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Manga-style illustration showing a beginner's six-month Japanese learning journey, from hiragana and katakana to basic grammar and conversation. The graphic features a student studying with Genki I, a monthly progress timeline, and three weekly study schedules ranging from 2–3 to 10–15 hours.

How Much Japanese Can You Learn in Six Months? A Realistic Guide

Can you really learn Japanese in just six months? Discover what beginners can realistically achieve, how much study time makes a difference, and a practical month-by-month learning roadmap.

Mike Viscusi

2 hours ago15 min read

Anime-style illustration comparing July and December JLPT examinations, featuring students studying in summer and winter, Mount Fuji, and a chart of worldwide JLPT certification rates from 2013 to 2025.

Is the JLPT Getting Harder, or Are Test Takers Just Not Trying Hard Enough? — Part 2: The July JLPT Mystery

Is the July JLPT easier than the December examination? In Part 2 of our investigation, we compare twelve years of Japanese-Language Proficiency Test results and uncover surprising differences in certification rates. From N1 and N3 to the infamous “Weeaboo Killer” N5, the statistics challenge assumptions about examination difficulty, student preparation, and Japanese-language proficiency.

Mike Viscusi

2 days ago14 min read

Comic-style illustration of the Simple Gaijin Weekly Japanese Study Plan, featuring a seven-day study calendar, Genki textbooks, Japanese writing materials, and a checklist of vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. Bold lettering highlights the 75-minute daily study routine.

The Simple Gaijin Weekly Japanese Study Plan: Just 75 Minutes a Day

Struggling to organize your Japanese studies? The Simple Gaijin Weekly Japanese Study Plan helps you improve vocabulary, grammar, listening, speaking, reading, and writing in just 75 minutes a day. Discover a practical seven-day schedule, beginner-friendly JLPT N5 activities, and flexible study routines that fit your lifestyle.

Mike Viscusi

Dec 15, 202213 min read

Simple Gaijin featured image examining whether the JLPT is getting harder, featuring N1–N5 Japanese study books, a maneki-neko, Mount Fuji, and a graph comparing Japan and overseas certification rates from 2013 to 2025.

Is the JLPT Getting Harder, or Are Test Takers Just Not Trying Hard Enough? — Part 1

Is the JLPT getting harder, or are test takers simply not preparing well enough? Using 13 years of official Japanese-Language Proficiency Test statistics from 2013 to 2025, we investigate declining certification rates, surprising differences between Japan and overseas examinees, and the extraordinary results recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers reveal a much more complicated story than you might expect.

Mike Viscusi

Jul 21, 202016 min read

Comic-style illustration explaining JLPT results, featuring an N3 score report showing 126 out of 180 points, section scores of 40, 43, and 43, passing status, reference grades, and a checklist of scoring topics.

JLPT Scores Explained: What Your Japanese Test Results Actually Mean

Got your JLPT results but aren't sure what the numbers mean? Learn how passing scores, sectional minimums, percentile ranks, and CEFR reference levels work, with real examples.

Mike Viscusi

Mar 16, 201910 min read