[GoNative]

Completely agree steven, the more fluent you are the easier everything would be and the more oppotunities open up in terms of jobs, friends and understanding of this weird and wonderful country.
I would really struggle I think if I wasn't living where I do. Or I would definitely have learned a lot more Japanese! Those of us who live in the Niseko area fully recognise that this isn't what you might call 'real' Japan. There are of course many foreigners living here who are completely fluent and most them are doing very well for themselves.
I guess I was just pointing out that it's not absolutely essential to live here and be fluent. I would love to be able to find time to study more but frankly with full time work, a 13 month old daughter, an active outdoors lifestyle and a little socialising on the side there's just not that much time left over to do it!!