Hi,
I would like to ask you, how you were/are studying japanese. I think some people could be curious to find out how the ones, that are in japan, started everything.
the other question would be "why?".

would like to get a post from admin with an answer, is it allowed to show the resources that ppl use to achieve this, etc books, internet pages, schools....

I starting learning in high school because we were forced to choose a language and I was sort of interested in Japanese stuff.
Then when I came to Japan I started getting tuition from a friend (actually it was language exchange as I helped her too).
I have tried some book/CD combination and they were OK.. but they tend to teach Japanese that is not usually used much.. but it isn't a bad way to start.
Living here and listening to day to day conversations sure helps us improve quick!

yeah, i know. but normally ppl doesnt have a chance to get a lessons for that, and i dont think that i would like to go there without basic understanding of grammar etc...

i started by using one guide. its small, but it works only as an aid to understand a grammar and basics, the rest is in your own hads. but now i have a good book + cd's (8 of em). that set cost some money, but its worth that.
anime helps a lot. if i hear some word or phrase in there i simply translate word of it and try to learn. helps to make sentences as well

i live in denmark for 2 yers now, but in 2 weeks of studying japanese i learned a lot more

maybe next, lets say level, would be to start hanging out in japanese chats. i heard that there are some that are for ones, who dont know kanji, so need to learn 2 sets

I knew very little Japanese when I first came to Japan but have lived in a small town where I rarely hear or see any English.
Totally immersion has worked well for me.

how old were you at that time?
cos as i know normally older people (starting ~20 years) with no explanations learns a languege pretty hardly...

I remember Craig talking about this.. he was 41 when he moved to Japan!

I was 23