This article was making the rounds last year, but I don’t think I’ve seen it posted here - and it seems like a good fit.
It talks about how disconnected the Japanese writing and speaking systems can be, and how that can create some affordances. I found it interesting, at least.
I lived in Tokyo for a couple years and only learned a little of the language (mostly for transport and food). This was a great read and makes me want to actually learn the language