Regard the subject, I used to think it might really be dificult to only "be" at a handshake event due to not knowing how to act, but right now I just had a fast thought about it and it sure doesn't have to be hard. For instance, I'd really love to share a word or two with Haruna about manga, she has incredibly good tastes. And more.
On the other hand, regard the language skills, to learn how to say what you want in japanese must be hard, though... I think that as long as you act naturally, even if it's in English or ancient Galatian, they're gonna get the meaning of it