On Sunday, I took the
JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) at grade
N5 for the second time.
The JLPT is held twice a year across Japan and in various countries internationally as a measure of Japanese language ability. It is run by the Japan Foundation and JEES (Japan Educational Exchanges and Services). There are five grades ranging from
N5 to
N1, where
N5 is the easiest grade and
N1 is the most difficult.
I had previously attempted this test last year, though sadly I narrowly failed. At that time, it was more of a test of my present ability without any formal structure of study behind me. Identifying the areas I was weakest at, I decided to take the test again this year.
Sadly, getting there was something of a disaster.
Anabuki Rehabilitation College, as seen from Google Street View.
Last year, the test for Kagawa prefecture was held at Kagawa University campus. It is a very centralised location in town and not difficult to find at all from the main train station at Sunport in Takamatsu. Unfortunately, this year's test was held at a different location - Anabuki Rehabilitation College, also in Takamatsu. With my application accepted for testing, a map was sent to my house for the location of the test centre, which showed it to be not too far from Ota station on the Kotoden line. I figured it would be very easy to find by following the map.
Big mistake.
The doors would close at 12.30pm. Angie and I took the Kotoden line to arrive at Ota station around 11.45am. The map said it would be about an 18 minute walk to the test site, so we reckoned we had plenty of time. Angie wouldn't be taking the test with me, but she would walk me there before heading on to the local
Youme Town shopping mall.
Sadly, the map was bloody useless.
With no indication as to the scale, Angie and I ended up getting completely lost. Repeatedly stopping to ask for directions, we found ourselves unable to locate the building, with time gradually ebbing away. Racing through small neighborhoods and desperately trying to realign ourselves with Google Maps (which didn't seem to have the college registered at the time), we were completely clueless. With only minutes to spare, Angie ran into a conbini to ask for directions while I stood by the road in (vain) hopes of flagging down a passing taxi. At last, Angie managed to get reliable directions from a worker in the store, and we raced in the direction we had been told.
However, the heat was incredibly intense, bearing down on us and our sweaty selves. Running was incredibly difficult. At last, the clock read 12.25pm, and I turned to Angie and admitted defeat. We seemed to have lost all sense of direction, with no idea where to go, we decided to give up. Angie spotted a vending machine nearby, and we made our way towards it to refresh and drink water.
It was at that moment that I noticed - just around the corner - the college we had been looking for.
With only minutes to go before the exam started, I ran as fast as I could in the intense heat. Angie shouted encouragement from behind as I sped off ahead, barely having time to say goodbye. The distance was not insubstantial, and I found myself panting and heaving in the sunlight and humidity, desperate for a drink of water. At 12.27pm, I crossed the entrance of the university. Attendants looking to guide participants raced to rush me into the room on the fourth floor. Up the elevator shaft we went: panting, light-headed, exhausted and dripping with sweat. My assistants looked concerned we couldn't possibly make it. Yet at about 12.29pm, I made it into the room, almost collapsing on my pre-assigned seat table.
I got more than a few shocked stares.
The test itself didn't start for another ten minutes after the doors had closed. I sat there in silence, panting away and regaining my breath; too tired to even be worried about the test ahead of me. At last, when the test had started, I had regained my breath and was settling comfortably into the air-conditioned room. I was desperate for water, but luckily the test was broken into three sections - the first being only 25 minutes or so long. I made my way to the vending machines, and downed almost a whole bottle in one go.
This was an experience I never want to repeat, and I blame it upon a combination of the map provided with the test slip being unhelpful, and for not arriving earlier. Knowing Takamatsu reasonably well, I thought I'd given myself enough time to make it comfortably, but unfortunately, I was proved to be wrong.
Some friendly faces in the N5 exam!
Fellow JLPT takers Oliver Starbuck and Adam Brod, post-test.
Luckily, the test itself went reasonably well. There were a few friendly faces taking my test level (who saw me staggering in), who were on hand to chat to in the break periods. The results aren't posted until September, at which time I'll learn whether or not it was worth running all that distance in the heat. A few questions were tricky, but for the most part I don't think it went terribly. Regardless, getting there in of itself was a memorable experience. I recovered from the experience, and strolled casually towards the nearby Youme Town shopping mall with fellow test-taker Adam Brod to meet Angie and unwind.
For anyone taking the test in Kagawa prefecture at this venue in future, here is a map of how to get there from Ota station, provided by Google. You can Anabuki Rehabilitation Collge
here.
Directions from Ota station using Google Maps.
If you know Takamatsu well, it's just a fifteen-minute or so walk down directly South from Youme Town on the route 193 road. By bike it wouldn't be difficult to access at all. Alternatively, you could just do the easy (yet lazy and costly) thing and take a taxi.
Good luck to all fellow test participants. Here's hoping you all passed your respective grades!
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