What motivates Japanese language learners in Australia and beyond?

Australian policymakers and universities use the prevailing promotional discourses of 'employability' and 'instrumentality' to characterise the value placed on Asian languages that do not reflect learners' motivations. Such discourses ultimately undermine the potential educational value of language learning. This study finds that the initial motivation of learners of Japanese who participated in online discussion forums and Japan Foundation surveys does not seem to stem from the instrumentality that language learning brings but rather from an interest in Japanese popular culture. Some people stop learning the language because they lose their motivation and sense of purpose, while others develop other motivations and continue. The comments of Japanese language learners observed in the Japanese language learning online community reflect the essence of the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) of 'autonomy', 'competence' and 'relevance', and the theory was found to be a useful tool to predict and support learners' learning.