Basic phrases
Thank you – Arigato
Hello – Konnichiwa
How are you? – O-Genki?
Good morning – Ohayo
I don’t understand – Wa kari masen
Yes – Hai
How much – Ikura desuka?
See you again – Ja matta
WOW! – SUGOI!
I love you – I shita ryu
No problemo – Daijobu
Tunggu sat – Chotto Matte Kudasai
Good night (only for bidding good night) – Oyasu minasai
What’s your name? – O’nama-e wa nan desuka?
My name is – Wata shi wa (your name) desu
Hotel – Hoteru
Toilet – Otearai
Train – Densha
Some tips
1. If you have to speak in BM, never say mangkuk (means vagina) or cincin (means penis) out loud. U may smile when thay say ‘Sempuki’ (Ceiling Fan)
2. Never swear to an old Japanese man in Malay, they might just retort with Haaa…Fotong Kapara Mau Ka!!! He might be the bloke who took your grandad’s beloved Raleigh bicycle in Kota Bahru and brought it all the way to Singapore way back in 1941.
3. Don’t bother waking up at dawn anticipating for the sunrise…. It’s the same everywhere even if they are proud to be labeled ‘The land of the rising sun’
4. If you are eating anything soupy, it is good manners to slurp noisily
5. If you happen to use a Japanese toilet, squat facing the dome i.e. Sydney Opera House. Allow me to borrow the following snippet from Lonely Planet : Japan...
"In Japan you will come across both Western style toilets and Asian squat toilets. When you are compelled to squat, the correct position is facing the hood, away from the door. This is the opposite to squat toilets in most other places in Asia. Make sure the contents of your pockets don't spill out. Toilet paper isn't always provided so carry tissues with you."
6. If u are treated to a sushi/ sashimi and beer lunch, make sure u brush your teeth after lunch (A common practice in Japan) as your breath WILL smell like Broccoli and Beans infused fart… now that’s what I call talking shit!
7. Taxi is expensive so avoid at all cost unless you are prepared to swipe your credit card (yup, cabbie accepts cards) and learn the hard way hw much it costs
8. Practice bowing (No eye contact please, only Samurai bow looking up due to lack of trust for the other guy…U donna watch outa, I choppa yor head ). You can shake hands but imagine shaking 1000 pair of hands! Might as well bow once to the crowd and get it over with. That’s why politicians in Japan are still active in their 90’s…. they don’t have to shake hands. Why do we have to kow-tow to politicians in the first place?? We are the ones who put them where they are… they should kow-tow to us-lah maaa
9. Get a good tourist map as sometimes it is nicer/ easier/ closer to explore on foot. Its one of the safest places to go… at any hour of the day.
10. Don’t be surprised if u see practically new TV’s Hi-Fi, electrical gadgets even motorbikes left by the roadside with boxes and all with a note that says ‘Gomi’ which means trash. Its free for the taking because they could afford an upgrade one but can’t afford to store space in their homes. The accommodations are really tiny.
11. Check out the vending machines, which sell from everything under the sun from drinks to magazines to toiletries even pornos….anything but the kitchen sink…but then again….
12. Japanese don’t bargain …. Shopkeepers don’t know how to react to the technique of your average bargain hunting Mak Temah from the Pasar Minggu . It’s like trying to ask for a 20% discount at McDonalds in Bangsar…. You’ll be looked upon like an Incompetent Nincompoop Redneck from the outback.
13. For techies and Mr Gadgets, ‘Akihabara’ would spell heaven to them. What u see as being the latest gizmos today in KL is piled up at the bargain corner…dirt cheap!
14. By normal standards majority of things is expensive in Japan but I would say for the cheapest shopping by Japanese standards, it would have to be at ‘Bakarucho Yokoyama’. It’s a wholesale area for Japanese souvenirs but look for non-wholesale shop.
15. If you happen to be in ‘Shinjuku’ which is one of the happening areas of Tokyo, avoid eye contact with men with really short hair (No 1 crew cut) with tattoos and dress smart to avoid any animosity. They are the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia!
16. For flea markets, you can pay a visit to Shibuya
17. For night life – Roponggi
18. For high end shopping, its Ginza the equivalent to Rodeo Drive
19. Try at least once the cheapest food in Tokyo ‘Soba’ from the Soba stand scattered all over. Everybody eats standing up..rush..rush..rush. U can tell the regular patrons because they have grey teeth. Due to the slurping of piping hot soup…amazing. Tip: Check out the ones with a queue Soba Stand at Gotanda Station (Yamanote Line). Tempura and Okonomiyaki is also a must.
20. Wait for weekends…. Most probably they’d be some kind of Shinto festival somewhere in the streets of Tokyo itself. A must, Akihabara, Asakusa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ropponggi, Ginza, Yokohama and Chiyoda-ku
21. Get on the subway during rush-hour….its Hell but what an experience! They even employ subways staff to push & squeeze people in to a pulp. Nobody complaints like in Malaysia or cries like in the Nazi gas chambers. If treated as such in Malaysia I’m sure I’d hear a common ‘Hoi apa tolak-tolak! Kepala Hotak Bapak Kau!!
Gambarimasu !!
*thanks to my dearest who helped me with the above.
