News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Ask HN: What's your ideal city in a 100% remote world? by truetraveller on Friday November 05, 2021 @04:52PM (#29124621)
>few people speak any English

Is this true? I would think that at least 50% would be able to speak English. Perhaps even up to 80%. Anyone else with first-hand experience?

Re:Ask HN: What's your ideal city in a 100% remote world? by akg_67 on Sunday November 07, 2021 @01:47AM (#29137132)
Second the other reply. I have been in Japan for 4 years. I will say less than 1% may be able to communicate in English, less than 5% may be able to string together words in English to help you with some common stuff, less than 10% may utter some words in English.

But same is true, in reverse, for western foreigners living in Japan. Very few are able to communicate in Japanese.

Re:Ask HN: What's your ideal city in a 100% remote world? by mywaifuismeta on Friday November 05, 2021 @04:56PM (#29124658)
It's true. 50% may know a few words, but probably less than 5% speak good enough English to have a regular conversation about something more complex than the weather. You can definitely live in Tokyo without knowing Japanese and do everything you need to do, but your options, socially and otherwise, are always going to be limited.