Japanese Welsh learner tops class

Ryuichiro Hirata admits learning Welsh has not been easy

A student was so interested in the Welsh language he studied it from books for two years - from his native Japan.

Ruyuichiro Hirata, 27, was determined to learn the language before he enrolled on a linguistics course at Bangor University, Gwynedd.

He said he chose Welsh because it was "different" to English.

Mr Hirata, from Kagawa said: "I wanted to learn Welsh to help me with my studies and so that I could talk to people in their own language."

'Different'

Since arriving in Bangor, he has signed up to a Lifelong Learning course to further improve his Welsh, and hopes to become fluent.

Mr Hirata said: "To be honest I don't really know why I had such an interest in the Welsh language - maybe it was because it is so very different to the English language.

"It definitely wasn't easy to learn with all the mutation rules and having so many variations of 'yes' and 'no'."

He now watches Welsh language programmes on S4C and listens to BBC Radio Cymru whenever he can.

Mr Hirata's tutor, Sharon Ann Eynon said: "He enjoys chatting with fellow students during the lessons, and is looking for more opportunities where he can speak Welsh outside the classroom."