Japanese Language
Image by: © Olivia Braddock
Dialect
During the time when the country was closed, people were not allowed to travel freely around the country. Each Han (a district) was ruled by a daimyo (lord). The people of the Satsuma Han (the origin of Satsuma oranges) now called Kagoshima prefecture or Ken, created their own dialect to protect themselves from outsiders. There was a time when using dialect was regarded as a shame but it is now recognised well and used for developing local culture.
Example of phrases in different dialects in different cities
English
Tokyo
Osaka
Kyoto
How are you?
ogenki desuka
moukarimakka
ogenkiyaroka
Thank you
arigatou
(maido) ookini*
ookini*
Welcome
youkoso
oideyasu,okosiyasu
okoshiyasu
I am sorry
gomennasai
sunmahen
Kannin
No good
dame
akan
akimahen
I am not coming
kimasen
kiyahen
kiihin
I am not going
ikimasen
ikehen
ikahen
Japanese words in common English usage
Some Japanese words found in the Oxford English Dictionary
Manga; a Japanese genre of cartoons, comic books, and animated films, having a science-fiction or fantasy theme and sometimes including violent or sexually explicit material. Origin: Japanese, from man 'indiscriminate' + ga 'picture'
AnimeJapanese film and television animation, typically having a science-fiction theme and sometimes including violent or explicitly sexual material.
Cosplay ; the practice of dressing up as a character from a film, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga or anime.
Kawaii; the quality of being cute, or items that are cute:even in a cosmopolitan city like Tokyo, kawaii is everywhere
J-pop; Japanese pop music
Otaku; a young person who is obsessed with computers or particular aspects of popular culture to the detriment of their social skills. Origin: Japanese, literally 'your house', alluding to the reluctance of such young people to leave the house
Hikikomori: the abnormal avoidance of social contact, typically by adolescent males; a person who avoids social contact. Origin: Japanese, literally 'staying indoors, (social) withdrawal'More words found in the Oxford English dictionary
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