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 at 3 mins.
UPDATE:
Here’s a few lines for you to tide you over. This is when the family’s four-year-old (Ren-kun) gets smacked (very Japanese-style, by the way) for goofing off. It happens about 1 min. into the vid.
蓮君が叩かれていましたけども
Ren-kun ga tatakarete imashita kedomo
Ren-kun just got smacked…
はい。それぐらいやってほしいと思います。
Hai. Sore gurai yatte hoshii to omoimasu.
Yes. That’s what I would expect (I would want [the coach] to do that).
やっぱり、格闘技なんで、気を抜いたり、ふざけていると怪我につながるし…
Yappari kakutougi na n de, ki wo nuitari, fuzakete iru to kega ni tsunagaru shi…
Since it’s a combat sport, if you don’t pay attention, or you goof off, you can get hurt…
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 some of the “you-must-do-it-this-way-precisely-with-no-deviation” rules they have.
As a people in general, the Japanese have a tough time dealing with things out of left field. They’re a pretty literal-minded race. The Ramens do a good job of poking fun at that aspect of Japanese life.
Here’s the script:
お茶
O-cha.
Tea [green tea]
日本ではポピュラーな飲み物
Nihon deha popyura na nomimono.
A popular drink in Japan. [nomimono = drink]
多くの日本人は、ティータイムはもちろん、食後などにお茶を飲みます。
Ooku no Nihonjin ha, Tei Taimu ha mochiron, shokugo nado ni o-cha wo nomimasu.
Many Japanese drink tea at Tea Time or after meals.
しかし、お茶の正しい作法は失われつつあります。
Shikashi o-cha no tadashii sahou ha ushinawaretsutsu arimasu.
However, the correct [tea] etiquette is disappearing/ being lost.
[ushinau = to lose; ushinawareru = to be lost; V2+tsutsu = is in the state of being …]
勉強しましょう
Benkyou shimashou.
Let us study.
礼
Rei.
Bow.
茶筒のふたを取ります。
Chazutsu no futa wo torimasu.
Remove the lid of the teabox [futa=lid]
おちゃっぱをふたに出します。
O-chappa wo futa ni dashimasu.
Pour the tea leaves into the lid
[I think “o-chappa” is a regional word for tea leaves, but I could be wrong]
急須におちゃっぱを入れます。
Kyuusu ni o-cha ppa wo iremasu.
Put the tea leaves into the tea pot.
ポットからお湯を注ぎます。
Potto kara o-yu wo sosogimasu.
Pour hot water in from the air pot [o-yu = hot water]
この瞬間から、お湯は冷め始めます。
Kono shunkan kara, o-yu ha samehajimemasu.
From this instant, the hot water begins to cool. [shunkan = instant]
お茶が最もおいしいのは、八十度とされています。
O-cha ga mottomo oishii no ha, hachijuu do to sarete imasu.
Tea is considered to be its most delicious at 80 degrees [”to sareru” = considered, regarded as, believed to be, etc.]
日本人は完璧な適温を狙い、工夫します。
Nihonjin ha kampeki na tekion wo nerai kufuu shimasu.
Japanese shoot for/ aim for the perfect suitable temperature, exercising ingenuity.
[kufuu = ingenuity, creativity, going to great lengths; I translated as patience]
回すのです。
Mawasu no desu.
Shake [rotate the pot].
この動きには、適温に下げるのと同時に、おちゃっぱから色と香りを抽出する効果もあります。
Kono ugoki ni ha, tekion ni sageru no to douji ni, o-cha ppa kara iro to kaori wo chuushutsu suru kouka mo arimasu.
This movement has the effect of bringing [the tea] down to the proper temperature, while at the same extracting the color and aroma out of the tea leaves.
この状態で数秒間放置します。
Kono joutai de suubyoukan houchi shimasu.
Leave [the tea] in this state for several seconds. [joutai = state, status, condition]
これは茶せんです
Kore ha chasen desu.
This is a tea whisk.
使い方は…なぞです。
Tsukaikata ha …. nazo desu.
Its use is … a mystery [nazo = riddle, puzzle, enigma, mystery]
湯飲み茶碗に三回に分けて注ぎます。
Yunomi chawan ni sankai ni wakete sosogimasu.
Pour [the tea] into the tea cup in three [separate movements].
一回の量は三十CCが目安
Ikkai no ryou ha sanjuu shishi ga meyasu.
The rule of thumb is 30cc each time [(ikkai no) ryou = volume (for one time)]
[meyasu = criterion, rule of thumb, yardstick, aim]
息を吹きかけます。
Iki wo fukikakemasu.
Blow [on the tea]. [iki=breath]
湯飲み茶碗のうち面、水面との接点に向けて、飲み口の斜め三十度から、風速毎分百七十五メートルの息を三回吹きかけ、水面から熱を奪います。
Yunomi chawan no uchimen, suimen to no setten ni mukete nomikuchi no naname sanjuudo kara, fuusoku maifun hyaku nanajuu go meetoru no iki wo sankai fukikake, suimen kara netsu wo ubaimasu.
Blow three times, aiming toward the tangent point of the inside of the tea cup and the surface [of the tea], blowing at an angle of 30 degrees to the lip of the cup, and at a wind speed of 175 meters per minute, removing heat from the surface [of the tea].
今！
Ima!
Now!
ああ、といいます。
“Aa” to iimasu.
Say, “aah.”
粗茶ですがともいいます。
“Socha desu ga” mo iimasu.
You also say, “this is not very good tea.” [socha = low grade tea]
相手に薦める時は、よいお手前ですがをいいます。
Aite ni susumeru toki ha “yoi o-temae desu ga” wo iimasu.
When offering to someone else, say, “this is good tea etiquette/ manners”
[Note: Remember, they’re joking about this. Usually when you offer something to someone in Japan, you say something negative about it. For example, “tsumaranai mono desu ga…douzo” = this isn’t anything fancy, but…here you go.”
このように、お茶を飲むのには、角度やタイミングに対する細やかな神経と暗算を間違えない集中力、緊張感を要します。
Kono you ni o-cha wo nomu no ni ha, kakudo ya taimingu ni taisuru komayaka na shinkei to anzan wo machigaenai shuuchuuryoku, kinchoukan wo you shimasu.
As you see, drinking tea requires detailed care about angles and timing, concentration to correctly perform the math in your head, and [the proper] intensity.
終わったら、コーヒーなどでリラックスしましょう。
Owattara, koohi nado de rirakkusu shimashou.
When you’re finished, relax with a cup of coffee.
いかがでしたか？
Ikaga deshita ka?
How was it?
これは日本のお茶ですが、何か？
Kore ha Nihon no o-cha desu ga, nani ka?
This is [how to do] tea in Japan, do you have any questions?
Sore ja.
P.S. That smile after the “tea whisk” segment is classic. Perfectly captured the “I’m embarrased; I -don’t-know-what-to-do” Japanese smile.
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 ni insei shita. Jo’an ha, sono keidai ni 1618 nen koro tateta chashitsu de ari, genzon suru Kokuhou Chaseki Sanmeiseki no hitotsu ni natte iru. Mata, rinsetsu suru kyuu Shouden’in ha juuyoubunkazai ni shitei sarete iru. Ikou ha kakuchi tenten to shita ga, anjuu no chi wo Inuyama ni ete, “Uraku-En” toshite koukai sarete iru.
Oda Urakusai [formerly known as Oda Nagamasu -ed.] was the younger brother of Nobunaga [Oda Nobunaga - famous daimyou -ed.], and was a master tea practitioner produced in Owari (country) during the formative years of the Cha no Yu [tea ceremony]. During his last years, Uraku gave up the samurai life, and retired to the Shouden’in [name of a building…like a library -ed.] of the Ken’ninji Temple located in Kyoto. The Jo’an is a tea ceremony house built on the temple grounds in 1618, and today is known as one of the Three Famous Tea Houses preserved as National Treasures. The Shouden’in located nearby has been designated an Important Cultural Asset. The remains have moved from location to location, finally settling in Inuyama, and made available to the public as “Uraku-en” (Uraku Garden).
Check out this link to see the Uraku-En (Uraku Garden) complex. The Shouden’in is the green-colored building located right in the middle there, and the small brown building just to the lower right is the Jo’An tea house.
Cut and Paste the following address into Google Earth to see the Uraku Garden (just slightly to the west of where Google Earth drops you in):
愛知県犬山市御門先
If you go just a bit further to the west (in the middle of all of the trees next to the river), you’ll see the Inuyama Castle.
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, wait…
I’ll post a script later.
UPDATE: Here’s the script -
ええと、ここはですね、バス停です。
Eeto, koko ha desu ne, basu tei desu.
Ummm, this is the bus stop.
長蛇の列。
Chouda no retsu.
There’s a huge line.
ところがですね、ひきを見てください。
Tokoroga desu ne, hiki wo mite kudasai.
But, just look as I zoom out.
じゃ～～ん。
Jaaaan.
Tada.
左側から、右側まで
Hidarigawa kara, migigawa made
From left to right…
ぎっちりと、人、人、人。
Gicchiri to, hito, hito, hito
People, people, people, all packed in like sardines.
これはですね、どうにもなりません。
Kore ha desu ne, dou ni mo narimasen.
This is an impossible situation.
どうなるんでしょうか？
Dou naru n deshou ne?
What’s likely to happen, I wonder?
我々が乗るはずの山中湖行きのバスはここでなんですけども、この二台のバスに対して、ぐる～りとですね、幾重にも、この辺が待っている。
Wareware ga noru hazu no Yamanakako iki no basu ha koko de na n desu kedomo, kono nidai no basu ni taishite, guruuri to desu ne, ikue ni mo, kono hen ga matte iru.
The bus to Yamanakako that we’re supposed to ride is here, but for just these two buses, there [are all these people] lined up several-fold.
という状況ですね。
To iu joukyou desu ne.
…that’s the current situation.
そして、まだ、観客の流入は止まることを知りません。
Soshite, mada, kankyaku no ryuunyuu ha todomaru koto wo shirimasen.
And the influx of fans continues with no end in sight.
はい、いつになったら、バスに乗れるんでしょうか？
Hai, itsu ni nattara basu ni noreru n deshou ka
So, I wonder when we’ll be able to get on a bus?
…unless the dude posted his video by WiFi, I’m guessing he eventually did make it home sometime Sunday evening. Just in time to pack into trains as full of humanity as they can possibly be during the Monday morning commute.
Sore ja.
P.S. I was never much into car racing until I started translating the race reports for one of the F1 teams a few years back.
Yesterday I was on deadline for a translation job, so today…more chopsticks fun.
And again, a mild content warning.
I’ll post the vid again, and then the second half of the script.
Remember…it’s tongue-in-cheek…a joke…so don’t take everything as gospel, here, OK?
上級篇
Joukyuuhen
Advanced Series
仕事人
Shigoto-nin.
The “Go-Getter” (shigotonin = worker/ work-focused)
オカマ割り
Okama-wari.
The Gay Break.*
空手
Karate.
Karate.
ダイナマイト
Dainamaito.
Dynamite.
とも割り
Tomo-wari.
Mutual Break.
イッツ ア スモール ワールド
Ittsu a sumooru waarudo.
It’s a Small World.
持ち方
Mochikata.
Holding the Chopstick [”how to hold”]
これはレギュラーというもち方です。
Kore ha regyuraa to iu mochikata desu.
This is called the Regular style [the regular holding method]
慣れれば簡単ですが、片手で持つのが難しい方は、ナイフとフォークのように両手で使ってもかまいません。
Narereba kantan desu ga, katate de motsu no ga muzukashii kata ha, naifu to fuooku no you ni ryoute de tsukatte mo kamaimasen.
It’s easy once you get the hang of it, but for those who are having difficulty holding chopsticks in one hand, you can use both hands, using the chopsticks like a knife and fork.
国際スタイル
Kokusai sutairu.
International Style.
男性らしさをアピールしたいなら、これ、男持ち
Dansei rashisa wo apiiru shitai nara kore, otoko-mochi.
If you want to assert your masculinity…the “Man Grip” [masculine hold]
日本らしさを楽しむ富士山
Nihon rashisa wo tanoshimu Fujisan.
Enjoy the aesthetic of Japan — The Mt. Fuji.
贅沢な気分を味わいたいなら、割らずに二膳で、大名。
Zeitaku na kibun wo ajiwaitai nara, warazu ni nizen de, Daimyou.
If you want to have a “big spender” experience, use two sets. The Daimyou [Warlord]
躍動感あふれるフェニックス
Yakudoukan afureru fuenikkusu
The vibrant Phoenix
銀河
Ginga.
Galaxy.
思いやり
Omoiyari.
Kindness
初恋
Hatsukoi.
First Love
さ、いかがでしたか？
Sa, ikaga deshita ka?
How was it?
日本人には、箸使いの上手な欧米人に好感を持つ傾向があります。
Nihonjin niha, hashizukai no jouzu na oubeijin ni koukan wo motsu keikou ga arimasu.
Japanese people tend to have a favorable view of westerners who use chopsticks well.
上手に使いこなして、日本人を驚かせてあげましょう。
Jouzu ni tsukaikonashite, nihonjin wo odorakasete agemashou.
Learn how to use chopsticks well, and surprise the Japanese.
Sore ja.
* Just a word about gays in Japan:
Not a big deal. (OK, that was four words)
It just doesn’t seem to be as divisive an issue as it is in the U.S. You don’t see militants on either side…everyone just kinda gets along.
Remember, this is tongue-in-cheek. One of the “Japanese Tradition” series by the Rahmenz comedian team:
I’ll do the first half of the script here, and the second half in a later post:
箸
Hashi.
Chopsticks.
刺す
Sasu.
Stab.
挟む
Hasamu.
Pinch.
切る
Kiru.
Cut.
混ぜる
Mazeru.
Mix.
そんな便利な食器。
Sonna benri na shokki.
A convenient utensil [that can do all that].
ナイフでも、フォークでもありません。
Naifu demo, fuoku demo arimasen.
It’s not a knife or a fork.
箸です。
Hashi desu.
It’s the chopstick
日本での食事には、必ず箸が使われます。
Nihon de no shokuji niha, kanarazu hashi ga tsukawaremasu.
Chopsticks are always used at meals in Japan.
このまっすぐな棒が箸です。
Kono massugu na bou ga hashi desu.
These straight sticks are chopsticks.
片方の手で、二本使います。
Katahou no te de, nihon tsukaimasu.
You use two in one hand.
素材は様々です。
Sozai ha samazama desu.
[Chopsticks are made] from various materials.
伝統的な竹製、鮮やかなプラスチック製、動物の骨でできた高級なものもあります。
Dentouteki na takesei, azayaka na purasuchikkusei, doubutsu no hone de dekita koukyuu na mono mo arimasu.
There are the traditional bamboo, colorful plastics, and even high-end [chopsticks] made from animal bones.
中でも、割り箸と呼ばれる木製の箸はほとんどの飲食店でサービスされます。
Naka demo, waribashi to yobareru mokusei no hashi ha hotondo no inshokuten de saabisu saremasu.
Chopsticks made from wood called ‘waribashi’ are provided free of charge at most restaurants.
使い時に割ります。
Tsukau toki ni warimasu.
You break them apart before using them.
基本の割り方
Kihon no warikata
Basic Separation Techniques
[Basic Pull-Apart Methods]
一。細い方を下にして、垂直に上から五分の三の部分を両手で持ちます。
Ichi. Hosoi hou wo shita ni shite, suichoku ni ue kara gobun no san no bubun wo ryoute de mochimasu.
One. Point the narrow ends down, and hold vertically with both hands at a spot 3/5 of the way down
二。指先に力を入れ、左右に引きます。
Ni. Yubisaki ni chikara wo ire, sayuu ni hikimasu.
Two. Tense your fingers, and pull horizontally [left and right].
左右均等に力を入れましょう。
Sayuu kintou ni chikara wo iremashou.
Be sure to pull horizontally with equal pressure.
どちらかに力が偏ると、まっすぐに割れません。
Dochira ka ni chikara ga katayoru to, massugu ni waremasen.
If one side has too much pressure, [the chopsticks] won’t break straight.
注意。
Chuui.
Caution.
割り箸を割る時は、必ずわきを閉めましょう。
Waribashi wo waru toki ha, kanarazu waki wo shimemashou.
When breaking waribashi, always keep your elbows in.
[”waki” is actually armpit]
わきが開いていると、ひじが当たって、思わぬ事故になる場合があります。
Waki ga hiraite iru to, hiji ga atatte, omowanu jiko ni naru baai ga arimasu.
If your elbows are out, they might bump into something, and may cause an unexpected accident.
上手に割れましたか？
Jouzu ni waremashita ka?
Were you able to separate them cleanly?
初めは、だれでも初心者です。
Hajime ha, dare demo shoshinsha desu.
At first, everyone is a beginner.
あきらめずにがんばりましょう。
Akiramezu ni ganbarimashou.
Don’t give up trying.
