5. Don’t be too intimidated by the number and seeming complexity
of Japanese characters.
Compared to kanji, kana characters are not complex; each one
only has between one and four strokes. Each set of kana has
46 characters, compared to the English alphabet which has 52
letters (26 upper case and 26 lower case).
6. Anyone who has learned the complexities of English spelling can succeed
at learning kana. So, although learning hiragana and katakana may at first
seem to be a Sumo-sized task, with the right training and practice you can
do it! Before you know it you’ll be a kana champion
7. Don’t rely on romaji. Foreigners learning Japanese sometimes rely on
romaji, never learning to read and write. While it is possible to become
quite proficient in speaking Japanese using only romaji, you will not be
truly literate. Get comfortable using hiragana. When you buy a dictionary
make sure it is written in hiragana, not romaji. When you write in
Japanese use hiragana and katakana and kanji characters as you learn
them.
