daijobu = (I’m/it’s) ok or fine.
I was surprised the first time i sat down in a Ramen (the REAL ramen .. not the oodle of noodle block from your local CVS) and the person next to me was virtually slurping the very soul out of every strand of noodle.
Ladies and Gentlemen .. hold onto your futons and flowerpots! You are about to witness the largest home center (and maybe store) you have ever seen and can possibily imagine .. guarenteed. “How can you guarentee this, you ask? Probably because the bedding section is half the size of Rhode Island State! (though, that might say more about Rhode Island.)
Ok .. now I have to be honest .. I am having some hesitation in publishing this next post as I now find myself in a place in which everyone knows what people are talking about but me. I am ever so impressed at the level of English here in Tokyo. That being said .. when seeing this on a daily basis .. you can’t help but be at least mildly humored. Blame in on my advertising background. (and yes .. you guessed it .. this is a hair salon)
Yesterday .. I was in Virgin Records in Kitasenju and almost relived one of the most horrific experience in my life (which was unavoidable last month at one of my favorite stores in Shibuya called Tokyu Hands …yes, its Tokyu with a ‘u’.) There are few things that I won’t try here in Japan. I have eaten (and love) live octopus, fish head and eye balls, and even the ever so uncomfortable public bath (at a beautiful Japanese onsen hotspring .. but the ONE thing that I have avoided at any cost … is using the public toile (toilet). This is a tricky topic to comfortably expound on .. but wow, you haven’t fully experienced life without an awkward toilet venture or 3.
I think this is the most important aspect of the Japanese language for me to learn at this point. Learning vocabulary and kanji characters will take a lifetime. The very basic structure is different than that of English.
English:
subject verb predicate
Japanese:
subject predicate verb
The next step is to figure out how to define the subject, predicate, and verb.
INDICATING THE SUBJECT
The subject is indicated with the use of a word followed by either “wa” and “ga”. Wa is used to indicate the person/place/thing that is associated with an action or object being addressed. Ga is used to emphasize the subject.
I love movies. For me, they are my drug of choice. The number of times I rewatch a movie its borderline frightening .. and often times I am not even watching them … just listening while I work on my computer.
Yes. very embarrassing right now .. but I will be adding to it over time. I will try to build categories as to how I am grouping them when I study. And yes .. with some words, it might be better not to ask where I learned them.
Kana (Romaji) — English
———————————————————————
おはよう (ohayo) — good morning
こんにちは (konnichiwa) — good afternoon
こんばんは (konbanwa) — good evening
いま (ima) — now
きのう (kinou) — yesterday
きょう (kyou) — today
あした (ashita) — tomorrow
でんしゃ (densha) — train
えき (eki) — station
うち(uchi) — home
なに(nani) — what?
いつ(itsu) — when?
なぜ(naze) — why?
だれ(dare) — who?
どうして(dooshite) — how?
いくら(ikura) — how much?
どの(dono) — which?
どれ(dore) — which one?
This section definitely isn’t a course or tutorial on “How to learn Japanese” .. I am in no way qualified in language studies and I still stuggle on asking where the bathroom is .. but rather a look into the process which I am attempting to learn the language. In the end, I may be the only one appreciating this section .. but who knows .. for all those who have endured the trials and pains of learning another language .. this may at least serve as some comic relief.
Who really has the time to take a bath? There is barely enough time to grab a bagel from Bob’s on the corner of 86th and York .. forget filling up a tub and soaking with mineral salts. After living in NYC, I have grown to appreciate time to be as valuable as money. Every little bit is precious. Spend it wisely. Yet the Japanese seem to find the time … is life in Tokyo more relaxed and carefree?
Happy New Year. New Year’s in Japan carries traditions and customs very different than those of the United States. As with most of the Japanese culture, these traditions and customs are always carefully crafted and beautifully designed .. everything from the ceremonial rituals at the temple/shrines to the presentation of the food.