近所でみかけたゆるキャラ君たち。彼らは何かをプロモートしてると思うのだけれど、何だろう。。

I met them in my neighborhood. They must be promoting something, but I wonder what it is.

宝くじ/Takara-kuji/ Lottery -みなさん夢を買います。/Minasan yume o kaimasu./People buy dreams. 　当たったことがありますか？/Atatta koto ga arimasu ka?/ Have you ever won lottery?

昨日食べた、やよい軒のサービスランチ。
kinoo tabeta, yayoi-ken no saabisu ranchi.
Service lunch I had yesterday at Yayoi-ken.

このカツ丼、なんと、たったの290yen! 安い。
kono katsu-don, nanto, tatta no nihyaku kyuujuu en. Yasui!
This pork cutlet rice bowl was just 290 yen, wow!

ごちそうさまでした。おいしかった。
Gochisoo sama deshita. oishikatta.
Gochisoo-sama deshita. (Thanks for the meal (Japanese say this phrase after the meal. means, “thanks for the food”). It was delicious.

Japanese is the mother tongue of Japan. In Japan it is known as Nihongo. If you are going to Japan and want to learn Japanese very quickly, then it is very right place to learn Japanese. In Japan people believe in giving respect. There are different levels of Japanese language that are used according to the social level of the people. Japanese grammar is easy to learn although it’s quite different from that of English. For example, English sentence structure is [Subject + Verb + Object] in general, whereas Japanese is [(Subject)* + Object + Verb] *subject is often omitted in Japanese. Traveler’s Japanese’s easy lessons will make your learning Japanese experiences very interesting. It will make you understand the sentences and it helps you in making your own sentences.

The aim of this app is to help you to understand the basics of Japanese language that, when you visit Japan, it will be helpful for you in every step. This is very useful app specially designed for the travelers, though this app you can learn Japanese for non-travelers as well, definitely fast and logically. The experienced Japanese teachers designed this course. In this Traveler’s Japanese App, there are over 75 minute audio lessons, which will be very helpful for you to practice. You will be provided by the complete list of all phrases (in both rōma-ji ~alphabet~ as a guide for pronunciation, and Hiragana/Katakana & Kanji ~for written Japanese) and grammar and explains each and every part of it. The syllabus is very briefly described which include all the essential part of the Japanese language. This covers most of the day-to-day situation that a traveler faces. You can easily improve your Japanese skill, just listening to the audio, which is recorded in the voice of the local Japanese person and. Internet connection is not required while accessing this app. It is not boring, here you will learn in a very playful manner. Purchase it or Just download it free, and you can access this app as when you want. Some of its contents are, how you make reservation, how you talk in taxi, hotel, station, restaurant or public places and when you go out or visit someone’s house, how to pronounce days, weeks, months and many more. You can easily cope up with these situations by using Traveler’s Japanese app, and you can see your progress through phrase and word quizzes in this app.

Minasan Konnichiwa!

Tsunami Warning!

日本は地震が多く、津波の被害も受けやすいです。

Japan has many earthquakes and prone to be affected by Tsunami.

I just found a Tsunami warning sign, so I’m gonna explain about this.

• 津波注意　/ Tsunami Chuui.  / Tsunami Warning.
• 高いところへすぐ非難！/ Takai tokoro e sugu hinan! / Evacuate to a high place immediately!  (非難 -ひなん/hinan ~suru: to evacuate)
• 予想津波浸水深 /よそう つなみ しんすいしん / yosoo tsunami shinnsuishin / Expected submergence depth

津波は怖いですから、海岸近くに住んでいる人は気をつけましょう！
Tsunami is scary. Please be careful of Tsunami if you live near the coast.

みなさんこんにちは！
Hello Everyone.

Today, I have a wonderful announcement for iPhone Users!

Traveler’s Japanese iPhone App is OUT Now!

Please check this out the contents:
http://learnjapanese123.com/iPhone1

or, Search “Traveler’s Japanese” in your iPhone App Store.

よろしくおねがいしまーす！
Hope to see you there!
-Kazue

Minasan konnichiwa!

Few days ago, I got an email from someone as below:
So I’m doing a card for the children in Japan that don’t have a home or family and I want to know how to write this: we believe in you, be happy, we are praying for you. or something like that and I need your help for that. I used Google translator and its not the best soo please help me. ^_^

So I replied..
genki o dashite, ganbatte kudasai! Fukko o inotte imasu.
元気をだして、がんばってください！早くの復興を祈っています。
“Keep your chin up! We pray for a faster recovery. ”
– I think this would be appropriate.

Translation machine cannot translate our culture differences.
Expression like “we believe in you, we are praying for you.” is pretty much influenced by Christianity.  Yes, we can translate directly and it may be used in different situations.
hmm.. but I feel a bit awkward to be said “I believe in you” in Japanese from someone who doesn’t know me..  Probably, it’s a culture difference.

Japanese fellow fans, what do you think?
日本人のみなさん、どう思いますか？

-Kazue
PS I pray for a faster recovery in Tohoku too.
今も、震災のいち早い復興を祈っています。

Minasan kon-nichiwa!

Ohisashi buri desu. (It’s been a while.)
Sumimasen!

ところで、(tokorode, By the way)

Do you know how to say “back out at the last minute” in Japanese?

We  say it..
ドタキャンする  (dota-kyan suru)

For the usage,

-　ドタキャンしちゃった。 dota-kyan shichatta. (I shouldn’t but) I cancelled it at the last minute.

-　彼にデートをドタキャンされた。 Kare ni deeto o dota-kyan sareta.  – He backed out our date at the last minute.

-  急な用事がはいったので、友達との約束をドタキャンしてしまった。 Kyuu na yooji ga haitta node, tomodachi tono yakusoku o dotakyan shite shimatta.
Because I got an urgent matter, I had to cancelled an appointment with my friend.

Please try not to do “dota-kyan” as much as possible otherwise your boy/girl will すねる (suneru) sulk..

Mata ne!

-Kazue

Happy Valentine, Everyone!

Thanks you for supporting LearnJapanese123.com always!

I have two Valentine’s Presents 

3 Japanese Video Lessons

& 30% OFF Video Course Promotion

If you haven’t seen my Video lessons, Please Check this out!

10mins x 3 = 30mins Japanese Lessons are FREE

till 14 Feb 2011

Please click here to watch the 3 lesson videos now!

-from Kazue with Love-

Minasan wa fugu o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?
Have you eaten Fugu (blowfish) before?

I just spotted big Fugu signboard when I was walking Shibuya doogenzaka.

There is a water tank in front of the shop and many fugu are swimming (sleeping?).
Take a closer look! Aren’t they cute..?

Yes I had fugu before, but it was long time ago..
Fugu-ryoori is considered as a four-star meal.
It could be because of the taste.. or maybe because of complexity of preparation of the cooking.
Fugu has a deadly poison..

Well, here is a video I found in Youtube. “How to eat Fugu-sashi”(Fugu sashimi)

and here is Mr.Douglas’s blog sharing his fugu experience. Thanks Douglas-san.

and here is the comment page for the shop.

どうぞ、召し上がれ。Doozo, meshiagare.
- Bon appetit!

-Kazue

and here is my Conversation video course
(I’d be happy if you click above link)