Can you believe there is a sign like this being displayed in a store in Osaka, the second largest city in Japan where millions of people live? Believe it! It’s something that happens all the time, maybe not so foul, but the misuse of English is prevalent in all facets of literary use throughout Japan.

In this day and age, when computers and electronic dictionaries are something most have access to, you’d think those wishing to use English would get it correct. That, however, is not the outcome, no matter what their approach. They still get it wrong; so much it has become a sort of cult for foreigners!

Foreigners living, working and/or traveling in Japan cannot go a day without seeing some sort of English faux pas. Many foreigners make it a mission to seek out bad English. Once they find it, they post their findings to the web. Many blogs and websites around the world have been created by native English speakers to display strangely written English on T-shirts, signs, billboards or other forms of English print. It’s amazing how much there is out there! It’s even funnier when you take into consideration the huge number of foreigners that now live in Japan who can provide Japanese with English support if they were ever given the chance.

Most of the grammar mistakes come from people who think they have a good enough grasp of the language to do it on their own. Some might consider them idiots while others might consider them genius, if you taken into consideration the amount of exposure they get from foreigners posting their mistakes. Just look at how much exposure the store in Shinsaibashi is getting as their sale campaign is being splashed across the web on Facebook and websites like this one.

Another reason people in Japan make grammar mistakes, aside from the fact they don’t hire out foreigners to edit their works, is they take words straight from their dictionaries and use them thinking that because their dictionary said it means what they want to say in Japanese that it can be used in English just the same way. Unfortunately, this does not apply to all or most words the English language. Just look at the different words in a Thesaurus and you’ll see how words may be similar in meaning, but are used in different ways at different times. And some words, if used in conjunction with other words, may take on a whole different meaning.

Japanese people would do well to hire out foreigners to edit their English, especially since so many of them now live in the country and work in the English industry. But then again, they might not get as much exposure if their English stopped being funny!

There really isn’t much to say except, Kampai! Hope you last longer than your predecessor!

Prime Minister, Naoto Kan

KIX uses the screen to display videos introducing visitors to the airport giving them guidance how to get around the airport along with information on sightseeing spots in the Kansai area.

The H1N1 virus is the culprit. It’s taking its toll on the Japanese students. But who’s complaining? The students aren’t. That’s for sure. What student doesn’t enjoy a day off from school.

Week after week, students are getting days off from school. This week it’s the 2nd grade class out for 2 or 3 days. Last week it was the 5th grade class. Before that it was another grade out. Groups of students are being hit one by one around the country. Public and private schools are canceling classes as levels of students sick with the virus reach more than 30%. The H1N1 virus is so widespread the education system is trying to keep entire schools from being victims.

While children seem to be getting the brunt end of the virus, it is not just a virus for kids. Adults can contract the virus just as well, and education officials know this. Teachers need a break from all the sick students traipsing the halls.

Tags: H1N1, H1N1 virus, Japan, Japanese, viruses, japan school system, japanese school system, holidays, days off

Yesterday, there were so many shoppers, the streets leading to the store were backed up for blocks. Inside the store was so packed with people, it was difficult maneuvering carts. Shoppers were literally elbow to elbow on both sides of the cart.

Whatever the reason, whether it is from the large number of shoppers or the economy, prices at Costco in some areas have dropped.

Sausages, cheese, and coffees are down, while meats are up. Wine and other alcoholic beverages have stayed the same.

Thete were so many shoppers pushing their carts into me from behind one after another, today the backs of my heels are sore!

The improv group performs short sketches in English and Japanese.

There is a one-drink minimum requirement for those who attend the comedy.

Call (06)6536-5369 for more information.

Heavy thunderstorms in Tokyo caused flooding in rural Shinjuku and surrounding areas. People were stranded in their cars and some even had to abandon their cars otherwise they would possibly have drowned. One woman showed cameramen her car in an underground tunnel. Her car had water up to the roof.

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In Kobe, heavy rains caused several city workers who were in manholes to be washed away downstream. One man survived escaping death by grasping a handle near another manhole as he was being washed downstream.

Koshien stadium paused high school baseball games going on during the annual high school baseball tournament because of heavy rains and lightning. The games later continued.

People say it is the most lightning they’ve ever seen in the Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. People on the streets stop and stare into the dark thunderclouds to watch the light displays crackling through the sky in fear and awe.

The Keihan and Hankyu railways have had many delayed trains, something that is unusual in Japanese train systems, because of heavy rain and power outages in Osaka and Kyoto. Train passengers were caught in the storms standing on platforms with no place to go as they waited for the next train. It took me an extra thirty minutes on my train ride home from Nara because of train delays.

Cold and warm air masses have been looming over Japan for the past week causing the turbulent weather, and more heavy rain and thunderstorms are predicted. If you are traveling to Japan, you may want to buy an umbrella when you arrive along with some rainboots.

A river rose in less than a minute in Kobe and washed several children and adults away to their death. So be careful not to be around any rivers or valleys during rainstorms because flash flooding happens in an instant and even the most prepared can be caught offguard.

Anyone interested in joining the free lessons should contact the YMCA in order to get into the class. All participants are required to purchase a textbook.

Call (078) 241-7204 to register.

Applications are being accepted and placement interviews will be held on April 2 from 7pm.

Reservations are required for interviews.

Call (06) 6773-8989 for more information.

Japanese and American baseball fields look similar, but are not. American fields are standardized and Japanese fields are smaller and irregularly shaped. Almost all Japanese infields are dirt compared to American infields, which are all either well-groomed grass or Astroturf.

Something I consider a huge contrast and insight into Japanese priorities and way of life, is if two teams are in a tie the game doesn’t go until one team wins. They stop the game around 10pm or 10:30 and the game ends in a tie. The game tonight ended 6-6 in the 12th. This shows where Japanese priorities lie not in competition and being the winner, but in the importance in getting home. If the ballgame ends after the trains have shut down, no one would be able to get home.

Another difference most people can imagine without anyone even mentioning it is food. American baseball food consists of popcorn, hotdogs, pizza, ice cream, cokes and beer, unless you opt for chicken and sushi that has recently come to American baseball. As for Japanese baseball food, you’ll find sushi, udon, and ramen noodles, okonomiyaki (Japanese vegetable pancakes), takoyaki (similar to okonomiyaki shaped into balls and eaten with toothpicks), pizza and hotdogs. Actually, each field has a little different variety of foods, but those are the basic ones.

Japanese and American players will probably never mirror one another as long as each keeps keep their traditions and cultures. However, each can learn a little from one another to better the sport. Japanese players seem to be better sportsmen as far as politeness is concerned. You’ll hardly ever see a player act disrespectful to another player and if a poor call has been made, officials and managers will discuss it for lengthy periods of time to find a happy medium that everyone can be satisfied with without causing someone to lose face. I wouldn’t go so far as to say American players should be this way or treat bad calls in this manner, but players could tone down the steroid use a little and maybe tempers would fly out of control so quickly. On the other hand, Japanese coaches could learn to take a few more chances during the game instead of playing it so safely, a wellknown approach most Japanese coaches take.

If you are a foreigner and have grown up watching and playing American baseball, you should make it a priority to go to a Japanese baseball game for the experience. Equally, most Japanese baseball fans should go to an American baseball game to get a taste of baseball American style. Japanese baseball and American baseball are both fun to watch and participate in, but both fans will probably go away looking forward to their native style of baseball. I do.