[TalnSG]

I began learning from a banker in Tokyo I used to send messages to every day at work. It was in the 70's when faxes and telexes were state-of-the-art communication and he used to send me phonetically written transliterations.

Then in the early '90s I got some excellent one-on-one coaching from my favorite sushi chef.

While that was a very enjoyable way to learn, its not as good as formal classes if you want to learn quickly and well. I could greet people and order my food and drink, but that was about all.

I finally took my first formal class last year.