Free Demo Session:
Sun, 17th May - 2 PM
Why Learn Japanese?
Over 130 million people all over the world speak Japanese, making it the eighth-most spoken language. Japan is the third-largest economy by GDP and offers a multitude of opportunities for people from all over the world.
Currently, trade between Japan and India is at an all-time high, resulting in an increased demand for Indians who can speak Japanese. Japanese companies are always on the lookout for interpreters and translators. Jobs involving the Japanese language are also well-paid. In many Indian schools, Japanese is being offered as a second language.
At TOD, we follow the curriculum prescribed by the Japan Foundation. The aim is for learners to be able to take communicate in Japanese in a variety of real-life situations. We integrate listening exercises into our coursework to help students get accustomed to native Japanese speakers. Since the Japan Foundation curriculum has been developed to be practically useful in different educational contexts around the world, its vocabulary is regularly updated to incorporate newer terms.
Our courses are designed to help students prepare for the JLPT examinations in India while focusing on developing fluency in the language. If you’d like to know more before signing up, join us for a free demo session to get a feel for our classes.
For levels 3A and above, contact us for batches.
Levels
Japanese Foundation Course
30 hours, INR 11800 (Incl. 18% GST)
Essential foundation course to master:
Hiragana script
Essential numbers
Practical vocabulary
Self Introduction
Telling time
This comprehensive course lays the perfect foundation for your path to fluency - start speaking Japanese today!
Hiragana script
Essential numbers
Practical vocabulary
Self Introduction
Telling time
This comprehensive course lays the perfect foundation for your path to fluency - start speaking Japanese today!
Certification Pathway
Your essential levels required to prepare for JLPT N5
Level Progression
Level 1 - 60 hours, INR 16520 (Incl. 18% GST)
Level 2 - 60 hours, INR 16520 (Incl. 18% GST)
Ready to attempt JLPT N5
Level 2 - 60 hours, INR 16520 (Incl. 18% GST)
Ready to attempt JLPT N5
Career Pathway
Master Japanese with advanced levels and ensure career readiness
Level Progression
Level 3 and above
Batches
Upcoming Batches
Course | Batch | Dates (Start & End) | Time | Fees (Incl. 18% GST) | Classroom/ Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Foundation Course | Sat & Sun | 3rd May onwards | 4 PM to 6 PM | INR 11800 | Classroom |
Foundation Course | Sat & Sun | 25th April onwards | 4 PM to 5:30 PM | INR 11800 | Online |
Current Batches
Course | Batch
| Hours
| Date
| Time
| Classroom/ Online
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JLPT N5 | Sat & Sun | ~ 100 hrs | 23rd Aug onwards | 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM | Classroom |
JLPT N4 | Mon - Tues - Wed | ~ 140 hrs | 28th July onwards | 8 PM to 10 PM | Online |
JLPT N5 | Mon to Fri | ~ 100 hrs | 16th Jun onwards | 8 AM to 10 AM | Online |
Children's Japanese | Sundays | year long | 6th July onwards | 10 AM to 11 AM | Online |
JLPT N5 | Sat & Sun | ~ 100 hrs | 19th Apr onwards | 3 PM to 5 PM | Classroom |
Note
Fees are inclusive of material. Material will be shared online.
Holidays: 2026
- 26th Jan - Republic Day
- 3rd Mar - Holi
- 19th Mar - Gudipadva
- 19th Apr - Akshay Trutiya
- 1st May - Maharashtra Din
- 25th Jul - Aashadi Ekadashi
- 28th Aug - Rakshabandhan
- 15th Aug - Independence Day
- 5th Sept - Dahi Handi
- 12th Sept to 20th Sept - Ganesh Chaturti
- 25th Sept - Anant Chaturdashi
- 02 Oct - Gandhi Jayanti
- 11th Oct - Navratri
- 20th Oct - Dussehra
- 7th Nov to 15th Nov - Diwali
- 25th Dec to 1st Jan - Christmas & New Year
— Japanese Language FAQs below —
🇯🇵 Japanese
Frequently Asked Questions About Learning Japanese
From anime fans to IT professionals — here are the questions we get asked most.
1 Is Japanese hard to learn for Indians? +
Japanese is rated as one of the more challenging languages for English speakers by international language bodies — but for Indians, it has some genuinely pleasant surprises. Japanese pronunciation is remarkably close to Hindi and Marathi — the vowels are almost identical (a, i, u, e, o), and the sounds feel natural to an Indian ear almost immediately. Unlike Mandarin, Japanese has no tones. The grammar is logical once understood, and the writing systems (Hiragana and Katakana) can be learned in just a few weeks. The real challenge is Kanji — but you need only 103 Kanji for JLPT N5, the beginner certification. For Indians, Japanese is hard in some ways and surprisingly easy in others — and always worth the effort.
2 How long does it take to learn Japanese? +
It depends on your goal. JLPT N5 (beginner level) is achievable in 6–9 months of consistent study. JLPT N4 typically takes another 6–9 months beyond that. Conversational fluency for daily life and work takes roughly 1.5–2 years of regular classes and practice. Full professional fluency takes longer — but the meaningful milestones come much sooner. Almost 90% of the engineers trained by us at Fujitsu India cleared the JLPT exam — which tells you that with a structured programme and genuine motivation, the results come.
3 What are Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji? Do I need to learn all three? +
Japanese uses three writing systems: Hiragana (46 phonetic characters for native Japanese words), Katakana (46 phonetic characters for foreign-origin words like "television" or "coffee"), and Kanji (logographic characters borrowed from Chinese). Yes, you eventually need all three — but in a manageable sequence. Hiragana and Katakana can be learned in 2–4 weeks each. Kanji are introduced gradually — you only need 103 for JLPT N5 and 300 for N4. The pace is comfortable when approached with a good teacher, and the sense of achievement when you read your first Japanese sentence is genuinely thrilling.
4 What is the JLPT exam and which level should I target first? +
JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is the globally recognised standard for Japanese language certification — accepted by universities and employers in Japan, India, and worldwide. It has 5 levels: N5 (beginner) to N1 (near-native mastery). Start with N5 — it covers basic greetings, vocabulary, and sentence structures, and is a meaningful first credential. From there, N4, N3, N2 and N1 represent a clear progression. The JLPT is conducted twice a year in India (July and December) in multiple cities including Pune, Mumbai, and Delhi. Our curriculum is fully aligned with the JLPT syllabus at every level.
5 Can I learn Japanese through anime and K-dramas alone? +
Anime is a wonderful motivator — and exposure to Japanese through anime genuinely helps with listening and vocabulary. However, anime alone will not make you fluent, and there are some important caveats: anime characters often use exaggerated, informal, or fictional speech patterns that would sound strange in real life. Live-action Japanese TV dramas and variety shows are far better for learning natural, everyday Japanese. The ideal approach: structured classes to build your foundation, with anime as a fun supplement to stay motivated. Once you have the basics, watching anime without subtitles becomes a goal you can actually achieve.
6 Is Japanese useful for IT professionals in India? +
Extremely. Japan has a large and growing IT industry, and Indian IT professionals are highly sought after by Japanese companies — but the language barrier is a significant challenge. Japanese-speaking Indian IT engineers are in very high demand, often earning significantly higher packages when deployed to Japan. Companies like Fujitsu, Hitachi, and many Japanese MNCs with Indian development centres actively seek engineers who can communicate in Japanese. JLPT N3 or above is often a requirement for Japan-based roles. If you're in IT and even slightly considering a Japan posting, starting Japanese now is one of the best career investments you can make.
7 Does Japanese have tones like Mandarin Chinese? +
No — Japanese does not have tones the way Mandarin does. Mandarin has 4 distinct tones that change meaning completely. Japanese has what linguists call "pitch accent" — a subtle high-low pattern — but this is far less prominent and does not create the same risk of saying the wrong word. For Indian learners coming from Hindi or Marathi, Japanese pronunciation feels remarkably natural. The vowels are the same, the rhythm is similar, and most sounds are already in our phonetic repertoire. This is one of the biggest "hidden advantages" Indians have when learning Japanese.
8 How many Kanji do I need to know for everyday use? +
The Japanese government designates 2,136 "Jōyō Kanji" as the standard set for general use — but you don't need all of them to function well. 103 Kanji for JLPT N5, 300 for N4, 650 for N3. For reading Japanese news and literature comfortably, around 2,000 is the target — but that is a long-term goal for advanced learners. In practical terms, most conversational and professional communication (especially speaking and listening) requires far fewer than you'd expect. Our approach at The Oriental Dialogue introduces Kanji gradually alongside vocabulary, so it never feels overwhelming.
9 Is Japanese grammar similar to any Indian language? +
Yes — and this surprises most people. Japanese follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) sentence structure — exactly like Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, and most major Indian languages. In contrast, English is Subject-Verb-Object. This means that the basic logic of a Japanese sentence — the way thoughts are ordered — already feels intuitive to an Indian speaker. For Hindi speakers in particular, transitioning to Japanese grammar is far smoother than for English-only speakers. This is one of the reasons Indian learners often progress faster than expected in Japanese.
10 Can I learn Japanese online? Is it effective? +
Absolutely — our live online Japanese classes on Google Meet or Zoom have produced the same quality of outcomes as our in-person batches. The key word is "live" — a teacher who corrects your pronunciation, answers questions in real time, and keeps you accountable is irreplaceable. We have trained engineers across India online — from Mumbai to Bangalore to Delhi — with the same structured curriculum used in our Pune classrooms. Our large-scale Fujitsu engagement, which spanned 12 batches of engineers from across India, was a testament to how effective online instruction can be at scale.
11 What is the difference between formal and informal Japanese? +
Japanese has distinct levels of formality built into the language — known as keigo (polite speech). At the beginner level, we teach standard polite Japanese (desu/masu form) — appropriate for most professional and everyday situations. Casual speech (plain form) is used with close friends and equals, and is introduced at intermediate levels. Formal/honorific speech (sonkeigo) is required in formal business settings and is an advanced topic. The good news: starting with polite Japanese means you can function respectfully in almost any Japanese social or professional environment from early on.
12 Is Japanese related to Chinese? Will knowing one help with the other? +
Japanese and Chinese are very different languages — different grammar, different sounds, different pronunciations — but they share one significant thing: Kanji. Japanese borrowed thousands of Chinese characters (Kanji) centuries ago. If you know Mandarin, you'll recognise many Kanji visually, which gives you a head start on Japanese reading. Conversely, learning Japanese Kanji provides some visual familiarity with Chinese characters. Spoken Japanese and Mandarin are completely different, however — knowing one does not mean you can speak the other.
13 Can I learn Japanese to work in Japan? +
Yes — and thousands of Indians have done exactly this. Japan has a significant labour and skills shortage, and is actively welcoming skilled professionals from India. JLPT N3 is often the minimum requirement for most work visa categories in Japan, with N2 preferred for professional roles. Japan's IT, healthcare, engineering, and manufacturing sectors have strong demand for Indian talent. Learning Japanese — and certifying at N3 or above — opens up a concrete, well-paying pathway to living and working in one of the world's most fascinating countries.
14 How quickly can I learn Hiragana and Katakana? +
Most dedicated learners master Hiragana in 1–2 weeks, and Katakana in another 1–2 weeks. Each has only 46 characters — far fewer than any other script you may have encountered. With daily 20–30 minute practice sessions and the right mnemonics, it's entirely possible to read both scripts within a month. We begin our beginner Japanese course with Hiragana and Katakana precisely because that early win — being able to read actual Japanese text — gives students enormous confidence and motivation to continue.
15 Is Japanese useful for engineering professionals in India? +
Extremely useful — especially in automotive, electronics, and IT sectors. Japan has some of the world's most respected engineering companies — Toyota, Honda, Panasonic, Sony, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi — all of which have large India operations or partner with Indian firms extensively. Japanese-speaking Indian engineers are highly valued for roles involving Japan collaboration, technical documentation, onsite Japan deployment, and client management. The combination of strong technical skills and Japanese language proficiency is genuinely rare — and commands a premium.
16 Can I learn Japanese at 30, 40 or 50 years of age? +
Absolutely — there is no age barrier to language learning. Adult learners often have advantages over children: stronger motivation, better study discipline, and existing vocabulary from knowing multiple languages. Many of our most successful Japanese students are professionals in their 30s and 40s who started learning for career advancement. The key difference with age is that you may take slightly longer to retain new script patterns — but with regular practice, this gap is bridged completely. Consistency matters far more than age.
17 What Japanese words are similar to English or Indian languages? +
More than you'd expect! Japanese has borrowed extensively from English — words like terebi (テレビ, TV), rajio (ラジオ, radio), konpyūtā (コンピューター, computer), and hundreds more are written in Katakana. These "wasei-eigo" words give new learners immediate vocabulary they already know — just with Japanese pronunciation. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the grammatical structure of Japanese aligns with Hindi and most South Indian languages, making sentence construction feel more intuitive than most people expect.
18 Do I need to know Japanese to visit Japan as a tourist? +
Japan's major cities like Tokyo and Osaka are tourist-friendly with English signage in most public transport and tourist areas. However, knowing even basic Japanese transforms the experience: locals absolutely appreciate and respond warmly when foreigners make the effort to speak Japanese. Even 30–40 hours of beginner Japanese equips you to greet people, order food, ask for help, read signs, and navigate with confidence. Our travel-focused Japanese workshops are specifically designed for people preparing for exactly this.
19 What is the difference between Japanese and Chinese — which should I learn? +
Both are valuable — the right choice depends on your goals. Choose Japanese if: you're in IT/engineering with Japan-connected companies, are drawn to Japanese culture/anime/travel, or are considering working in Japan. Choose Mandarin Chinese if: you work in manufacturing, trade, or supply chain with China connections, are in business or import-export, or want the language with the largest number of native speakers in the world. Both are taught at The Oriental Dialogue — and some of our students learn both, sequentially. Not an easy choice — but a wonderful problem to have!
20 How do I start learning Japanese in Pune? +
The simplest first step is attending our free demo Japanese class — no fees, no commitment. We run classroom batches at our Baner High Street centre in Pune, and live online batches via Zoom or Google Meet for learners anywhere in India. Our Japanese courses follow the JLPT syllabus from N5 upward, taught by experienced teachers who have studied or lived in Japan. Weekday and weekend batch timings are available.
📞 Call or WhatsApp: +91 86691 16880 | www.theorientaldialogue.com
