Hawaii JLPT
Going through JLPT test data I found the number of N1,N2 test takers in Hawaii to be a lot lower than expected. I expected Hawaii’s relatively high proportion (and nominal number) of Japanese speakers to somewhat carry over into the test data.
Specifically the number of N1,N2 test takers (2025) in Honolulu was [37,46], compared to New York’s [83,77], and Newark’s [81,82].
** The comparison with NY-NJ is made due to the similar number of bilingual Eng-Jpn speakers at home src.
So here are my thoughts as to why this is the case:
- Less careers requiring credentials
- NY area has more “professional services” (finance, legal, consulting, etc.). Which require formal certification.
- Hawaii is heavier on tourism. Hiring for tourism may not formally require N1,N2?
- One can be conversationally fluent, but the JLPT leans heavily on reading due to the examination format.
- One can be conversationally fluent, but the JLPT leans heavily on reading due to the examination format.
- NY area has more “professional services” (finance, legal, consulting, etc.). Which require formal certification.
- Educational system
- Northeast has a higher concentration of college/universities
- N1, N2 testtakers are typically YA’s
- ie people may take the test away from “home” while attending uni
- N1, N2 testtakers are typically YA’s
- General school ranking/resources
- Northeast has a higher concentration of college/universities
- Test locations in NY-NJ are drawing from a larger population. Hawaii is an island! voronoi diagram
IMO, the career motivations seems like the strongest factor in play.