EPISODE · Jun 11, 2026 · 20 MIN
The Most Difficult Language in the World - Don't Panic!
from POST-WHATEVER with Ken Nishikawa · host Ken Nishikawa
The US government ranked every language in the world in five categories - by how much learning time it requires for an American diplomat to become fluent. Japanese didn't make it to any of these categories. In fact, it found itself in a unique category on its own - above all the languages that exist. Does that mean Japanese is the single most difficult and/or complex language in the world?In Episode 10 of Post-Whatever, I am tackling that very subjectWhile at it, I will offer some questionable answers to the questions such as; why the "hardest language in the world" title is almost entirely meaningless, why Japanese is simultaneously terrifying AND simpler than English, and why language exams should be abolished immediately.It's academic. It's educational. It's occasionally quite funny and merciless.Post-Whatever with Ken Nishikawa — weekly cultural commentary on the space between Japan and the West, presented by Ken — composer, broadcaster, DJ, film director, and occasional grumpy old man — who has worked for the BBC, MTV, TBS, J-WAVE, and several organisations that probably regret it.New episodes every Thursday. Like and subscribe if you know what’s good for you and partial to being mildly offended.Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.Search: POST-WHATEVER with Ken Nishikawa#PostWhatever #KenNishikawa #TokyoLife #ExpatJapan #Podcast #JapanPodcast #TokyoPodcast #JapanExpat #LivinginJapan #TokyoExpat #JapanTips #JapanLife #TokyoLife #JapanVlog #HiddenJapan #TokyoVlog #JapanCulture #CulturalDifferences #JapanObsessed #LearnAboutJapan #CulturalCommentary #Japan #Tokyo #TalkShow #WeeklyPodcast #CulturePodcast #JapaneseCulture #TravelJapan #TalkShow #TokyoHistory #JapanHistory #LanguageLearning #LearnJapanese #Linguistics #Bilingual
What this episode covers
The US government ranked every language in the world in five categories - by how much learning time it requires for an American diplomat to become fluent. Japanese didn't make it to any of these categories. In fact, it found itself in a unique category on its own - above all the languages that exist. Does that mean Japanese is the single most difficult and/or complex language in the world?In Episode 10 of Post-Whatever, I am tackling that very subjectWhile at it, I will offer some questionable answers to the questions such as; why the "hardest language in the world" title is almost entirely meaningless, why Japanese is simultaneously terrifying AND simpler than English, and why language exams should be abolished immediately.It's academic. It's educational. It's occasionally quite funny and merciless.Post-Whatever with Ken Nishikawa — weekly cultural commentary on the space between Japan and the West, presented by Ken — composer, broadcaster, DJ, film director, and occasional grumpy old man — who has worked for the BBC, MTV, TBS, J-WAVE, and several organisations that probably regret it.New episodes every Thursday. Like and subscribe if you know what’s good for you and partial to being mildly offended.Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.Search: POST-WHATEVER with Ken Nishikawa#PostWhatever #KenNishikawa #TokyoLife #ExpatJapan #Podcast #JapanPodcast #TokyoPodcast #JapanExpat #LivinginJapan #TokyoExpat #JapanTips #JapanLife #TokyoLife #JapanVlog #HiddenJapan #TokyoVlog #JapanCulture #CulturalDifferences #JapanObsessed #LearnAboutJapan #CulturalCommentary #Japan #Tokyo #TalkShow #WeeklyPodcast #CulturePodcast #JapaneseCulture #TravelJapan #TalkShow #TokyoHistory #JapanHistory #LanguageLearning #LearnJapanese #Linguistics #Bilingual
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The Most Difficult Language in the World - Don't Panic!
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