Assembler trip to Tokyo????

You can get around ok.

Reading katakana is the most important thing, especially since a lot of menus seem to be in katakana (i.e. Sapporo Beer Garden ^_^)

So long as you can ask where things are (i.e. gamu sentaa wa doko desu ka?), say "Sumimasen" every eight seconds, and say thank you, etc.., you'll be fine for just a vacation.

Also, just because someone can't converse in english with you doesn't mean that they won't understand written english. You'll have much better luck if you write questions down. Not that everyone will be able to read it or anything, but it helps.

I helped some people with their English homework when I was there, pretty cool stuff. They helped me understand what the hell "de gozaru" means, and how to use it (Kenshin reference), lol.

 

:smt043 de gozaru :smt043 Nobody says that. It's like a Ninja word of something. It means "is" I guess. Pretty much the same as "desu" which is what everyone uses. Still, it would be very funny to see peoples reactions when a non Japanese says "-------de gozaru".

Yakumo

 

Yeah, it's a really old kansai ben.

 

Kansai-ben? Really old?
Dude, they say it every day.

Anyone ever said "Ohayou gozaimasu or Arigatou gozaimasu.

degozaru = polite form of da (desu).
Go to a bank, and you'll hear it more than you want. I think the reason Yakumo said it's a ninja word is b/c of Hattori-kun. He always says that instead of desu.

 

Yes, that's right. My Japanese isn't as hot as Gaijin Punch's Japanese but still I wouldn't use that word in everyday speech ;-)

Yakumo

 

If it counts for anything, they certainly looked at me like I was from Mars when I asked about it.

 

Oops I was talking about Gozario (what Kenshin says) Of course gozaru is still used (And I know people still live in Osaka ;P)

 

Can't say I'm up to date w/ Kenshin.

On a study abroad some 8 years ago (eeeek!) I had the balls to answer my host families phone one time, and had to use the queer "de gozaimasu". The other line was my friend on a similar trip, laughing his balls off.

 

BUMP

Anyone still going?

 

Damn i would love to! but it's just impossible for me, at that time anyway..

 

Summer of 2006 maybe ;-)

 

Really? Because thats when I am hoping to visit Japan again Trying to move into a new flat this summer and having trouble securing a new job still so money is tight/non-existant.....but I plan to save and return to Japan in 2006

 

Yeah, if funds permit that's definitely on my list. Probably going back to Ichikawa again, would be cool to meet up with some assemblists that's for sure

 

Might join you guys.... if my gf lets me!

 

When are you thinking of going Anti? I can get a long weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun, mon) off work. It would be cool to havea few beers and do some gaming as well as shopping

Yakumo

 

My mother is ill, so all my vacation time is being spent on the mainland. A lot easier to do from Hawaii than Japan, so I'm not quit as bitter about leaving now. Gonna have to do an in-laws trip at one point I suppose.

 

I'd love to go, but it would be kind of strange. I'd be saggin my pants mackin on some of them Japanese chicks.

Plus I don't think my parents would be very fond of me going to another country with a bunch of guys I met on the internet.....

 

You would have to wait in line.

How do you think romances get started?

 

:smt043gaijin,

anyway, the language barrier is another thing versus me, something that is chainning me, sadly. i understand everything said i good english with ease, but as of me speaking english....that's another story mates!

 

Well, I did a few years of french so I could brush up on it before we go and I could be a very bad translator Now you have no excuse!