How long does it take to learn Japanese "by yourself"?

[Chemical]

I have noticed that a lot of people say that it depends on your personal dedication and I agree that that this true.

From personal experience, though, I can say that I learned the [basics] of Japanese in little over than a year.

I imeddiately suggest that you begin by understanding the different types of japanese writing styles (kanji, romanji, katakana and hiragana). If there are more I am sorry I did not include them.

I do not know what to really say about Japanese writing outside from the fact that it is a colouorful and descriptive language like our own... only the devices used sem foreign from a "home land perspective."

you'll just have to explore nouns and couple then with descriptive concepets