So-So Japanese

Please use the other words!

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:25:46 +0900

Please do not upset, but I would like to say it especially to American. As I wrote before, most of Japanese doesn't have enough circuit to distinguish English sound. For long sentence, we can guess what we are told and could know what words were used, but not for short sentence.

Speak your own

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:37:30 +0900

As you know, my English is so-so even I made such an English blog. But almost every Japanese going to US (or somewhere) tend to hesitate to speak their own, in case they have someone to translate. I always try to encourage them "Please speak yourself as possible as you could. Do not hesitate to make grammatical mistake. Since English is not our native language, nobody expects you to use perfect English. Just speak loud and slow."

Suimasen

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 21:21:15 +0900

If you were a little bit familiar with Japanese, you must know a word "Suimasen". This word can be also used to call waiter at restraint or shop etc. This is very useful word. Do you know the exactly meaning of "Suimasen"?

Eye contact

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 08:26:02 +0900

Did you have an experience when you saw Japanese you didn't know each other, you were neglected even you smiled and/or say "Hello"? This is because culture difference and Japanese are just shy. I don't know if every Japanese agrees, but I think typical Japanese manner when people see unfamiliar people is not seeing so mach on the road or somewhere.

Ryokan

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:04:02 +0900

If you have a chance to stay good Ryokan in Japan and you are not too conservative, it'a good place and you can enjoy it very much. It's your choice if you do want to stay Western style hotel as usual though. Ryokan's is a Japanese style hotel. Tatami room and put Futon for sleep. Hot spring Ryokan is much better. You can enjoy "naked" communication with others. But please do not ware swim suite when you go there.

Can or Can't

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:20:28 +0900

It is interesting that "can" and "can't," sound almost same. I thought that it is just Japanese hearing issue, but people say even native English speaker could misunderstand. But still, it is more difficult for Japanese. For me, American only distinguish them the rhythm and tempo. Of course, in most of cases, people know if it is can or can't he or she want to say. But it could make serious problem at business discussion.

Obon

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:48:35 +0900

Obon (bon, bon festival) is a kind of summer vacation for Japanese. The center day is August 15 and most of people go back to hometowns to meet their ancestors. Most of people takes 3 to 5 days off including the day.

English

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 20:51:39 +0900

Do you know how long typical Japanese learns English? Now some school starts earlier than that, but officially, we start learning English from junior high school, 12 or 13 years old. Thus, 3 years at junior high school and another 3 years at high school. Many people learn additional 4 years at university. On the other hand, it is well known that Japanese English skill is bad especially, listening and speaking. I think that there are two major reasons.

Door

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:24:47 +0900

The first thing I heard when I had decided to live US was: You have to hold door for next person. People feel very rude if a door shut in front of him or her. It's a very bad manner.

Public side of chopsticks

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 11:09:44 +0900

I think that Hashi (chopsticks) is now popular for non-Japanese. I was surprised to meet people using Hashi well, but later, I found that most of foreign people could do that. By the way, did you know that there is Public side of chopsticks?

Japanese dinner

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 10:30:50 +0900

Japanese dinner is different from Western dinner. Starting from appetizers and finishing by carbohydrate.

The Golden Week

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 23:22:31 +0900

The Golden Week is the longest holiday season in Japan. It is started on former Japanese emperor's birthday, April 29 and finished on May 5, children's day (boy's day). It depends on a date of Saturday and Sunday, but usually 7 days and 10 days the longest.

Luggages

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 19:51:05 +0900

When you come to Japan first time, please be careful for your luggages. Your luggagess have to be the smallest and lightest as possible. In Japan, sometimes you have to carry everything yourself and it is almost impossible to avoid if you don't have servant.

Negative question

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 12:33:05 +0900

There is one thing that you'd better to know. Japanese reply opposite way against negative question. For example, in case you know that a Japanese man decided no to go somewhere, and when you ask him to confirm,

How are you?

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 19:00:28 +0900

As far as my experience, "How are you?" is one of the most difficult phrases to reply for most of Japanese. Of course, we learned in school how to reply.