Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

Embarrassments of being a foreigner in Japan, Japan’s latest “rose boom” and words that feature a unique kanji

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
16 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

Hello again from Japan, where the zipper in your pants is known as the “window of society” (shakai no mado).

As a foreigner living in Japan, I consider myself an honorary representative of the English-speaking world here, and do my best to present a good image to my Japanese hosts. Nothing is more embarrassing than having my own English abilities let me down for one reason or another, though. For example, there are times when a Japanese person will know some word that I’ve never encountered — doctors are always surprised when their gaijin patient isn’t familiar with a certain medical term, when clearly every English speaker must know every word that was ever coined. When I taught ESL I was often asked to explain the rules of English grammar, i.e. why this sentence takes a gerund but this one needs an infinitive verb, and all too often I was unable to produce an answer that satisfied my students. Sometimes Japanese people ask you to translate something into English despite the fact that the concept is untranslatable — since “my city is surely the city of water, poetry and vibrant greenery” is not much use to anyone, even if it is a technically accurate translation of a Japanese sentence. Most embarrassing are times when I can’t recall a certain vocabulary word. After fifteen years of living in a foreign country, some terms just sink into the nether reaches of your brain when not recalled for a long time. Then suddenly you need to use he word “obstetrician” and it takes you a minute of deep thought to bring it up.

The Japanese language is often thought of as being extremely difficult, and was called a creation of the devil to halt the spread of Christianity by the original missionaries that came here. I never thought of it as being that hard, although there is one area that is quite challenging for “white boy” gaijin, learning the kanji that are used to express the language in writing. Studying characters that are related to each other is one way to make it easier, and one of my favorite kanji is the enigmantic ki, which is usually translated as spirit, mind, or essence. This kanji shows up in some basic words, like genki (happy, energetic), byoki (sick) kuki (air) and kimochi (feeling). It’s used in martial arts, too, such as kiai (the spirited yells you make when you perform moves in karate or aikido). There are plenty of phrases that use the word, too. If you have a short ki (ki ga mijikai) you’re short-tempered, but someone with a strong ki (ki ga tsuyoi) is strong-willed and can take on any challenge.

Flowers and Spring go well together, and this Spring Japan seems poised for a “rose boom” (to go with this year’s “spice boom,” already under way), as companies bring out various products that make use of the fragrant flowers. Candles and incense that contain oils extracted from roses are popular items in hip department stores like Tokyu Hands, and retailers are always interested in finding new ways to package the pleasant aromas for consumers. One company sells high-quality cashmere sweaters dyed pink with rose essence that are just beautiful. The Japanese have a long history of serving flowers as a decorative food, part of the traditional kaiseki meals famous in Kyoto, and sure enough, beautiful Japanese dishes that contain rose petals (which may or may not be eaten, depending on individual tastes) are a hit this season.

J-List brings you Japan’s most excellent magazines via our “reserve subscription” service, a revolving subscription whereby we reserve the issues of Japan’s best anime, manga, music, fashion, hobby and other magazines for you. Today we’ve added a new item for you to enjoy: Cure, the excellent magazine of “Japaneseque Rock + Visual Styling” that’s loaded with vibrant pictures of Japan’s “visual-kei” and gothic bands. As usual, you never need to pay in advance for our subscriptions and you can stop or switch magazines at any time.

Tags: fashionfoodgaijinhistoryJapanese languagemangaTeaching English (ESL)

More Posts Like This

Watashi No Shiawase No Kekkon
Your Friend in Japan

‘My Happy Marriage’ is a Serotonin Boost For Your Brain

by Peter Payne
2 months ago

There are so many worthwhile anime series for fans to enjoy each season it can be easy to miss one....

Vinland Saga Season 2
Your Friend in Japan

Vinland Saga Ends! Why Was This Anime ‘Peak Fiction’?

by Peter Payne
3 months ago

The Spring 2023 anime season had a lot to offer fans, from a bizarre story of idols and revenge to...

Learn Japanese Through Anime! Otonari No Tenshi

Learn Japanese With Anime! Otonari no Tenshi-sama Edition

6 months ago
Vinland Saga Season 2

Seven Reasons to Watch Vinland Saga!

7 months ago
Anime Famous Outside Of Japan

13 Anime More Popular Outside of Japan than Inside!

10 months ago
How Oppai Affect Gravity Albert Einstein

What Did Albert Einstein Find When He Visited Japan?

12 months ago
Next Post
43904 1

Buddhist lucky and unlucky days in Japan, a funeral for a great anime character, and do you have a "good head"?

Trending Today

Why Is Umi Yatsugake So Popular
Your Friend in Japan

Why is Umi Yatsugake The Most Popular JAV Actress?

6 days ago
Ayakashi Triangle Blu Ray Censorship
Your Friend in Japan

Are the Ayakashi Triangle Blu-rays Uncensored? YES THEY ARE.

2 days ago
Roxy Migurdia Blog Post
Figures

This is the Roxy Migurdia Figure We All Needed!

1 week ago
J List Staff Pick Waifus 2022 3
Featured

Fashionable Gyaru Girls in Anime

2 days ago
What Autumn 2023 Anime Will J List Watch
Your Friend in Japan

The J-List Autumn 2023 Anime Guide! Which Anime Should You Watch?

6 days ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
Megami Magazine November 2023
Anime Magazine

Need More Anime Posters? The New Megami Magazine is In Stock!

by Peter Payne
October 3, 2023

Need More Anime Posters? The New Megami Magazine is In Stock!

Anime Rewind! Let’s Look at Koi Kaze, the Best Sister Love Anime!

My Tiny Senpai, Episode 11: Smol Fan Wants Big Hug!

Tokyo Game Show Celebrates the Return of Cosplay

20 Years of Saya no Uta Pt. 2 — Story Analysis

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.