Do Japanese People Speak English? Only 2.5% Can — 5 Reasons Why

Wondering if Japanese people speak English? The short answer: most don’t. A 2017 survey of 1,000 Japanese adults revealed that only 2.5% can speak English fluently — even after 16 years of school English education in Japan.

In this article, I’ll explain the 5 main reasons why, share useful Japanese phrases you can use when traveling in Japan, and tell you how Japanese people actually feel when an English speaker approaches them.

Knowing this before you visit Japan — or before you start learning Japanese — will make your experience far more enjoyable.

👉 Want to practice Japanese with real native speakers? Join Ohanasi Kagawa for free →

Only 2.5% of Japanese Can Speak English — What the Data Shows

Can you imagine how many Japanese people actually speak English?

In 2017, Kodansha Co., Ltd. surveyed 1,000 Japanese men and women in their 20s to 60s who had never lived overseas or studied abroad. These respondents had learned English only through the Japanese school system — a group sometimes called “Zyunzyapa” (purely-Japan-educated learners).

The results were striking:

• Only 2.5% said they could speak and listen to English conversation without problems
• Only 2.2% said their English was good enough to use at work
• 43.5% said they could hardly speak English at all
• 49.9% said they could only speak at an elementary-school level (a few familiar words)

Source: Kodansha Co., Ltd. survey via Kyodo News PR Wire

How does that compare to what you expected? Most Japanese people study English from elementary school through university — and those who attend university have had 16 years of English education. Yet only a tiny fraction can actually use it.

Only 20% Can Answer When Asked for Directions in English

Here’s another striking data point. When the same survey asked whether respondents could answer in English if a tourist asked for directions, only 21.8% said yes.

In other words: if you ask 10 random Japanese people for directions in English, only about 2 will be able to respond. Most will panic when suddenly spoken to in English.

5 Reasons Why Japanese People Don’t Speak English

So why are so many Japanese people unable to speak English well? While grammar and pronunciation differences between Japanese and English are real factors, they aren’t the whole story. I believe there are 5 main reasons that prevent Japanese people from speaking English.

I was born in Japan and went through the Japanese English education system before studying psychology at a university in the U.S. in English — my second language. Through that experience, I learned firsthand that the English I had studied in Japan was almost useless in real conversation. This article is based on what I’ve learned from that journey.

1. English Education in Japan Focuses on Entrance Exams, Not Speaking

The first reason is that most Japanese students learn English not to speak it, but to pass high school and university entrance examinations. As a result, English classes in Japan focus almost entirely on grammar and reading. Speaking practice is rare unless you attend an international school or specialized English program.

I took English classes in elementary, junior high, and high school, but I rarely had a real conversation in English during class. I spent most of my time analyzing sentence structure. According to the same Kodansha survey, 62.7% of Japanese respondents said they “did not enjoy” their junior high school English classes — calling them “boring” and “too focused on grammar.”

The number of ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) from overseas has been increasing in recent years, but with only one ALT per school, there’s still not enough speaking practice for most students.

2. There Are Almost Zero Opportunities to Speak English in Japan

The second reason is that opportunities to actually use English in Japan are very limited. This is especially true in rural areas, where foreign tourists and immigrants are rare, and chances to interact with non-Japanese people are almost zero.

I grew up in a rural part of Japan and desperately wanted to find places to speak English before entering university in the U.S. There were very few options — basically just English conversation schools or “foreigner bars” in larger cities.

You can’t truly learn to speak a language if you have nowhere to use it. This is one of the biggest structural problems with English learning in Japan.

3. Many Japanese Are Perfectionists Who Fear Making Mistakes

The third reason is that many Japanese people are perfectionists who are afraid of making grammar and vocabulary mistakes. I was one of them. When I started university in the U.S., I was so afraid of grammatical errors that I often couldn’t bring myself to speak at all, even when I had something to say.

I believe this fear is rooted in Japan’s English education system, which is heavily based on point deductions. Even if you understand the meaning perfectly, every small grammatical or spelling mistake costs you points. You can only score well by producing perfect sentences.

This “English must be perfect” mentality is one of the biggest psychological barriers preventing Japanese people from speaking up.

4. Many Japanese People Don’t Feel They Need English

The fourth reason is that many Japanese people simply don’t feel the need to learn English in the first place. If you work and live in Japan and never travel abroad, English is rarely necessary in daily life.

When I was a student, I felt the same way. “Why should I struggle to learn English when I’m going to live in Japan anyway?” I didn’t truly feel the need until I started studying at a U.S. university and using English in real situations.

That said, with globalization accelerating, the need for English in Japan is genuinely growing. But until that need becomes personal, motivation stays low.

5. Japanese Culture Discourages Speaking to Strangers

The last reason is cultural. In Japan, people rarely greet or chat with strangers casually. When I lived in the U.S., I’d say “Hi” to people I passed on the street or make small talk in shops. In Japan, doing that would make you seem suspicious or strange.

Growing up in this environment makes it especially hard to suddenly speak to a stranger — let alone in a foreign language. Even when I could speak English, I was often too shy to approach a foreigner who looked lost. Cultural and personal factors compound the language barrier.

15 Useful Japanese Phrases When English Doesn’t Work

If you’re visiting Japan and most people you meet don’t speak English, knowing even a few Japanese phrases will make your trip far smoother. Try memorizing the phrases below and using them when you travel.

Getting Someone’s Attention

1. すみません。ひとつおうかがいしたいことがあるのですが
   Sumimasen. Hitotsu oukagai shitai koto ga aru no desu ga.
   “Excuse me, I’d like to ask you one question.”
2. すみません。すこしおしえていただきたいことがあるのですが
   Sumimasen. Sukoshi oshiete itadakitai koto ga aru no desu ga.
   “Excuse me. I’d like you to tell me a few things.”
3. すみません。すこしいいですか？
   Sumimasen. Sukoshi ii desu ka?
   “Excuse me. May I have a moment?”

Asking for Directions

1. 〜という場所(ばしょ)にいきたいのですが、どうしたらいいですか？
   ~ to iu basho ni ikitai no desu ga, dou shitara ii desu ka?
   “I want to go to a place called ~. How should I get there?”
2. 〜という場所(ばしょ)はどこにありますか？
   ~ to iu basho wa doko ni arimasu ka?
   “Where is the place called ~?”
3. 〜にはこの道(みち)であっていますか？
   ~ ni wa kono michi de atte imasu ka?
   “Is this the right way to ~?”

Shopping

1. これを買(か)いたいです。
   Kore wo kaitai desu.
   “I would like to buy this.”
2. これはいくらですか？
   Kore wa ikura desu ka?
   “How much is this?”
3. 〜はどこにありますか？
   ~ wa doko ni arimasu ka?
   “Where is ~?”

Asking for Help

1. すみません。たすけてもらえますか？
   Sumimasen. Tasukete moraemasu ka?
   “Excuse me, could you please help me?”
2. すみません。こまっているのですが
   Sumimasen. Komatte iru no desu ga.
   “Excuse me, I’m having a problem.”
3. すみません。てつだってもらえませんか？
   Sumimasen. Tetsudatte moraemasen ka?
   “Excuse me. Could you help me?”

Expressing Thanks

1. ありがとうございます！
   Arigatou gozaimasu!
   “Thank you very much.”
2. たすかりました！
   Tasukarimashita!
   “You really saved me!”
3. 本当(ほんとう)にかんしゃしています。
   Hontou ni kansha shite imasu.
   “I really appreciate it.”

📚 Knowing phrases is one thing — using them in real conversation is another. Try a free Ohanasi Kagawa event this weekend and practice these phrases with native speakers →

3 Things Japanese People Feel When Spoken to in English

Finally, let me share how Japanese people who can’t speak English typically feel when an English speaker approaches them. Understanding their internal experience will help you respond with empathy — and get better results.

1. Desperate to Answer in English Somehow

Many Japanese people get nervous the moment they see a foreigner and feel they “must” respond in English. Even if you can speak some Japanese, they’ll often try to push through in broken English using gestures. If you notice this, please listen patiently and speak slowly — they’re doing their best.

2. Wanting to Escape Politely

Some Japanese people who feel ashamed of their English will instinctively try to avoid you. They might say “No, no, I don’t know” and walk away quickly. This isn’t rudeness or dislike — it’s anxiety about their own English ability. They’re embarrassed, not unfriendly. Try not to take it personally.

3. Going Completely Blank

Sometimes a Japanese person will simply freeze. Their mind goes blank and they can’t speak at all. In this case, gently telling them “It’s okay” or switching to even a few words of Japanese (like sumimasen) can immediately help them relax.

Final Thoughts: Learning a Little Japanese Goes a Long Way

Most Japanese people genuinely want to help foreign visitors — they’re just held back by years of grammar-focused education, a fear of mistakes, and limited speaking opportunities. The data is clear: relying on English alone in Japan is risky.

If you can pick up even a small amount of Japanese before your trip — or start practicing with real Japanese speakers regularly — your experience in Japan will be dramatically better. And the best way to learn isn’t through textbooks. It’s through real conversations.

---

Practice Speaking Japanese with Real Native Speakers

At Ohanasi Kagawa, we connect Japanese learners from around the world with native Japanese speakers for free language exchange events every weekend:

• Join a free online event from anywhere in the world
• Get paired 1-on-1 with a native Japanese speaker
• 15 minutes in Japanese, 15 minutes in English
• Beginner-friendly — mistakes are always welcome!
• 5,000+ members from 55+ countries

You don’t need to be in Japan to start practicing real Japanese.

👉 Join Ohanasi Kagawa for free and start speaking Japanese today!