Wk 2. Japanese Language and a bit of culture

Brief introduction from Emma Sokkel former co-ordinator for Gateway to Japan and now Dean of UCD school of Physics.

Maede Yurie Sensei

→ Nao sensei is from Tokyo, a busy city

→ Maede sensei is from the rural country of Japan

  • Anime Japan 2025 - It is currently running until March of this year.

  • Merchandise is mentioned; Sanrio, DBZ, Naruto, Nintendo, Pokemon, Anpanman

  • Japanese activities or culture = Kabuki, oriental tea ceremonies, origami, koto, Kimono/Yukata

  • Food = Sushi, Katsu curry, Mochi, Ramen

→ MAEDE YURIE PROFILE

  • Born in Kagoshima in kyushu, Very South of Japan.

  • Lecturer at TU Dublin, specialising in Business IT

  • Taught Japanese in USA from 1999 - 2001 and at UCD for part-time 2010 - 2018

→ 日本語文字 Japanese scripts

  • Hiragana = phonetic alphabet system, used for function words and japanese word if not written in kanji

  • Katakana = phonetic alphabet system. used for non-japanese word

  • Kanji = Chinese characters. Each character has a meaning

  • Rooma-ji = a way of writing Japanese in Roman alphabet

→ 発音 Hatsuon Pronunciation

  • Numerous phonemes, but less than English. Many homonyms in Japanese e.g.

    • koi (恋 love、鯉 carp、濃い dark、故意 intentional)

    • ishi (意志 will、遺志 last will、医師 doctor、石 stone)

    • kami (髪 hair、紙 paper、神 god)

  • Accent is not the stress difference (strong - weak) but the pitch can be different (high-low)

  • Maede sensei is teaching the business related aspects for using the Japanese language, quite useful.

→ Grammatical model

A wa B desu.

A は B です

→ 文法 Bumpoo - Grammar

Subject Object Verb = Japanese
vs
Subject Verb Object = English

noun (no gender) → thank god

particle (important): o, ni, to, e, kara, made etc
e.g. watashi wa ku ji kara go ji made hatarakimasu.
I work from 9 to 5.

Hatarakimasu = formal language verb of to work.

→ ジブリポスター (jiburi posutaa)

Ghibli poster

→ Horizontal & Vertical presentation

  • Traditional japanese is written and read from up to down, as well as reading a book from right to left.

→ Word / character count

English = Words 192, characters = 1,180

Japanese = Words = 502, characters = 504

Part 2 of the lecture → 1 hour mark

Japanese culture & communication strategy

→ High-context culture

  • Japan’s high context culture

  • Ireland can either be right in the middle or a bit higher in context.

→ Bowing & Smiling are important in business

→ Exchanging Me e shi

  • Manners of exchanging business/name cards is highly valued.

  • When meeting for the first time in business, it is proper to exchange each others name cards.

→ Addressing people

  • -san (honorific suffix ‘san’ when addressing any gender)

  • -sensei (Doctor, teacher and politician)

  • -shushoo (prime minister)

  • -buchoo (manager)

  • -kaichou (section chief)

→ Surname first and then the first name. In public, Japanese people call each other with their surname + san or sensei

  • マーティンさん Martin san (Mr Martin)

  • マーティン首相 Martin shusoo (Prime Minister Martin)

→ Individual vs Group

  • Work achieved by the team is more appreciated than that by individuals

  • Leader - Sub leader, manager, staffs who do the actual work

→ Drinking rules

  • When drinking alcoholic beverages, it is customary to serve each other rather pouring your own beverage.

  • Do not start drinking until everybody at the table is served and the glasses are raised for a drinking salute which is ‘‘kampai’’

Arigatou → used by senior (older) person to thank the younger person

Sumimasen → used by the junior (younger) person to thank the older person

→ Table manner

  • blowing your nose in public is considered bad manners, especially at the table

  • Burping is completely fine, sign of satisfaction

  • Tipping is not necessary

  • When eating a shared dish, always move the food to your own personal dish you are provided with. As well using the end of your chopsticks or with the serving chopstick you are provided with.

  • Never plant your chopstick in a bed of rice, right in the middle. It is the sign of a dead person.

→ very useful phrase

  • When typing a business email the phrase

  • Osewani natteimasu お世話になっ
    ています。

    • Can be used as a way of thanking them for taking care of you, even though it can be the first time you make an email to them.