Opinion: I'm studying Japanese but I think I might be learning about Irish

So recently, I decided to learn to speak Japanese.

I have been going through a hard time recently, and I needed something a bit out there keep my mind busy and distracted.

I landed on a language.

I’ve loved Japanese culture and media since I was in junior infants, and WHEN I finally get to see Japan, I will need a whole plane of my own just to contain my excitement.

But first, I must learn to communicate.

I’ve been studying for about a month, and I am picking up phrases well and getting to grips with the different characters.

I won’t go as far as to say I can read yet, but I can certainly spot context clues.

It is a very beautiful language, especially how names are constructed, and despite the fact that we don’t always use the same alphabet, it is very accessible.

A big part of that is down to the work Japan has done to promote their language.

But as I navigate another nation’s language, I can’t help but think about my own.

And I’m not talking about English.

I don’t want this to be a negative piece or another criticism of the Irish Government’s support of the Irish language.

Rather a reflection and a very humble suggestion about a way forward… as Gaeilge.

THE MISSING PIECE 

For the record, I can’t speak Irish. I have lived in Ireland my entire life and I went through the education system the same as everyone else.

And yet, all I can do is ask a teacher if I can go to the toilet.

I hear the chant: "An bhfuil cead agam dul go dtí an leithreas?" everytime someone asks me to say something in Irish. 

Thankfully, that has not been required of me for a very long time. But that’s an aside.

So here is the thing about Japan- they love their language, and they love that other countries love their language.

Japan has used tourism to promote their culture and build the country up and initiatives like the Japanese Exchange Programme are incredibly popular in Ireland all around the world.

The Japanese Foundation has a whole portal of language courses, many of which are free.

The national broadcaster NHK has videos, podcasts, textbooks and so many resources free for foreign learners.

Ordinary people are teaching grammar and vocabulary on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

I feel very lucky to have all of these resources at my fingertips.

I am one of millions of people worldwide who watch anime and read manga.

And Japan is a good friend to Ireland.

Here in Waterford, we have a very special connection to Japan through the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore.

The Taoiseach visited Japan last year to strengthen trade relations.

And apparently, in Japan, there is a very lively Irish pub scene.

So, they embrace our culture just as we do theirs, but here is what I think we are missing.

A WAY FORWARD

The way the Japanese share their language is something I think Ireland could thrive on.

RTÉ could absolutely build a platform based on the NHK model, providing free and easily accessible resources for self-study.

We could work with international partners, particularly in the US, to build language exchanges for adults.

And maybe we could go further.

Ireland could employ tutors from Gaeltacht areas to work in community centres, schools and maybe even businesses.

This would provide opportunities for upskilling employees as well as jobs in the Irish language.

Ireland and Japan use their national languages differently, but we have the same goals.

The Programme for Government makes Irish language support a priority.

And to that end, the Irish government announced it would invest €158.9 million to support the Gaeltacht, the Irish language and TG4 in Budget 2026.

I can’t say I know where this money is going exactly, but it seems from the Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services, 2026-2028, that a lot of emphasis is on requirements for public services and “language champions” in the civil service, as well as the development of action plans.

But here is the thing. There is so much interest in learning Irish in communities across the island.

People who can and do speak the language should be able to do so when engaging with public services.

But so should a mother of three who hasn’t a word of Irish but could learn while the kids are in school.

So should a person who is not from Ireland but has made their home here and wants to learn about place names and ancestry.

Or the journalist who is tasked with proofing Irish community notes like I was as a junior in Tipperary.

It’s very difficult and very expensive to learn Irish; I’ve looked.

I’m lucky because I live close to a Gaeltacht area.

But I live closer to a whole load of community centres and I have a tiny computer in my pocket all of the time which can (at least sometimes) access RTÉ Player.

What the Japanese do really well with their language education is make it accessible.

Anyone can learn Japanese for free.

I would love to see Japan. I’d love to watch anime films in Japanese without the subtitles and read novels not yet been translated into English.

But I would also like to read Irish mythology as Gaeilge.

I’ve read the English versions and I gotta tell you, I get the impression lots is lost in translation.

I’d love to report from the Gaeltacht. But I probably never will.

I can imagine reading in Japanese, but not Irish, and that’s a crying shame when our close friends in Asia offer us such a lovely example of a way forward.