Learn Japanese

Since it’s snowed about 2 ft. over the past few days where I live, I thought I’d talk about snow.
First off, here’re some Japanese snow scenes for you, taken during 2005 in the Hagiwara district, not too far from Nikko (I think).

I lived in Aomori Prefecture (northernmost prefecture on the main island) during my […]

Our blender/ smoothie maker at home is kinda weird.
The bottom part screws on counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise for my British friends), and then screws off clockwise…which is the exact opposite of how my peanut butter jar opens. When I try to get the bottom off, I usually end up tightening it more.
That’s not important.
What’s important are these […]

…at least on the accordion level.

She is Anzai Norie (アンザイ　ノリエ)
Listen for “maitta” early on from some lady in the crowd.
参った
maitta
Be beaten, give up, admit defeat, cry uncle, “you got me,” I’ll be darned, have no idea what to do, etc. very context-y. Usually said in reference to yourself, but Japanese people also tend to “quote” […]

News feature about three sisters (and a little brother) who wrestle. High PDQ factor (Pretty Darn Cute). Seems their father, who is a Judo-ka, got them started.

I’m on a deadline right now, but I’ll try and come back later with the script…maybe just some outtakes of useful Japanese, since the clip is a bit longish […]

行ってきます
itte kimasu
I’m going out; see you later
遊泳禁止
yuuei kinshi
No Swimming
That’s all you need to know.
Click HERE.
UPDATE:
I took a little closer look at the “No Swimming” sign. Underneath, it says:
アカエイに注意
akaei ni chuui
watch out for red stingrays
[x] ni chuui = watch for, be careful of, note [x]
akaei = red stingray
ei = stingray
Sore ja.

Don’t know exactly why, but this vid about lightning in Tokyo is on the front page of YouTube today.
Is it that cool?

This vid also shows up as the top return for “inazuma” right now in Google.
The putter-upper of the vid has this to say:
稲妻がよく見えるように編集しました。2007年5月31日18時～19時の間の落雷 です。
Inazuma ga yoku mieru you ni henshuu shimashita. 2007nen 5gatsu 31nichi […]

…and I mean anything.
Need to sell something? An old tea set? Meth-making equipment you don’t use anymore?
I got your hookup right here.

ロイヤルジャパンは何でも買います！
Roiyaru Japan ha nandemo kaimasu!
Royal Japan will buy anything!
象牙、剥製、茶道具、おきもの
Zouge, hakusei, chadougu, okimono,
Ivory, stuffed animals, tea ceremony tools, interior decorations
何でも買います。
Nandemo kaimasu.
We will buy anything.
お電話ください。
O-denwa kudasai.
Give us a call.
841-1234
Hachi yon ichi no ichi ni san […]

Since we were talking about Japanese tea houses the other day, I thought I’d share this vid. It’s another tongue-in-cheek “Japanese Tradition” segment from the Ramens comedy team.
This time, it’s how to do “tea” in Japan.

The funny thing about this series of vids is that if you’ve been to Japan, you’ve probably run into […]

I don’t look like it, but I’m a fan of tea houses. This vid is about the Jo’an tea house, currently located in Inuyama City (by Gifu).

織田有楽斎は信長の実弟で茶の湯の創生期に尾張が生んだ大茶匠である。晩年、有楽は武家を棄て京都建仁寺の正伝院に、隠棲した。如庵はその境内に1618年ころ建てた茶室であり現存する国宝茶席三名席の一つになっている。また隣接する旧正伝院は重要文化財に指定されている。遺構は各地を転々としたが、安住の地を犬山に得て「有楽苑」として公開されている。
Oda Urakusai ha Nobunaga no jittei de, cha no yu no souseiki ni Owari ga unda daichashou de aru. Bannen, Uraku ha buke wo sute, Kyouto Kenninji no Shouden’in […]

…than 200MPH supercars…
So, they had the Japanese F1 Grand Prix this weekend.
Thousands and thousands of Japanese fans turned out hours ahead of time at the Fuji International Speedway to wait IN THE POURING RAIN for the race to start.
At least the shuttle bus system taking fans in and out of the speedway complex worked smoothly…
…oh, […]