English in Japan is predominantly viewed as a foreign language to be studied. Indeed, it is a compulsory subject during schooling years, starting mid-way through elementary school, due to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology’s (MEXT) official policy stating its importance for participation in a globalised world. English education in Japan is often dependent on norms derived from prescriptive standard English varieties, primarily American English. However, as English is neither a main nor official language in Japan, its use or its perceived English use is frequently critiqued through these same prescriptive standards.However, this approach ignores the complex and diverse ways in which English, along with its separate elements such as the Roman alphabet, has been integrated into Japanese society and language. These uses often serve purposes that can be argued are uniquely Japanese rather than traditionally English. This paper examines these various applications and underscores the importance of acknowledging their cultural and contextual significance.
Jolley Kym (Thu,) studied this question.