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

Why Cats are Good and Polite Japanese is Bad

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

Why Cats Are Good And Polite Japanese Is Bad

One of the sleeper gems of the current anime season is My Roommate is a Cat (Japanese title Dokyonin ha Hiza, Tokidoki Atama no Ue, or My Roommate Sits In My Lap, Sometimes on my Head), the story of an anti-social Japanese writer named Subaru whose parents die, causing him to withdraw from society. Happily, he’s supported by various friends, as well as a stray cat he adopts, who provides the inspiration for a novel. In a world of endless idol and isekai shows as well as anime based on meandering, poorly written light novels, it’s a breath of fresh air, with each new episode smartly building on the last.

One of the themes of the story is kizuna, which means “bonds” as in the relationships and connections that bind us all to each other. In each episode, we discover new connections we didn’t know about previously, sometimes revealed to us through the “human” half of the episode, but more often in the “cat” half, which is told from the point of view of the cat, Haru. Early on we meet Okami-san, a girl working at a pet shop who gives Subaru advice on how to care for his new cat. Later she and her brother gush about their favorite book about a cat detective, which of course is written by Subaru. Subaru holds an autograph event, and naturally, Okami-san shows up, suddenly realizing that her favorite author is the man who she was giving cat advice too. This leads to lots of embarrassment by Okami and Subaru, and both freeze up and start using extremely polite Japanese language with each other, which is a very Japanese thing to do.

As I write in my long post about how I learned Japanese, there are many areas of learning Japanese that are downright easy for foreign learners, including no weird intonation to master and grammar that’s often much simpler than English — you don’t even need to differentiate between count and non-count nouns or plurals. However, one area that is a challenge for students of Japanese is keigo, the various levels of polite speech used in various situations, like in business settings, or when meeting your favorite author. While this keigo system makes formal relationships flow smoothly, it also adds social distance, something I felt in the episode, when Subaru and Okami-san went from being close-ish friends to speaking extremely politely.

When foreigners learn Japanese, it’s often best for us to “manage” how politely we speak. Of course, we want to make good impressions on others and be trusted in business relationships, but one of the “selling points” foreigners in Japan is that we’re excused from having the “common sense” that Japanese are required to have. Japanese enjoy being able to relax and speak freely with foreigners, and focusing too much on using proper polite speech actually impedes this.

Got any questions about polite Japanese or any other topic related to Japan that you’d like J-List to write about? Tell us on Twitter!

J List Spring Coupon

 

It’s finally starting to warm up here in Japan, which puts us all in a happy mood. So we decided to hold a flash coupon this weekend only, giving everyone $10 off an order of $50 or more. Want to score that awesome anime figure? How about browse for English visual novels, or some delicious Japanese snacks? Or even get something naughty for yourself? The coupon is JLIST-SPRING19, and it ends at the end of Monday, U.S. time.

Tags: anime figurescatsculturemy roommate is a catsnacks

More Posts Like This

Nijojo Castle, Built In 1603
Your Friend in Japan

Tourism to Return to Japan! When Will You Plan Your Next Trip?

by Peter Payne
1 year ago

Japan is buzzing because finally, after two years, the country is poised to open up to tourism from the outside...

Why Does Japan Love Great Britain Senpai So Much?
Your Friend in Japan

Why Does Japan Love Great Britain-Senpai So Much?

by Peter Payne
1 year ago

When I'm not watching anime to prepare for my next blog post or working on a visual novel translation, you...

The Saddest Anime Deaths Blog

The Top 14 Anime Deaths! Which Ones Affected You the Most?

1 year ago
Does Sarcasm Exist In Japan?

Does Sarcasm Exist in the Japanese Language? Let’s Find Out!

1 year ago
A Couple Of Cuckoos Anime Blog

Need a Wholesome Rom-Com? Watch ‘A Couple of Cuckoos’!

1 year ago
Summer Time Render Anime

‘Summer Time Rendering’ Raises Questions for the Future of Anime

1 year ago
Next Post
Stereotypes In Anime

Exploring Stereotypes in Anime

Trending Today

Why Is Umi Yatsugake So Popular
Your Friend in Japan

Why is Umi Yatsugake The Most Popular JAV Actress?

3 days ago
Roxy Migurdia Blog Post
Figures

This is the Roxy Migurdia Figure We All Needed!

5 days ago
Why Are There So Many Characters Named Sakura
Your Friend in Japan

Why Are So Many Anime Characters Named Sakura?

5 days ago
Tan Fighters List1 6
Featured

Lovely Tanned Fighters Who Need No Protection

1 week ago
Neko Pako Fuck Paradise
Adult Toy Reviews [NSFW]

J-List’s Top 11 Hentai Cosplay JAV Works

3 years ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
What Autumn 2023 Anime Will J List Watch
Your Friend in Japan

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

by Peter Payne
September 28, 2023

TenPuru, Episode 12 [END]: Where Are You Looking?

Rurouni Kenshin, Episode 13: Sword vs. Gun

Comic Con Africa Is a Slice of Global Otaku Culture

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

Bibury Animation 100 Girlfriends Who Really Love You

  • 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.