REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, J AKARTA - Indonesia is country with second largest number of Japanese language learners in the world as the number reaches 1,046,490 people, according a survey by Japan Foundation.
"Based on the latest data in 2012, Indonesia sits at second position after China 3,984,538," Director General Japan Foundation, Tadashi Ogawa said in Jakarta on Monday.
Ogawa said there was an increase of 21 percent compared to 2009 (716,353 people). Indonesia outnumbers South Korea (840,147 people) which sat in the first position previously.
Ogawa believes that opportunity to study in Japan is one of biggest reason for Indonesian citizens to learn Japanese language. Other reasons are cultural aspect as many Indonesian citizens want to understand Japanese literature, history, including popular culture such as manga (comics) and anime (cartoon).
Education curriculum in Indonesia also offers or even requires Japanese language as second foreign language subjects after English. Now Japanese is also part of trend among youngsters.
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