have learned through doing karaoke at the local korean karaoke bar (where they have A LOT of Arashi!!!) I started taking it last year in college but had to drop due to work, but I'm starting back next semester. I'm working on my own now as well, because I hope to be fluent (reading and speaking) within 3 years so that I can start work as a translator (either patents or books, either one will bring in $$$$) I've always loved language and I've really taken to Japanese. I was able to watch Pika*Nchi and understood a great deal of what was going on...still lost on a bit of it though.

And it's quite fun correcting subs from China since their english is HORRIBLE on the VCD's for Stand UP!!

Im taking Japanese lessons every week, except on summer holiday which is now I can read and write hiragana, katakana and about 200 kanji marks, been learning them from song lyrics (thank you shounen club!!) and of course in jap classes too. Ive been taking the classes for 2 years now, and I can watch jdorama's without subs, but of course theres sometimes parts i dont understand... While Im on my summer holidays, I learn more Japanese by watching dorama's and learning new kanji's, and I talk to my Japanese teacher (who is crazy with Nobuta wo produce, especially Kame haha). Im always eager to learn more

I really have to thank jdorama's of my some kinda skills because they just teach you so much common Japanese^^

I haven't studied Japanese for a week. XD I just knew this would happen! I must study! But weather is so nice here, so I want to go to walk and listen to music at the same time. Who can study if sun is shining?!

I wish I had the luxury to go for Japanese lessons. ._. I've wanted to for the longest time, but somehow things always come up and I never get to start. This year I'll be having a really major exam in November and my parents are using that as an excuse to not let me start lessons yet. *sigh* The Japanese I do know now has been entirely through self-study...I can hold a basic conversation with a Japanese person, read and write hiragana, kana and quite a number of kanji. I can watch Japanese TV and understand to a certain extent..and I can sort of make out Osaka-ben (which I LOVE) because I was on an exchange programme in Osaka last year. (^^)

i'm doing japanese at uni... and god it's hard !! well i have exams these weeks T_T and i hope to pass in 2nd year !!

me too, I'm learning japanese at univ, and I'm admit in 2nd year ^^
I can read hiragana, katakana, and a lot of kanji, there is many that I can read but don't know exactly how much !