I am either going to learn Mandarin Chinese or Japanese. Please give your opinion on the following questions:
1. Which language is easiest to learn? I am a native English speaker, and I don't know any of the characters.
2. Which language is the most useful? I am young, so I am hoping to use it for connecting with people, or just for fun or reading, rather than using it for business.
3. Which language would you recommend, based on your experiences or preferences?

Thanks in advance!