Dear Dario Simunovic,

Arigato for your e-mail from Antunovac, Croatia. Your high level of English ability at age 14 demonstrates a knack for languages, and you are also tackling Spanish. Congratulations! You have learned hiragana and katakana on your own and are now interested in learning kanji.

The beauty of written Japanese is what initially attracted you to the language. You hope to become a Japanese/English/Croatian translator. The Japanese Embassy has informed you there is not a single Japanese class being conducted in Croatia. You have several Japanese e-mail pen pals, but only one dictionary and two textbooks. You asked me for some advice.