The term "Japanese languages" primarily refers to the various dialects and forms of the Japanese language spoken in Japan. The standard form, known as Standard Japanese, is based on the dialect of Tokyo and is used in education, media, and official communication. There are also numerous regional dialects, or hōgen, which can vary significantly in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. In addition to the spoken language, Japanese has three writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Hiragana and katakana are syllabaries used for native words and foreign terms, respectively, while kanji consists of characters borrowed from Chinese that represent whole words or concepts. Together, these systems create a rich and complex linguistic landscape.