Visiting Japanese schools

Probably the most important reason to practice the Japanese language nihongoにほんご ・ 日本語にほんご is to visit actual schools in Japan.

I know this sounds far-fetched for a white-belt teenager in an American or European town, but it is a real possibility.

Many schools welcome black-belt kuro obiくろおび ・ 黒帯くろおび practitioners to visit their school dōjōどうじょう ・ 道場どうじょう for two weeks to improve their art. Remember, it would be polite to wear the white belt shiro obiしろおび ・ 白帯しろおび as you arrive, out of respect for the school and the "beginner's mind", shoshinしょしん ・ 初心しょしん attitude.

I think everyone should dream of such a visit and strive to make it happen.