Why Do Japanese People Have Difficulty Speaking English?
If you’ve ever met a Japanese speaker who has studied English for years but still struggles with conversation, you’re not alone in wondering why. English is a mandatory subject in Japanese schools, taught from a young age, yet fluency remains a challenge for many. The problem isn’t lack of effort—Japanese students spend years memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules. But when it comes to actually speaking English, things fall apart.
So, what’s going wrong? The core issue is that English and Japanese are fundamentally different languages, both in structure and in cultural approach to learning. From pronunciation barriers to grammatical differences, several factors make English a difficult language for Japanese learners to master. But that doesn’t mean fluency is impossible. Let’s break down the key challenges and what can be done to overcome them.
Pronunciation
One of the biggest struggles for Japanese learners is pronunciation. English has 44 unique sounds (phonemes), while Japanese has only 15. This means that many English sounds simply don’t exist in Japanese, making it difficult for native Japanese speakers to recognize and reproduce them accurately.
Take the infamous “L” and “R” sounds—they don’t exist as separate phonemes in Japanese. That’s why many Japanese speakers pronounce “light” and “right” the same way. English also has sounds like “th” in “this” or “think”, which have no equivalent in Japanese. These subtle differences make spoken English difficult to master.
Another major issue is syllable stress. In Japanese, each syllable is pronounced with equal length and emphasis. But in English, stress placement changes the meaning of a word. For example, the word “record” is pronounced differently as a noun (“I bought a record”) versus as a verb (“I will record a video”). Without a natural understanding of stress patterns, Japanese learners often mispronounce words in a way that makes them difficult to understand.
So, how can this be fixed? The best way to improve pronunciation is through immersion and practice with native speakers. Many learners benefit from one-on-one lessons on platforms like AmazingTalker (英会話 個人レッスン), where tutors can provide immediate feedback on pronunciation errors and offer corrections in real-time. Listening to native English content—movies, audiobooks, or podcasts—also helps train the ear to recognize sounds that don’t exist in Japanese.
Grammar Confusion
Japanese grammar is very different from English grammar, making it challenging for Japanese learners to construct sentences correctly. One major issue is the lack of articles (“a,” “an,” and “the”) in Japanese.
For example, a Japanese speaker might say:
❌ “I saw dog in park.” (instead of “I saw a dog in the park.”)
Since Japanese doesn’t use articles, learners often leave them out entirely or use them incorrectly, making their sentences sound unnatural. This issue is even more complicated because English articles don’t follow strict, logical rules, making them difficult to memorize.
Another common problem is verb tense confusion. Japanese has fewer verb tenses than English. In English, there’s a difference between “I ate,” “I have eaten,” and “I was eating.” In Japanese, all of these could be translated using a single verb form, making it hard for learners to distinguish between past, present perfect, and continuous tenses in English.
So, what’s the solution? Instead of memorizing every grammar rule, Japanese learners should focus on real-life usage. Speaking with native speakers, reading English materials, and practicing natural conversations can help solidify the rules in a way that makes sense, rather than just relying on classroom drills.
Sentence Structure
Another challenge Japanese learners face is sentence structure. English and Japanese use completely different word orders, which makes forming sentences difficult.
- English: “I ate sushi yesterday.”
- Japanese: “昨日寿司を食べました。” (Literally: “Yesterday sushi ate.”)
In English, the sentence follows Subject → Verb → Object (I ate sushi).
In Japanese, it follows Subject → Object → Verb (Yesterday sushi ate).
This structural difference makes it difficult for Japanese learners to think in English naturally. Many Japanese speakers translate thoughts from Japanese into English before speaking, leading to awkward phrasing and long pauses in conversation.
The best way to overcome this? Stop translating and start thinking directly in English. This takes time, but learners who engage in regular English conversation without translating back to Japanese see huge improvements in fluency.
Fear of Making Mistakes
Beyond grammar and pronunciation, a cultural mindset plays a huge role in why Japanese speakers struggle with English. Japanese education emphasizes avoiding mistakes, and many students fear being embarrassed if they don’t speak perfectly.
In Japan, making an error in public—especially in a classroom setting—can feel humiliating. But in English-speaking cultures, mistakes are expected and even encouraged as part of the learning process. This perfectionist mindset prevents many Japanese learners from speaking at all, even when they know the right words.
To overcome this, learners must shift their mindset from perfection to communication. Speaking practice with patient tutors or in small conversation groups can help build confidence. Platforms like AmazingTalker (英語 家庭教師) provide a safe, judgment-free space to practice speaking without fear.
Final Thoughts
English is difficult for Japanese speakers because of fundamental differences in pronunciation, grammar, sentence structure, and cultural attitudes toward learning. But despite these challenges, fluency is achievable with the right strategies.
For Japanese learners struggling with English, here’s what works best:
- Speak every day, even if you make mistakes. Fluency doesn’t come from silent study—it comes from real conversations.
- Get a native English tutor who understands the unique challenges Japanese learners face.
- Listen to real English content—movies, podcasts, and natural speech will train your ear and improve your pronunciation.
- Think in English rather than translating from Japanese. This is key to building natural fluency.
If you’re serious about mastering English, the best time to start is now. The more you practice, the easier it gets. So don’t wait—start speaking today!
