Begin studying Hiragana and Katakana. The Japanese language uses three writing systems. Hiragana and Katakana are phonetic writing systems. Each symbol stands for a different sound. Study a few symbols a day until you have learned them all. There are only 46 Hiragana symbols, so try to memorize three to four each day until you have learned them all. Kanji is the third writing system, and it was borrowed from China. Kanji is more difficult to learn because it is a pictorial writing system with more than 2,000 symbols.
Understand that syntax in Japanese and English are completely different. You cannot directly translate a phrase from English into Japanese. Study the nuances and patterns of the Japanese language in order to familiarize yourself with their differences from the English language.
Learn the basic Japanese sounds. Listen to the sounds and imitate them carefully. Japanese has a very strict system of pronunciation for vowels and consonants. Mispronunciation may lead to misunderstandings.
Begin learning Japanese words and phrases. Practice these words and phrases in your everyday life. If you would normally say to yourself "Time to go to work," try saying the phrase in Japanese instead. The more comfortable you are using Japanese in your everyday life, the easier it will be to fully integrate the language into your life.
Meet other Japanese speakers. Use online resources such as meetup.com to find a Japanese conversation group. Practicing with native and more experienced Japanese speakers is an invaluable tool for a beginning learner. They will correct your grammar and pronunciation as well as give you an opportunity for a natural, flowing conversation that you can't have with a book or an audiotape.