There are many interesting foods in Japan. One of our favorite treats is takoyaki, especially popular in the Osaka region. In stark contrast to the English word taco, tako is is Japanese for octopus; to differentiate the crustacean from the Mexican food, the Japanese always use the plural word “tacos” (takosu) for referring to the latter, even if they’re talking about just one taco. Takoyaki are basically fried balls of batter that contain a piece of cooked octopus meat inside, painted with a delicious sauce. If you ever find yourself in Osaka, be sure to go to Otakoya, a takoyaki shop near the famous Glico neon sign in the Dotonbori area. Be warned though: you may have to stand in line for a couple of hours to be served — that’s how popular takoyaki is. Once in rural Japan we happened across a takoyaki vendor who decided to call his shop Tako Bell. My wife and I were completely floored with laughter at this unexpected sight. (Incidentally, we have some takoyaki making supplies on the site today.)
There are many ways to learn a foreign language: the Grammar-Translation method, the Communicative Approach, the Natural Method, Total Physical Response, and so on. Another time-honored way to learn a language is to “get attention” method, which I’ve labeled the Social Feedback Method to give it a cool-sounding name. Using this method, you learn enough phrases and words to passably communicate with the target group in such a way that you always get positive feedback, be it getting laughs from Japanese at a party, impressing cute Japanese girls, what have you. I had a friend who had taught English as a Second Language all around Asia, and he got incredible mileage from the phrase Shumi wa nan desu ka? which means “What is your hobby?” Another phrase you might try out is naruhodo, which means “I see” or “that’s right” and implies having been convinced that the opinion of the person you’re listening to has just made an impression on you. Another staple is honto (HONE-toh), which means “really” and can be used as a question (Honto?) or as an affirmation (Honto!). Another phrase that can be fun to know is “hen na gaijin” (lit. “strange foreigner”), but more on that below…
In Japan, instead of signing documents, you usually stamp them with a red “name stamp,” called a hanko, that features your name in kanji, or in the case of a corporation, the company’s name in kanji. While these name stamps can seem pretty odd to foreigners — after all, what’s to stop someone from stealing your stamp and taking all your money out of the bank? — all in all the name stamp system seems to work pretty well. We’ve made two cool Japanese T-shirts that feature the unique name stamp design. The first shirt is for everyone who secretly wishes they had been born in Japan: Nihonjin ni naritai, “I Wish I Were Japanese.” The second T-shirt features a phrase that all foreigners who come to Japan manage to learn within 24 hours, Hen na gaijin, “I’m a strange foreigner.” Both shirts are in stock in standard sizes and ready for your order!
