Sunday 8 February 2009

Early Impressions of Japan














Ever since I got here I noticed how Japan like to use english in their adds and in their clothes. It is a well known fact that Japan is very fascinated of the western culture. Even though there are a lot of English words in the language, that been "Japanized" (a word that is english but been adapted to Japanese pronunciation). For an example the word beer becomes birru, or Sweden becomes Sueeden, which is very funny from my point of view (pretty much ever since I got here, I tell people I'm from Sweden, and got the same reaction every time. Shaking their heads and telling me that they don't know where it is. Then I say Suuuuueeeeeden, then everybody response with the word sugoi!). I find it interesting how a lot of japanese people wear clothes with English words without knowing what the real meaning is about. As long as the clothes have some English words that sounds catchy. English is everywhere, especially in the katakana and adds. On the picture above you can see a t-shirt my friend bought in a store.This is a funny example how there's a sentence that makes no sense what so ever. But still, there are more examples.

Here is another example where the sentence gets to confusing. The following sentence can be read under the SALE sign. For the sake of irreplacable persons, we'll dramatize a specially preserved extravagance. I have read that sentence so many times, but I can still not figure out what this sentence actually means. Still, my experience in Japan has just begun, who knows, when I am back in Sweden I will probably going to pronounce Sweden as Suuuudeeen, and bottle as botterru. More updates soon!
To be continued, or should I say, Toru beru contiinuuredu.
/Quang

1 comment:

visual gonthros said...

Yes, the use of English, Engrish and katakana can be confusing/amusing to a newcomer to Japan or even to someone who has been here a long time.