I don't really know Japanese that well, only a few words and phrases. Will this be a problem or do they teach you some basics when you arrive?

When you arrive in San Francisco for your predeparture orientation, your language level will be assessed and you'll be put in a language class group accordingly! They will teach you basics and most likely give handouts that you can look back on when in Japan! Good luck!

So, thus typically depends on how long you are staying and the requirements if you are going on a scholarship. My personal experience was 6 weeks during the summer. During orientation, they tested you on your Japanese level. It was not necessary to know more than a few phrases. Don’t worry, you will get by. Once you are immersed in the culture with everyone speaking Japanese, you will learn and catch on pretty quickly. You can bond and experience Japan without being fluent or skilled in Japanese. Now, for semester or year experiences, I am not sure how different the experience will be. It just overall depends on how long you are staying. I am assuming by your lack of knowledge in Japanese, that you will be staying for the summer. I hope everything goes well! I have a hard time learning languages and it made me a little wary to go abroad. But once you stop hearing English for 6 weeks, you learn to adapt pretty quickly! Good luck and I hope this helped!

I would not worry to much about not knowing Japanese. I did not know any before I went to Japan. They have a few class before you get there. Someone in you host family will most likely know English as well. I picked up some Japanese while I was there as well.

The great thing about YFU programs is that you don't need to know any Japanese before hand. For the summer program, you attend a pre-departure orientation that will split you into groups based upon your Japanese ability and teach you the basics and the culture. As for semester and year-long programs I am not sure what they do in terms of teaching before leaving to Japan, but know Japanese is not a requirement and after joining the program, based on my experience, they offered Rosetta Stone at a discounted price. Also, if you do go to Japan the people there are very nice and always willing to help you.