Hi Everyone! This is my first post, so be kind. I'm going to ask a question that some of you may find offensive, but I feel that it's one worth asking.
What are the practical uses of Japanese? I've bee absolutely fascinated with Japanese culture since I was young. When I got older and began studying the language in my free time, I fell in love with the sound of the words. The way they came of the tongue always felt so good to me! Of course, like many people anime was what attracted me to the culture initially, but even if anime didn't exist, I would still love it. Just thinking about tatami mats, sliding paper doors, green tea, and endless mountains thrills me! I genuinely have fun learning about the culture.
The problem is that I found myself investing a great deal of time in studying Japanese, and when you find yourself spending a lot of time on something, you have to quetion if you're spending it wisely. After I read this article I grew really concerned:
http://www.japantoday.com/category/opinions/view/why-you-shouldnt-learn-japanese
I used to study Spanish but it was absolutely miserable. I couldn't roll my tongue to save my life. I watched several YouTube videos on the topic, and tried my hardest, spraying saliva everywhere in the process. But to be frank, my tongue just doesn't move that way. Most importantly though, I've never felt the connection to the culture that I feel with Japanese.
I just panic at the thought of spending ten years studying Japanese, and only being able to use it to understand the Pokemon anime without subtitles. :/ So, what do you guys do with your Japanese language skills?