Do you think that you can learn Japanese just by using Rōmaji (Latin script)? The answer is NO. Soon or later you need to learn hiragana and katakana. Let me explain.
A Brief History
こんにちは！
今日は、ローマ字について勉強しましょう！
テキスト
日本には、ひらがなとカタカナと漢字があります。
そして、ローマ字もあります。
ローマ字は、ヨーロッパのアルファベットが起源です。
１５９１年に初めて、ポルトガル人が日本でアルファベットを使いました。
１９５４年にローマ字が作られました。
単語
起源（きげん）origin
初めて（はじめて）for the first time
使う（つかう）use
作る（つくる）make
文法
Aも→as well as A
使いました→used (past tense)
作られました→was made (passive voice in past tense)
ローマ字は、英語ではありません。発音するときや書くときに注意してください。
Reson 1 – Correct pronunciation
If you are a native English speaker you will most likely pronounce my name Yoko like Yo u ko u. However, my name is not Yo u ko u. In English it could like Yoh ko.
If you are a native French speaker, you are most likely to pronounce my name Yoko like Yo ko. However, Yo ko is not correct, either.
My name is ようこ. ようこ is written in kanji like this 陽子 and the meaning of my name is the Sun child.
Reason 2 – Lost in translation in Japan.
In the reality we do not write Japanese words in Rōmaji.
Reason 3 – Writing in Rōmaji is tiring.
You might have a language exchange friend. They are so kind as to write in Rōmaji for you but they won’t be happy in the long run.
Roman character
Ohayo. Genki? Kyowananishita?
Hiragana
おはよう。げんき？きょうはなにした？
kanji
おはよう。元気？今日は何した？
Conclusion
I know it is difficult to learn how to write hiragana, katakana and kanji. But if you want to choose foods in a Japanese restaurant in Japan, Japanese writing will be useful. Otherwise, you might miss something …
