Why are anime so important for you? – Tell me, Japanese people! Vol. 12

Questions from tourists

2017-07-25 INTERVIEWS

Produced by Isao Tokuhashi
Edited by Daniel Penso
Mail to: info@myeyestokyo.com

 

Odaiba

A large artificial island in Tokyo Bay. It was initially built for defensive purposes in the 1850s, dramatically expanded during the late 20th century as a seaport district, and has developed since the 1990s into a major commercial, residential and leisure area.
*Odaiba. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 25, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odaiba

日本語

 

Couple from Dubai

This is my 2nd trip to Japan and she came here for the first time. We’ve been here for three days and will be in Japan for twelve days in total. We’ll visit Osaka and Kyoto, then we’ll be back to Tokyo.

We’re staying at a hotel nearby because we love the waterfront view with the Rainbow Bridge.

We love Japanese food, such as seafood, sushi and bread. Japanese bread is soft and fresh.

Question: Why are most of people wearing masks?

 

Brothers from France

“We’re from Paris. I (Man pictured right) have been around here a couple of times because I‘ve been in Tokyo for three months. I’m working at a chemical company in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture as a research intern.
I like Japanese people because they are always nice, smiling and polite. And Japanese food is awesome.
We’ll go to Downtown Tokyo such as Shinjuku, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shibuya Crossing and museums in Ueno.”

“I (Man pictured left) am his brother and actually I’m working in Shanghai, China. I took a 4-day off so I came here to visit him. This is my first trip to Japan. As he said, people are very nice and polite.”

Question: Why are anime so important for you?

 

Man from S. Korea

Japan is very close to my country. It takes only one hour and half by airplane and air tickets are cheap so I came here from Seoul. Originally, I’m from Busan. I was an English teacher for middle school students in S. Korea. I was teaching them English grammar and reading for their high school entrance exams.

I love so many Japanese things. Captain Tsubasa, Nodame Cantabile, ramen (I tried cold curry ramen in Osaka!) and so on.

This is my first trip to Japan. I’ve been here for six weeks and will be in Japan ten more days. I took a long vacation before changing my career. Now, I’m planning to open my own guesthouse in Seoul. Please come stay with us!

Question: Why are so many security guards in Japan?

 

Couple from Russia

We’ve been in Japan for eight months for business. We love shrines and temples in Japan. We also like the nature here. There are many different kinds of flowers in Japan.

Tokyo presents a different face hour to hour and it’s more interesting in the evening. Also, we love the weather in Japan because it’s cold even now in Russia. It’s comfortable for us now here in Japan.

…Sorry, we should go now!

 

Men from India

This is our first trip to Japan. We’ve been here for five days to attend a gift show called “GIFTEX” held at Tokyo Big Sight. We went there in order to promote our products. We are from the Indian government.

I (Man pictured left) have heard that Japanese people are very disciplined. And actually they are very disciplined. I’m not sure if it’s true or not, but we found that. People are not bothering each other – that’s the best part of Japan. Also, Japan is very clean. Also, you’re transportation systems are very good.

Japanese people are very honest. I lost my glasses somewhere in Tokyo. I brought the glasses to mind and went back there. Amazingly, those were still there and nobody took them away! So my impression of Japanese people is always very good. I love this country and people in Japan!

Question: Why are Japanese people so shy?

 

Family from New Zealand

Mom: We came here from Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, last night.

Son: I live in Japan so I went to Narita Airport to pick them up. I came to Tokyo from Kansai a day early because I wanted to watch professional wrestling at Korakuen Hall. It’s the most famous arena in Japan for watching wrestling!

Mom: He always loves wrestling… Anyway, we will stay in Japan for three weeks and go to some places in Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima.
I didn’t expect that Tokyo is so green. On the other hand, we expected those many people in the city because New Zealand is very quiet and peaceful. It was crowded last night on the train getting off at Shinjuku. But Japan is really lovely. We really like it so far.
And we are looking forward to eating a lot of Japanese food. Of course there are a lot of sushi restaurants in Wellington, but it’s not good.

Son: It’s not nigiri-zushi (hand-rolled sushi). They serve maki-zushi (rolled sushi). And they have no squid and shrimp for ingredients. They have teriyaki chicken instead!

Mom: So we like to have non-Western Japanese food.

Son: I think the first of all where you should go is a kaiten-zushi (conveyer-belt sushi bar) because you can choose many kinds of sushi at a reasonable price. If you really like sushi, then you can go to an expensive one.

Mom: We will try that!

(One of interviewers: Your son will treat you!)

Mom: That’s a good idea!

Son: OK, we’ll definitely go to kaiten-zushi!

Question: Why is green called blue with apples and traffic lights?

 

Thank you very much for your cooperation!

…Who wants to ask the next question?

 

Odaiba

*Interviews by Bright Park, Kaori Joko, Kiwako Agake, Sachiko Yamaji
*Photos by Alisa Sanada

 

Related Articles

Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.1 (Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.2 (Haneda Airport)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.3 (Japan Traditional Crafts Aoyama Square)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.4 (Meiji Jingu Shrine)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.5 (Ginza)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.6 (Akihabara)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.7 (Samurai Armor Photo Studio)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.8 (Asakusa)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.9 (Shinjuku Gyoen National Park)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.10 (Imperial Palace)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.11 (Harajuku)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.13 (Ueno Park)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.14 (Roppongi Hills)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.15 (Shibuya)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.16 (Yokohama)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.17 (Shinjuku)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.18 (Shibuya Hotel EN)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.19 (Shinjuku Gyoen National Park)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.20 (Yanesen)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.21 (Haneda Airport)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.22 (Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.23 (Rikugi-en Garden, Bunkyo-ku)
Tell me, Japanese people! Vol.24 (Hamarikyu Gardens, Chuo-ku)

 

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