Greetings this first day of 2019! What a wonderful way to start this new year: a social media as a window to Japan for folks overseas and a hub for learners of English language and culture for the locals. I focus more on English as a global language. With the influx of foreign workers in Japan starting the new fiscal year in April, I hope the language will not be a big barrier. The Japanese government requires language proficiency test for their imported workers but this is far from reality to meet the big demand to fill their labor shortage.