Sashingo: Learn Japanese With Photography presents a straightforward yet intriguing concept, which you can probably guess just by its title. In this unique game, you’ll find yourself dropped into a miniature world reminiscent of Shibuya, Tokyo, with nothing but a small polaroid camera in tow. While the game gives you the freedom to wander and explore on your own terms, your trusty camera is your only tool at your side. As you snap photos, the camera hones in on a singular object within your frame and presents you with its Japanese name, complete with Hiragana/Katakana translations. While there aren’t specific missions to complete, players are encouraged to discover new words throughout the map and amass a photo collection in their albums.
The freeform setup of Sashingo strikes me as both entertaining and an innovative method to teach people basic Japanese vocabulary. You even have the option to test yourself: the game will present you with a word, and you’ll have to hunt down that corresponding object. It’s a neat way of marrying exploration with the process of learning a new language. The game excels at this educational strategy. Words are spoken clearly to players, and there’s an in-depth manual that covers useful phrases, aiding users in grasping the basics of Japanese communication. Compared to Duolingo, the experience feels more engaging. While Duolingo is indeed a solid learning platform, it doesn’t exactly scream “fun.” Sashingo, on the other hand, turns learning into a player-friendly adventure. It’s not about grades but about granting players autonomy in choosing which vocabulary they want to delve into.
Despite my passion for Japan and multiple visits there, the language barrier remains. I’ve given Duolingo a shot, and my partner has enrolled in a range of Japanese courses. But the true difficulty in mastering a language is practicing daily and being compelled to use it actively—this is how improvement truly happens. Sashingo offers an intriguing middle ground; however, it doesn’t quite serve as a strong foundation for Japanese beginners. It might employ legitimate educational tactics to impart Japanese terminology, yet it misses out on fundamental interactions needed to contextualize the language. The game’s manual does attempt to elaborate on these scenarios, but it primarily involves reading and listening to voice clips. Consequently, without the game reinforcing these lessons interactively, they may not stick.
To my surprise, my partner had great fun watching me play, even joining in to learn some words herself. With her basic grasp of Japanese from her courses, she easily identified common nouns like bottles, bicycles, traffic lights, and cars, yet she also appreciated learning terms absent from her classes, such as construction sites, garbage bins, and cardboard boxes. In this regard, Sashingo excels as a supplementary resource to build vocabulary, while also providing an enjoyable practice tool. The game side of things does feel somewhat underdeveloped; although you can earn quirky camera filters to use by passing tests, there’s limited room for expressive photography. While the zoom and focus features are well-designed, there’s no option for camera tilting or selfies. Consequently, it leans more into its role as an educational tool, which might leave photography enthusiasts like myself feeling a touch underwhelmed.
If you’re already on the journey of learning Japanese, Sashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography could serve as a delightful supporting resource. Its charming art style and compact version of Shibuya offer engaging exploration and a treasure trove of Japanese words to discover. While it’s not the most comprehensive language-learning solution or the most robust photography game, it makes for an entertaining companion on a flight to Japan, giving you the chance to pick up a few words and phrases you can try out upon arrival.
