Despite the constant invitation of foreigners to participate in the Japanese economy, we hear talk about the structural barriers of the Japanese market.

People try to figure out why this place is so difficult to crack; they ask how come—we have been knocking on the door! We have set up a shop! We have invested money! We have hired people! We're doing everything the Japanese say we should be doing, yet it doesn't seem to work!
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Our way of life seems to be changing very fast. As more and more of us are forced to work from home, like many of entrepreneurs, we need to embrace this reality and try to find ways to be even more productive. 

With the technologies available today, we are able to do things like travel preparation and study in ways that can be more time and cost effective. People, who didn’t need to use these technologies, now are learning about them with a push caused by the Coronavirus situation.

Anyone with an interest in Japan should learn a little Japanese. Travelers need to know a few survival phrases; correct expressions for greetings, daily shopping, asking direction and suchlike. When you know few key phrases the daily life is easier and more pleasant.

If you start studying Japanese language before traveling to Japan, you are steps ahead because with learning the language you learn about the culture as well. 
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Whatever country you may live in, it is only sensible and respectful to learn the language, which obviously makes everyday living easier too.

Swapping lessons in your own language with your new Japanese friend is a good idea. Private tutor is another way if you can afford. 

However, joining a class would be more fun and sociable too, especially if it is free. Kominkan is where you can get Japanese language lessons for free and also get to know many people including foreigners who live in your neighborhood.
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Many youth exchange programs bring foreign teenagers to Japan, and the country also has a number of very active university exchange programs. 

You can contact your local Japanese embassy or home university's exchange program department for information on how to proceed. Before contacting the authorities, read this short article and see which scholarship is within your reach.
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