When I arrived in Japan, I didn't know Japanese at all. One of the first things I did was to stick little labels everywhere on the items in my apartment, in order to memorize their names in Japanese. However, the learning process really began with the people around me: my neighbors, friends, and eventually a Japanese boyfriend all helped me to improve my language skills.

Since those early days, my spoken Japanese has improved, but my reading and writing skills are still not as advanced as I feel they should be. For rakugo, I need to understand modern Japanese as well as some older, more archaic forms of the language, including old expressions in both the Kanto and Kansai dialects. It can get a bit confusing at times!

Finding the right teacher is very important. I went through several instructors before I found one that I considered suitable. He adjusted himself to my pace, answered my questions, and didn't stick too closely to the text, which was very good for me. He also created a more conversational environment, which helped me to relax and learn more than I would have if he had made it all feel like a test or a classroom lesson. I believe that enjoyment is very important for mastering a language──if you are learning because you want to have fun with new friends, I think you will learn faster and be happier than learning simply because it is something you are forced to do.

I have studied by myself at home using texts from a bookstore, as well as by keeping the TV on in the background and learning through "osmosis." I watch the news and also comedy shows, which are important for my rakugo work in terms of keeping an eye on current trends.