Joel wrote:

You know the history of kanji, yeah, at least briefly? You know it all came from China originally? You’ll generally find kanji looks similar to traditional-style Chinese characters, and generally have the same meaning (though there are a number of differences).

Yup! I had learned some of the radicals, which are the same since they’re the same characters, so that’s definitely a huge help. Though one thing is that when I was learning, it was simplified characters, and I believe Japanese is based on traditional.

Cimmik wrote:

ようこそ。<br>
I think you are the first I’ve “met” who likes Japan because of films without mentioning anime. I actually no nothing about Japanese films from between the 50′ies and 70′ies. Any specific movies you think is particular interesting?

I could probably talk forever about this, but…
There’s the obvious “golden age” of cinema from the 50′s, which is what a lot of people think about when they think about old Japanese films, basically the films that came out of the studios from big name directors (Kurosawa, Ozu, Kobayashi, Mizoguchi, etc.). Kobayashi’s Hara Kiri is probably my favorite, but they’re obviously all amazing. It depends on what you like, a lot of the films of that time are Jidaigeki, or period films (often Samurai films). I’d probably start with Kurosawa if you haven’t seen any, since he’s the most well known. Maybe Seven Samurai or Throne of Blood.
But my favorites are probably Japanese New Wave films that came after in the 60′s, which are just incredibly creative and unique and touched on subjects that the big studio films didn’t. And then in the 70′s films start to get even stranger and more surreal. Teshigahara’s Woman in the Dunes or the Face of Another are amazing. Anything by Oshima. Suzuki’s Branded to Kill or Shinoda’s Pale Flower if you’re into Yakuza films. Matsumoto’s Funeral Parade of Roses, or Demons, are both amazing, super unique, and pretty dark. Terayama’s Pastoral: To Die in the Country is one of my favorite films of all time, beautiful and surreal. There’s tons. If you’re in the US, Hulu Plus has a bunch of them that you can watch under the Criterion Collection, or you can find a lot on YouTube. Not sure about availability in other countries.

That said, I do like some anime too. I’m planning on going to the Ghibli Museum because I missed it last time I was in Tokyo (after finally figuring out how to work the kiosks at Lawson’s, it was sold out for the days I could go).

Cimmik wrote:

About learning Japanese in the short term, perhaps this article would be interesting to you.<br>
http://www.tofugu.com/2013/09/25/what-i-learned-about-learning-japanese-from-spending-3-weeks-in-taiwan/

It is my personal favorite tofugu-article and I’ve mentioned it several times in the forum here but I think it is worth reading to give you a little extra kick in the beginning if you want it.

Excellent, thanks! I’ll check it out.