Review of “Sashingo: Learn Japanese Through Photography”

Sashingo: Learn Japanese With Photography offers a straightforward concept that’s easily gleaned from its title. Imagine being whisked away to a smaller version of Tokyo’s vibrant Shibuya district, armed with nothing but a charming little polaroid camera. In this game, you have the freedom to roam and capture whatever catches your eye. When you take a snapshot, the camera zeroes in on a specific object and unveils the corresponding Japanese words along with their Hiragana or Katakana characters. There aren’t any formal objectives driving you forward, but you’re subtly nudged to uncover all the vocabulary the map has to offer, adding your photographic finds to an ever-growing album.

Sashingo adopts a wonderfully laid-back approach to introducing players to basic Japanese words and phrases, blending exploration with education in a pretty engaging way. Want to take a crack at a little test? You can opt for an exam where the game prompts you with a word and challenges you to track down the object it represents. It’s a clever method that seamlessly marries the joy of discovering this bustling space with the satisfaction of learning a new language. Players don’t feel rushed or pressured; instead, words are pronounced clearly, and there’s an extensive guide that coaches you on useful phrases, aiming to enhance your conversational Japanese. In my experience, it feels more interactive than Duolingo. While Duolingo is undoubtedly a valuable resource, fun isn’t its strongest suit. Sashingo, on the other hand, renders vocabulary practice as part of an enjoyable journey, letting you choose the pace of expanding your lexicon.

Despite having a deep appreciation for Japan and numerous visits under my belt, mastering the language remains a formidable hurdle. I’ve attempted to tackle it with Duolingo, and my partner has even attended several Japanese courses. However, the crux of language acquisition lies in consistent practice and the necessity of actual use. Sashingo finds itself in a bit of a bind here; while it employs effective educational tools for teaching Japanese terms, it doesn’t quite serve as an independent foundation for learning. Although it introduces legitimate learning strategies, it skimps on certain basics and fails to deliver meaningful interactions that demonstrate how the language operates contextually. The manual provides deeper insights, yet it leans heavily on reading and listening to recorded phrases, lacking the interactive reinforcement needed for retention.

What did take me by surprise was how my partner enjoyed sitting next to me as I played, assisting with the language parts. Her experience, albeit minimal, from previous courses enabled her to quickly identify objects like bottles, bicycles, traffic lights, and cars. Still, she was thrilled to expand her vocabulary with terms like construction site, garbage bin, and cardboard box—words she’d never encountered during her lessons. This game truly excels as a supplementary tool, enhancing vocabulary through an interactive experience. The “game” side is somewhat lacking, though. You can play around with various filters—unlocked after acing certain tests—but there’s little scope to inject personal flair into your photography. While it boasts commendable zoom and focus features, the inability to tilt the camera or indulge in selfie moments makes it lean more towards an educational resource, leaving photography enthusiasts like me slightly wanting.

If you’re already on the journey of learning Japanese, Sashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography can be a delightful and handy companion. Its charming art style and miniature Shibuya make for an entertaining exploration, peppered with discovery of numerous Japanese words. However, it wobbles in delivering a comprehensive language learning method and falls a tad short for those keen solely on photography within games. Nonetheless, if you’ve got a long flight to Japan on the horizon, it’s a delightful way to pick up a few words and phrases for real-world practice once you land.