Japanese language demand rises in Greece due to manga and anime

The popularity of manga and anime culture has led to a significant increase in demand for Japanese language studies in Greece. Language schools, particularly in Athens and Thessaloniki, have expanded their curricula to include Japanese courses to meet this growing interest.

More than 500 students participate annually in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in Greece, which is administered by the Hellenic-Japanese Friendship Association. The language is noted for its complexity, utilizing three different writing systems: kanji, hiragana, and katakana.

Yoko Suzuki, a Japanese native living in Greece since 1976, has been instrumental in promoting Japanese culture and teaching the language since 1988. In collaboration with the Japan Foundation, she helped introduce the JLPT to Greece in 1993 and currently serves as the Vice President of the Hellenic-Japanese Friendship Association.