Nao&Hiro

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Happy Wednesday everyone! ( hope you are having a HAPPY Wednesday :-p)

I was watching TV the other day, and I saw this crazy basketball team called the Harlem Globetrotters. It seemed to be very popular back in 1970's.
I enjoyed watching them doing all these cool tricks with a basketball. It was a pure entertainment! I think American entertainment is spectacular. I love Japanese entertainment as well, but American ones are so over the top and just...um...AWESOME! When I went to Las Vegas, I saw the Blue Man Group show. Ahhh, I think that was one of my favorite shows ever. If you haven't seen the show yet you are missing out something really gooooood!

Anyway, I just fell in love with them, so I looked online if they would come to Southern California. I was looking, looking, looking...and BAM! I found out that they'd be coming to Southern California too!! Of course I got tickets! Yay yay! I'll have so much fun like these kids at the Harlem Globetrotters' show on the TV. Oh, they looked they were having the time of their lives!

I think I've already mentioned this before, but I used to play basketball when I was in junior high school. My number was 7, and I was a forward. Oh yeah, I once received the MVP! Yes! Well, it was a loooong time ago, and I don't even think I can play one game right now. I should start playing basketball again!

Alrighty, I think I'll go to a basketball court and shoot some hoops!

See you soon! Mata ne---!
Hugs,
Nao

Monday, January 28, 2008

Someone hit my car!!!! - hiroSomeone hit my car!!!! - hiro

Good morning, everyone! How is your day going so far??

Well, my day started off really bad!!!!
As you can ready the title, someone hit my car over night!!
What happen was I parked my car at my friend's apartment last night and came to pick up my car this morning... and I saw a huge dent on the back of my car.... yeah, someone hit my car and didn't leave any notes to apologize.... Omg, I was so upset!!!!!
But hey, what can I do now, right?
I guess I am going to have to fix it:( If anyone knows a good car repair shop, shot me an e-mail!! It will be a big help cause I never brought my car in to the shop.... haha

Oh, speaking of car, it seems like there is a stereo type that Asian people cannot drive.
I often hear this stereo type, and I wan to tell you something. It is not true!!!!!!!
Why?? Because in Japan, we go to driving school for few months and we have to go though so much training unlike here in US.

The driving school usually takes between 2-3 months and you have several stage that you have to go through. First, yes, of course you enroll to the school right? Then you are entitled to attend lectures and driving classed. In lecture, you have tests every week and you have to pass the test in order for you to go to next step. At the same time, you start driving class too. The first stage of driving school, you can only drive and learn within a school field. After 30 driving classes, you can take a driving test, and you can move on to the driving classes in public roads once you pass this test. Then, you have another 20-30 driving classes on public roads. Yes, don't forget about the lecture because lecture will be continue until you pass the final test!!! After you fulfilled all the required lectures and driving school, you now have a right to take a final writing test and driving test. The driving test can be done within the driving school, but you actually have to go to police department to take a writing test. Once you passed the final writing text at police station, you can finally obtain a driver's license. Sound tough, doesn't it?? It cost a lot of money too!!!! It usually cost about $2000 for the traffic school.

In the school, you of course learn all the traffic rules and everything, but you also learn how to part your car in the parking lots and street parking. Because most the parking spot in Japan tend to be tiny, you learn how to park your car by backing up. So, most of Japanese people are really good at parking a car in tiny spaces!!! hehe.

Ok, so do you still think Asian people cannot drive?? Maybe some of them, but most definitely not Japanese people!!

Okie dokie, I think I'm going to lunch now. Yummy!!
Have a good one:)

Love,
Hiro

Nao&Hiro's Quick Japanese Lesson! - last update on 1/25/2008 -

Hello guys and gals! Welcome to Nao&Hiro's Japanese lessons! We'll teach you guys casual Japanese, just like how young Japanese speak! You may be learning Japanese at school, but we bet ya don't learn this kind of Japanese! Oh, please don't use Japanese you learn here with your teacher/professor cuz they might get offended! Hahaha!

--------Wk5-------
How are you guys today?

Well, Hiro explained about "Nanpa" last week. Today I will teach you guys a couple of most popular pick up lines in Japan. I mean, these were what Hiro and I used to hear a lot while we were in Japan. And, these are hands down top 3 pick up line in Japan! Girls, don't hesitate to use these lines to hot Japanese guys out there! This can be used by both guys and gals;-)

Ima hima? (e-ma he-ma?)

"Ima" means "now", and "hima" means "free time/ nothing to do." So, when you say "Ima hima?" to others you are basically asking the person "do you have time to hang out with me now?" The best way of saying this is to tilt your head to the side when you are about to say "hima?" It will look really cute:-) And other point is that you should never be aggressive towards Japanese girls or even to guys. You say "Ima hima?" in a cute and charming way, and you just got yourself a date! :-)

Dokka ikanai? (docka e-car-nah-e?)

"Dokka" means "somewhere" and "ikanai?" means "wanna go?" So, it is a no brainer. "Dokka ikanai?" means "Do you wanna hang out?" or "Do you wanna go out?" Like "Ima hima?", you should tilt your head to the side when you are saying "Ikanai?" It'll be really cute. Well, it just might be my taste, but I think I would really like when a guy does that!

Maeni attakoto aruyone? (mah-eh-knee ah-ta koh-toe ah-lu-yo-neigh?)

"Maeni" means "before", "attakoto" means "we have met", and "aruyone?" means "haven't we?/ there was ~, wasn't there?" I think this is kinda cheesy way to start a conversation, but I guess it's been working for guys out there. Otherwise we don't hear this line so often, right girls?

Alright now, let's get out of here and go try out some new Japanese!

Good luck and Be good untill next time!
Hug hug, Nao

--------Wk4-------

Alright.... so who do you feel that we had talked about enough of table manner?? Me!!!!
Ok, next question.... who is planning to trip to Japan in the future?? If you do, I have a great another lesson here for you!!

Nanpa (nah-nn-pa)

This means that "Trying to talk to a GIRL who you saw in a town.", in other words, "pick up".
However, please note that, we use "Nanpa" in the situation when Man trying to talk to Women, not the other way around. This word is used by young people, and it is more like broken Japanese...so watch out who and when you use this word!!

Gyakunan (Gyah-ku-nah-nn)

Ok, here is another word that means "pick up", but this is used in the situation where a GIRL is trying to talk to a MAN who she saw in town. Some Japanese girls have a lot of courage to do "Gyakunan", but some are too shy to do.... yes, just like me.... I'm too shy to do "Gyakunan"!!!

Nanpa Machi (nah-nn-pa mah-chi)

Here is another word that is related to "Nanpa". You just learned what "Nanpa" means, and "Machi" means waiting. So "Nanpa Machi" means waiting to be picked up!!! We usually use "Nanpa Machi" towards women. When you see girls just standing around in town doing nothing, they are usually "Nanpa-machi".

Next week, you will actually learn how to do "Nanpa", so please look forward to it:)

--------Wk3-------

So, you learned how to say "delicious" and "yummy" in Japanese last week. It's good to know how to say "Oishii!", but let's be honest, not all the dishes are 'Oishii!" This week I will talk about how to say "not Oishii".

Mazui (mah-zoo-e)

This means "taste horrible". This is really strong word, and there is no gray area about this word. BUT as you may know Japanese people are very polite, so we don't say "Mazui" directly to the person who cooked the dish. We usually use "Mazui" at a restaurant if they have bad food, or to yourself if you cook and it turn out to be bad... hopefully it doesn't happen so often, but yeah, I did say "Mazui" about my own food... so sad, isn't it?

Anmari Oishikunai (an-mah-lee oy-she-ku-nah-e)

"Anmari" means "not so much," and "Oishikunai" means "not delicious." So, combining the two words, they mean "not so good/ delicious." This sounds much milder than "Mazui." Interestingly, we still don't say this to a person who cooked a dish. Remember, Japanse people do hate confrontation, and they do their best not to create any awkwardness with others. So, again, you can say "Anmari Oishikunai" at restaurant or about a dish you cook.

Oishikunai (oy-she-ku-nah-e)

"Oishikunai" means "not delicious." It is not as strong as "Mazui", but if you say this you better mean it. Once you say "Oishikunai" you won't get any second chance getting the dish again. Kids will say "Mazui", "Anmari oishikunai", and "Oishikunai" without thinking, and they could be cute saying that, but you aren't a kid anymore... so, let's be polite:-)

Mah Mah (mah-mah)

"Mah Mah" means "so-so." We use "Mah mah" when the food is just ok. "Mah mah" is literally means "So-so", so you can use this word anytime you want to say "so-so".
For example, Your friend: "how was the movie?" You: "mah mah".
Your friend: "how was the date last night?" You: "mah mah."
Your friend: "How did you do on the final?" You: "mah mah".

Alrighty, today's lesson is just that! Next week, Hiro will teach you guys how to pick up girls! Awesome topic, huh?
Good luck and Be good untill next time! Hug hug, Nao

----------wk2-----------

Alright! It's time for another Japanese lesson, and I, Hiro, will be your teacher this week. Hehe :)

Let's start the lesson, shall we?
Last time, Nao taught you what to say before and after a meal, so let's go little bit deeper this week.

Oishii desu (Oh-ee-she-deh-sue)

Usually, if the person who fixed the meal is there, we say "Oishii desu" when we take the first bite. "Oishii desu" means that the meal is good, or you like its taste. I personally LOVE cooking and when people tell me "Oishii desu", it makes me happy :) So, repeat after me..."Oishii desu!"

Oishii (Oh-ee-she)

This is a casual way of saying "Oishii desu". "Oishii desu" is a polite way to say it, and it is used for someone you respect, or someone who is older than you.
"Oishii" can be used on a more friendly level, and females would use this word more. Alright, repeat after me..."Oishii!"

Umai (Uh-mah-ee)

Ok, here is another casual way of saying "Oishii desu". Unlike the second one, this is used mostly by males. Don't worry though, even though you used "Oishii" rather than "Umai", it doesn't make you any less of a man!!! K, are you guys ready? Repeat after me.... "Umai!"

----------wk1-----------

Well, this week, I, Nao, will be your teacher.
Call me Miss Nao Nao.

So, let's start the first lesson! We recorded each lesson as an MP3 file, so if you want to make sure how to pronouce each word, check it out! You can hear Nao's & Hiro's voices, too!

Itadakimasu (ee-tah-dah-key-mah-sue)

It is very important to be polite at a table in Japan. Good table manners are important, but the best way to show your appreciation is to say it! We say "Itadakimasu" before we eat. That means, "Thank you for the food, I'll gratefully have them." We usually put our palms togeter in front of our faces and say "Itadakimasu". You might have seen some Japanse just say "Itadakimasu" without this hands gesture... no no no, that is not good table manners! So, let's try this together. Put your hands together, and say "Itadakimasu".

Gochisou sama deshita (Go-chi-saw-sama-deh-she-tah)

After the meal is another is a crucial time to be polite. "Gochisousama deshita" means "It was a delicious meal, thank you." Just like "Itadakimasu", we put our palms together in front of our faces and say "Gochisousama deshita." We thank to the person who cooked the meal by saying this, and if you cooked the meal yourself, you thank nature and the farmers who provided you the food.

There are various ways to say "Gochisousama deshita." (go-chi-soh-sah-mah-deh-she-tah)

Gochisousama deshita is the most polite and proper way to express your appreciation. If you want to make it a little more casual, you can say "Gochisousama" (Go-chi-saw-sama). And next one is "Gotsu an desu!" (goh-tsahn-day-sue) Usually Sumo wrestlers use this word after they had their big meal, but young people started to use "Gotz an desu!" as more casual way of saying "Gochisousama deshita." I believe some young Japanese comedians started to use this word on TV, and it spread to every young Japanese. If you want to be "cool" with Japanese young people, and show off your Japanese skill, pull this one out after having a meal with them. They will surely go, "Wooooow!"

Gochisousama

Gotz an desu

Good luck and be good untill next time! Hug hug, Nao

PS. Nao & Hiro would love to receive any questions about Japanese culture, Japanese words, etc., so feel free to email us! We'll try our best to answer all the questions we receive. We're looking forward to receiving any questions!

Nao Hiro Rainy "Happy" Days

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Monday, January 28, 2008

Someone hit my car!!!! - hiroSomeone hit my car!!!! - hiro

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