Why English Doesn’t Work Well in Japan – A Japanese Teacher Explains　なぜ日本人は英語が話せない？

Have you ever wondered why English doesn’t seem to work in Japan, even though most Japanese people study it for years?
As a Japanese teacher who has taught both in Japan and abroad, I’d like to share some insights from inside the classroom—and from Japanese society itself.

1. Yes, Japanese People Do Study English

Many visitors are surprised when English doesn’t work outside Tokyo or Kyoto.
They think, “But Japan has great education, right?”
And that’s true—English is taught from elementary school now.

Children learn songs, basic vocabulary, and pronunciation with ALT teachers (Assistant Language Teachers) who come from abroad to support English classes.
Compared to the past, Japan has a much better environment for learning English.

So the problem isn’t education—it’s something deeper.

2. The “English Complex”

Even though English can open more job opportunities, most Japanese people still feel nervous or insecure about speaking it.
They read and study, but rarely use English in daily life.
And because they can live entirely in Japanese—at work, school, and even on the internet—they don’t need English to survive.

That’s one big reason Japan is different from places like Europe or Southeast Asia.

3. How Japan’s Education System Shaped This

In countries such as the Philippines or Thailand, school subjects like math or science are often taught in English.
But Japan is unique: more than 150 years ago, during the Meiji era, Japanese scholars translated every academic field into Japanese.

Thanks to them, students can study everything—from chemistry to literature—completely in Japanese.
This is a great achievement, but it also means Japanese people have very little exposure to English outside the classroom.

English exists only as “a subject,” not as a living language used for thinking or communicating.

4. Why This Isn’t a Bad Thing

Many people see Japan’s lack of English speakers as a weakness.
I don’t.

It actually shows how powerful and complete the Japanese language is.
Japan built a modern society using its own language and culture—something very few countries have achieved.

Still, for those who want to connect globally or learn Japanese culture, learning a bit of Japanese can open an entirely new world.

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