Today at this very moment, while you are reading this newspaper, myself, as well as thousands of other foreigners in Japan, are failing the Japanese Proficiency Test.
I am taking the test to remind myself that I just may be able to pass it -- in another 20 years. Maybe. The Japanese Proficiency test is given once a year in various cities throughout Japan and has four parts: listening, reading, word usage and "kanji," and grammar. It takes all day to take the entire test.
Although I've never met a Westerner who has passed level one, the highest level of the test, I've heard that a small, elite group of such people does exist. I imagine these people are also rocket scientists. If you've ever wondered if you have what it takes to be a rocket scientist or to pass level one of the Japanese Proficiency Test, take the following practice test.