Friday, November 11, 2011

What kind of name is Hyo?

Question:

This is a last name. Is it Japanese? Korean? Chinese? Two of these? All three?

Answer:

It's rare to see Hyo as a last name in Japan. But it's possible.

I don't know about Korean and Chinese.

My great-grandfather was a Japanese soldier during WWII?

Question:

First thing is first, I am Filipino. My mother told me we are part Japanese? As far as SHE knows, my GREAT-grandfather (her GRANDFATHER) was Japanese and stationed in the Philippines as a soldier for WWII. I know I am 1/8th Japanese (Grandmother = 1/2, Mother = 1/4).

In that case, how can I make sure I am part Japanese? Do I take a DNA test or would the Japanese embassy have to check it out for me? Where can I look to be sure?

Answer:

What do you mean by make sure? I don't think there is any certificate or something to prove that you are 1/8 Japanese.

Soft slow japanese songs like natsuhiboshi?

Question:

I'm interested in knowing some calm and delicate songs like natsuhiboshi. here's a link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGVMS4AWU…

Can any suggest some and maybe get me a link? Thanks!

Answer:

natsumachi by round table
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78eFtdGce0Y

instrumental version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=offiJUReBCg

I just bought a house and found some old jap. money is enyone interested in it?

Question:

it is paper money and in pretty good shape

Answer:

Hi
My Japanese wife is very interested in it

Good Japanese forwarding services?

Question:

what are some good Japanese forwarding services? I live in the US and i want to buy something from a store in Japan and i need a company to send it to me in the US. I've seen some companies that will forward your package but they will charge crazy fees that will almost double the price of the item of i want to buy. Anyone know any good services?

Answer:

The ones I hear most people (in the circles I hang in anyway) use are either Noppin (formerly Crescent Shop) or Celga. I personally use Celga, though a lot of people seem to prefer Noppin and both are very reliable (though I'd advice reading through both service's FAQs beforehand).

Yes, they both charge fees (haven't seen a forward/shopping service that doesn't), but whether or not they're "crazy" is relative. And I'm pretty sure that both services only handle "internet orders", rather than sending people to a physical store to pick up an item. Still, for Japane-only stuff, shopping services are one's best bet (short of getting a Japanese friend who'll buy things on your behalf).

WHAT DO YOU FEEL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IMAGE OF JAPAN AND REAL JAPAN?

Question:

ＤＯＹＯＵＨＡＶＥＡＮＹＩＤＥＡＯＦＩＴ？ＦＯＲＥＸＡＭＰＬＥ, ＢＥＦＯＲＥＹＯＵ CAME TO JAPAN, YOU THOUGHT ALL JAPANESE PEOPLE WEAR GLASSES BUT IT ISN'T TRUE.
WHATEVER IS OKAY. ABOUT CULTURE, PEOPLE, CUSTOM......ETC

Answer:

Image of Japan: People are very protective of traditional Japanese culture, such as Noh, sado, ikebana, sumo, etc.

Reality OLD people are very protective of traditional Japanese culture.

Image of Japan: Buddhism, particularly the famous Japanese Zen Buddhism has an effect on society that makes Japan less materialistic and and less of a consumer culture.

Reality: Japan is EVEN MORE materialistic and consumeristic than the USA. These people love shopping, and buying ridiculously expensive things.

Image of Japan: Everyone speaks English semi-decent people with some very fluent and so not so good.

Reality: It depends on your geography. No one in Tottori ken speaks English well, and everyone in Tokyo speaks enough to say "Don't touch my girlfriend, you drunk gaijin bastard!"

Image of Japan: Japanese people young and old are very proud of Japan.

Reality: Japanese people young and old are overly defensive of Japan vis a vis the rest of the world. If someone talks about whaling, they will compare the Sea Shepherds to the Americans who dropped the atomic bomb dropped on hiroshima... Or they will call Americans fat and stupid for being worried about radiation leakage in Fukushima. (Maybe that's just Yahoo Answers)

How is Chritmas in or its equivalents and New Years in Japan?

Question:

Well I know Christmas is only a comercial holiday there, but atleast what do people usually do? What events happen before christmas and in New years. I have to do an oral report about this. What foods are served? What do you guys wear? What do you do with family and friends? I appreciate detailed answers, thank you!
I had the option to pick any coutry but I like your country so I picked this one. :)

Answer:

Basically switch them around and you get a good idea what both are like.

Christmas is a normal day in Japan. You go to work if you have a job. A lot of young couples will go out for a romantic dinner. Some parents will give presents to their kids. Different families observe Xmas to different extents. The stores are all decorated for Xmas. Some people have decorations at home. A lot of people eat KFC on Xmas in Japan. Ovens aren't big enough to cook turkeys, so chicken has become really popular, especially KFC. I'm not joking.

New Years is a time for being with family. The whole country basically shuts down for a few days. People cook special food, and sometimes spend a lot of money on special food from stores. People stay at home or with relatives and eat, drink, and just hang out. On New Year's Eve, there aren't the typical parties like we have in the West, but a lot of people will go to a local shrine or temple. Sometimes there's sweet sake you can drink there. There's also a special kind of soba noodle soup to eat just after midnight.

Saying it "seems" in japanese?

Question:

So I've seen that taking the i off a i adjective and adding "soo" adds the meaning seeming. Omoshirosoo. (Omoshiroi) Seems interesting/ seeming interesting? Does it translate to both? seems and seeming? Is there any infromal way of saying this? And would I use the same thing for a na adjective? What would you take off for a na adjective? The na probably?

Thank you for your consideration when answering if you choose to answer. Please give me a translation to any words you use. Thank you very much!

Answer:

omoshiroi + ....sou = omoshiro-sou (Seems interesting/funny)

seeming interesting --> ?? doesn't make sense...

takai + sou = taka-sou (seems expensive)
omoi + sou = omo-sou (seems heavy)
kowai + sou = kowa-sou (seems scary)

The above examples are all informal/colloquial expressions. And they are all adjectives that simply omit "..na/..da" part

*You can add "sou" to a verb (renyou-kei)
amega furi-sou (furu + sou) --> Seems like it's going to rain.
naki-sou (naku + sou) --> be almost crying

http://www.maggiesensei.com/2010/09/20/r…
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Differences in and in i adj. and na adji., and te + iru and aru and base conj.?

Question:

Okay, so this would be my third or fourth japanese grammar question asked. I'm really puzzled on two things.
1. Why do people say the base te of a verb + iru and aru. For example, saying I have eaten - tabete-aru. and to say I am eating eating- tabete-iru. Isn't that equivualent to I eat- taberu (taberimasu) or I ate- tabeta (tabemashita) Why would I say one and not the other? Is the difference what I just explained? ( I eat-taberu vs. I am eating- tabete iru/ I ate- tabeta vs. I have eaten- tabeta aru)

2. Useing a i adjective and adding -kute is equivalent to useing and, except you don't use kute on the last I adjective. samukute (samui) atsui. cold and hot. What do I use for the na adjective? I have the i adjective down already.

Any help and awnsers are highly apprecitated. Thank you for your consideration when awnsering if you choose to awnser. If you give setences please translate it too, because I am just a beginner. Thank you!

Answer:

I thought you people were native Japanese...C'mon, now you should know this. There is a time where you can use -te aru.

It's used with verbs to suggest that a state has been completed.

Mado ga shimatte imasu.
The window is closed.= Is how we usually say that,

Mado ga akete arimasu.
The window is opened (implying somebody did it for some reason)

Other examples:
1. Asa ni naru to panyasan ha pan wo mise ni narabemasu.
Kyou mo oishii pan ga mise ni narande arimasu.

Every morning, the baker lines up bread in the bakery window.
Today too, lots of good bread is on display at the shop.

2. [pasupooto ha dou shita?]
[Kaban no naka ni irete arimasu. Nakusanai you ni, sakki iretan desu.]

Where's your passport?
It's in my bag (lit. It has been put in my bag) I put it in here a minute ago so I wouldn't lose it.

So this is a special usage to given a reason that something is in the state it is. (narande aru, shimete aru.) Note that it is only used with transitive verbs (verbs that can take a direct object.)

tabete aru normally wouldn't be said but I bet it can be used, but....it's best just to remember to use te iru. You will rarely if never use the grammar point I was talking about.

Wow, you need to slow down and stop asking so many questions.

In English, we say "I eat" vs. "I am eating" vs. "I have eaten" vs. "I ate" all of these have different meanings which I hope you understand.

Tabete aru is not something you will ever see, and it's not equivalent to the English you think it is.

taberu I eat (like a schedule or routine "I eat ice cream every day.")
tabeta I ate Mou tabeta ("I've already eaten.")
tabete iru I am eating. (like right now)

JUST LIKE ENGLISH
reg. form present tense--- something that you eat. Making a general statement. Oh? Celery? Yeah, I eat that. When I'm in Japan, I eat lots of sushi.

present. continuous: NOW right now I am eating cookies. There are cookie crumbs on my finger as I type because I am doing it NOW.

Natto Tabeta koto ga aru? Have you ever eaten- natto-?

This is like the past tense, but instead of asking a specific time in the past, it is asking from birth until right now, have you done something. Have you had this experience?

Have you seen the new Twilight movie? (Point in time is not important---whether or not you HAVE seen it is important.)
When did you see the Twilight movie. (HAVE has disappeared because we are asking about a specific point in time.)

How do you say "Hello from Yokosuka" and " Which highway leads to YOKO-YOKO Expressway?

Question:

I just need to know the hello from Yokosuka because im doing it for my Japanese class. and the highway one because i need to know for when my dad gets lost when driving.

Answer:

Yokosuka kara konnichiwa.

Dono kousoku ga yoko-yoko kosoku ni tsuujitemasuka?

In Japanese, both highways and expressways are "kousoku." No distinction.

When should I apply for a student visa to Japan?

Question:

I will be going to Japan for Grade 12 and I will be leaving early september and coming back late june. I was just wondering when I should apply for a visa? Also, how do you apply for health insurance and Alien Registration?
Thanks!

Answer:

EDIT:

Your school should be the one working with you on getting things like visa's in order. This is generally not something you do by yourself, but rather working with the school to accomplish.

Usually it can be up to six months in advance but again the school should be working with you on the matter of the exchange.

Health insurance is if you are staying in Japan for one year or longer, you will only be in Japan for only a few months. Alien Registration is done at the local city office of where you will be living in Japan. I assume you will have a host family and the school in Japan should be working with you on that aspect after you arrive in Japan.

Going to Japan. Tokyo or Osaka?

Question:

Going to Japan in a few years, and I want to know which is best...? Tokyo, or Osaka?
I want to go in the spring, so the cherry blossoms will be in bloom...And I hear Osaka has A LOT of cherry blossoms...And Tokyo is supposed to be a lot more expensive?
But I also want to be able to check out a lot of anime stores, which would be best for that?
Thanks!

Answer:

Both Tokyo and Osaka are amazing cities. I like Tokyo because there is so much to do and see and it is an adrenalin rush. Osaka is more relaxed and laid back and I love the cool people and amazing food. I also recommend you visit Kyoto which is a must see place in Japan with its amazing temples and shrines.

What is Tokyo, Japan like?

Question:

Answer:

A city :D

Could someone tell me what this website it is about please?

Question:

Like the name of it and what the general thing is about. I know some japanese but not enough to figure this out: http://www.ssp.co.jp/stac/#/japan

Thank you so much!

Answer:

Website of SS Pharmaceutical Comapany in Japan.

What does this name mean?

Question:

Well it's a Japanesse boy name,
name Comatashi, and is it a real name or not?
and what does it means?

thanks

Answer:

I don't think we have a name like that in Japan.

What are Japanese moving customs?

Question:

I know that it is traditional for the person moving into the neighborhood to present the new neighbors with soba, but is it outdated? I'm doing an essay for my Japanese class and read 「神様」("Kamisama") by 川上弘美 (Kawakami Hiromi) and it said that it is rarely done anymore, but I've seen it a lot in manga (yes I know that isn't exactly the best indicator of what's common in a culture). Are there any other moving customs in Japan? In the story the character who had moved (a bear) had passed out postcards to his new neighbors when he moved in along with the soba, but I had never heard anything about postcards before…

Answer:

Well, some people give some stuffs to new neighbors when he moved. But it does not have to be soba. It could be anything. And you don't need to give something all the time.

How do you say this in japanese?

Question:

how do you say "eternally epic!" in japanese?

Answer:

It depends on the topic, but I would say

歴史に残る傑作（大作）だ！
稀に見る傑作（大作）だ！
これまで見ないような大作（傑作）だ！
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How much money should i bring if i go to Tokyo Japan for 1 week or 2?

Question:

will i need like 1 million dollars just to go there for one week or how much do i need to bring to go to the beautiful city

Answer:

Theoretically you don't need to bring any money at all since you can use your debit/credit cards in many places to make withdrawals.
That said, you will need Japanese yen almost immediately after arrival in Japan.
Therefore, I suggest to exchange enough money in your hometown to have 30,000 yen upon arrival.
How much you will actually need depends on how long you stay, where you stay, if you pay for accommodation in advance or when you get there, what kinds and how many souvenirs you will buy, what type of food and which restaurants you eat at etc. etc.

So, in a nutshell, no one here can give you an accurate amount.

Has anybody been to Tokyo Japan alone?

Question:

if you been to tokyo japan alone how was your experience like? how is it over there? i want to go so bad

Answer:

I have been to Japan 7 times, and Tokyo 3 or 4 times.
I have always traveled by myself, and I prefer this since I don't have to discuss my travel plans with anyone, and I can change them on a whim if I want to.

It is an awesome city: crowded, but with quiet areas for relaxation and an incredibly efficient, and convenient train/subway system.
If you want to find out what it is like, just put 'Tokyo' into your browser and choose from all of the answers you will get.
You can also check websites such as http://www.jnto.go.jp or http://www.japan-guide.com

How is Tokyo Japan like?

Question:

how is Tokyo japan like? i plan on going there for like 1 week alone. Are people mean am i going to get beat up if i go there? i always wanted to go. i'm going alone.

Answer:

No one going to beat you up or anything, you need money because things there are really expensive.

Diference between high commission and embassey?

Question:

Answer:

They are essentially the same thing:

High Commissions are only used in COMMONWEALTH NATIONS that act as embassies in those countries. This is because ambassadors are exchanged between foreign countries, but since the beginning of the Commonwealth, member countries have nominally maintained that they are not foreign to one another.

The Queen of England is also the Queen of Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc etc. All the same person, why these countries want a foreign sovereign is beyond me... but anyway.

For example: UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND are some countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations (There are 54 countries in total that are part of the commonwealth of nations).

If Canada has a Embassy in Australia, instead of calling it an Embassy, it's called a "High Commission" and instead of calling the person incharge an Ambassador, they call it that person a "High Commissioner".

In all other countries, non-commonwealth nations, they call them Embassies and Ambassadors.

For example the Canadian Embassy in the United States is called an "Embassy" because the US is not part of the COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS.

It's just different wording used, but the services provided in a high commission and embassy are virtually the same thing, just different names.

Japan is not part of the Commonwealth of Nations so there are no High Commissions or High Commissioners in Japan, just Embassies and Ambassadors.

What do young couples in Tokyo like to do for (Christmas) dates?

Question:

Hi,

My friend and I will be spending a couple of days in Tokyo over Christmas. Since I've heard this is a big time for young couples in Japan, we thought we'd spend the day doing a kind of fake date thing just for a bit of fun. So we're curious to know what would be the usual Christmas date in Tokyo. What would couples do (apart from the obvious bedroom gymnastics) and where would they go?

Is there anything particularly special we should check out that happens in Tokyo at Christmas (ie: famous light displays or anything we might not know about)?

Answer:

Christmas is nearly on par with Valentine's Day for couples:
- Go to your local bakery and buy a Christmas Cake (they're small)
- Go to KFC and pick up a bucket/box o chicken (you may have to make a reservation!)
- Pick up a bottle of your favorite champagne.
- Go to a local concert hall to hear Beethovan's Ninth being played (or carols)

This has all come into being after I moved back to the US so I've not experienced this first hand, but apparently by all accounts it's true.

JAPANESE help please. no translators please?

Question:

how would you translate:

"Baby's Coming Home" and explain it? (in relation to this video?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI9HGeQdFq4

thanks!

Answer:

I would translate it as "Kimi ga kitto modoru" - literally "You'll sure be coming back." "Baby" is kind of difficult to translate literally, and Japanese songs usually use "kimi" (an affectionate form of "you") to refer to a girlfriend. As for explaining it, I don't think that's necessary - Japanese lovers break up/make up too!

Kyoto or nikko or kamakura in japan?

Question:

i am 20 and in tokyo now alone been here with a friend for the past 2 weeks but she flys back to australia tomorrow i have a week and a half left and want to see some of the beautiful country, but i am not sure which area to go to, and also that is　 not that expensive to get there by train./
2 minutes ago - 4 days left to answer.
Additional Details
i want to go to the country for about 5/6 days.
45 seconds ago

Answer:

Kyoto is a must see place in Japan and is easy to travel around. Kyoto attractions include Kiyomizudera; Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion); Ginkakuji (Temple of the Silver Pavilion); Nijo Castle; and Heian Shrine.

Read more about Kyoto here
http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2011…

I also recommend Nara, which is very close to Kyoto. Nara is an ancient capital and full of history and old temples.

http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/2010…

Kyoto or nikko or kamakura in japan?

Question:

Answer:

The closest to Tokyo would be Kamakura. It has a beautiful temple district as well as a large Daibutsu statue.
Nikko is the next closest and has many beautiful temples and shrines as well as many natural wonders such as Kegon falls and also many hiking trails.
Kyoto you will have to take a Shinkansen to go see which will cost around $200 round trip, but it is cram packed with the most amazing temples in Japan and is only half an hour train ride away from Osaka. Kyoto is my favorite city, but it will be expensive to visit.

If you want to stay in the Tokyo area, some other things you can do are:
In the Tokyo area:
Akihabara, of course, is the electronic district in Tokyo. You can spend all day just walking around there and looking.
You can visit the Meiji-jingu temple near Harajuku. Its a really nice temple and Harajuku itself is a pretty interesting place to walk around (especially on "cosplay" Sunday)
Ueno has a really nice park and zoo and also has a lot of museums to visit.
You can visit the Emperor's palace a few blocks from the Tokyo station, but they wont let you in the gates except 2 days a year, and they are in December and January. It has a pretty nice park, though and you can see some of the buildings over the wall a bit.
Tokyo Tower near Akabanebashi station is pretty cool as well as the Zoujoji temple near it.
The Kiyosumi garden was a really nice place to visit near the Kiyosumishirakawa station.
Shibuya for lots of shopping for clothes (in asian sizes), but really expensive.
Roppongi for the night life. It is foreigner central, plan to stay out all night if you go there and don't bring any credit cards. The clubs and bars like to rip you off if you do.

Outside the Tokyo area:
About a 30 min train ride south is Yokohama. There, you can visit Sakuragicho (Cosmo World) as well as the Landmark Tower.
About a 45 min train ride south on the Yokosuka JR line is the really old capitol of Japan, Kamakura. There, you will find a very large temple district as well as the largest sitting Buddha in Japan.
If you want to travel a couple hours west, you can go to Odawara and see the beautiful Odawara castle.
About a 45 min train ride northwest of Odawara is Hakone where there are some great Onsens (Hot Springs) and really nice gardens.
Another 30 min bus ride (or a series of trains and a gondalier) north of Hakone is Owakudane where the sulfer springs are at boiling temperature and is a really cool sight to see. They will even boil some eggs for you to eat in the springs.
You can also take a day trip to Nokogiri-yama. Details of this place and directions can be found at http://qjphotos.wordpress.com/2010/02/10…