Learn Japanese

I’ve ordered the Pimsleur basic ‘learn to speak Japanese’ audio course. I plan on practising during my commute, which on some days can take over an hour (single way). The other drivers may be a bit surprised when they see me babbling away in my car :)
I want to have some basic conversational skills for my trip in October. I haven’t planned any Kanji studying yet, but I figure I’ll need to learn some basics too (like for instance the sign for the ladiesroom…)

Going to Japan is my top goal (next to the more general ‘travel’). So speaking at least some Japanese is essential. I watch anime, so I’ve picked up a few words, but nothing notable. I’ve been searching for courses last year, and was planning to enroll last September, but a change in my home situation prevented this. So now I’m looking to teach myself at home or while driving. I work for a Japanese multinational, according to colleagues there used to be a Japanese course but this seems to have stopped, I’ll double-check anyway.