Do a lot of Japanese people know how to speak english nowdays ?

Question:

Does that mean I don't have to learn Japanese to live in Japan ?
Also do a lot of Japanese people speak english fluently .

Answer:

I've met a few that are what I would call fluent, but they are very rare. I've also met a few more that can get by. But the great majority just freeze up. They were taught to read and write for 6 years in school. Doesn't do much toward developing speaking skills.