'Nuff Said

Japanese Phrase Book

Japanese For Beginers

Hello.

こんにちは。　Konnichiwa. (kon-nee-chee-WAH)

How are you?

お元気ですか。　O-genki desu ka? (oh-GEN-kee dess-KAH?)

Fine, thank you.

元気です。　Genki desu. (GEN-kee dess)

What is your name?

お名前は何ですか。 O-namae wa nan desu ka?　(oh-NAH-mah-eh wah NAHN dess-KAH?)

My name is ____ .

私の名前は ____ です。 Watashi no namae wa ____ desu. (wah-TAH-shee no nah-mah-eh wa ____ dess)

Nice to meet you.

始めまして。　Hajimemashite. (hah-jee-meh-MOSH-teh)

Please. (request)

お願いします。　Onegai shimasu. (oh-neh-gigh shee-moss)

Please. (offer)

どうぞ。 Dōzo. (DOH-zo)

Thank you.

どうもありがとう。 Dōmo arigatō. (doh-moh ah-ree-GAH-toh)

You're welcome.

どういたしまして。 Dō itashi mashite. (doh EE-tah-shee mosh-teh)

Yes.

はい。 Hai. (HIGH)

No.

いいえ。 Iie. (EE-eh)

Excuse me.

すみません。 Sumimasen. (soo-mee-mah-sen)

I'm sorry.

御免なさい。 Gomen-nasai. (goh-men-nah-sigh)

Goodbye. (long-term)

さようなら。 Sayōnara. (sa-YOH-nah-rah)

Goodbye. (informal)

それでは。 Sore dewa. (SOH-reh deh-wah)

I can't speak Japanese [well].

日本語を「よく」話せません。 Nihongo o [yoku] hanasemasen. (nee-hohn-goh gah [yo-koo] hah-nah-seh-mah-sen)

Do you speak English?

英語を話せますか。 Eigo o hanasemasuka? (AY-goh oh hah-nah-seh-moss-KAH?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

だれか英語を話せますか。 Dareka eigo o hanasemasuka? (dah-reh-kah AY-goh oh hah-nah-seh-moss-KAH?)

Gotta say it!

Alright Tosh, gotta Toshiba!

I didn't have enough posts

Do you think Pete just likes writing, they are some long posts. Mabey Scott should be more like Pete - Na!

More Railpass nonsence

I have thought that rather than 21days Rail Pass which we wouldnt use at least 3 days of is a waste of money. As we are going for 18days two of them gonna be flying, i suggest that we get the 14 day option leaving us one day in tokyo when we arrive when we deff wont need trains and one day when we get back.

I know that we want to go to Yokohama while in tokyo, but we can either do that on the 2nd day there or we can pay probably a pitiful amount to take a return

Using Petes aforementioned Japan Center i have found 14day tickets for £230 which would save us about £70 which we could spend on kareok bars or geisha girls!

Pete's Tuppence Worth

Hey I'm Pete, I'll be with Scott throughout this entire adventure thing!

Yeah the confirmations have been received. Its official, we're going to Japan! And now our preparations shall begin! Even though we have five months to prepare ourselves we still have a lot to do!





First things first we had to sort out our guide books. I plumped for the Lonely Planet Guide to Japan which is the latest and most up to date one at the moment. Be aware though that Lonely Planet's sworn enemy (Rough Guides) might release a more up to date guide before September. Currently Amazon are doing a deal where you can get the Lonely Planet guide to Japan and Tokyo for a cheaper bundle price plus free delivery, so I went for that.

The next thing to get is a Japan Rail Pass. As you might (or indeed might not) know, Japan has one of the fastest, punctual and comprehensive rail networks in the world.

However it can be a tad bit expensive if you're trekking across the country. By getting a rail pass we can save lots of money for buying by getting a pre paid pass. For example to buy a seven day pass costs just as much as a return trip to Kyoto from Tokyo.

Finally we had to plan a route. After much too-ing and thro-ing we managed to work out a basic route for us to take in our 18 days in the Orient...

Yes yes I know it looks pretty pants. I'm the guy on the right and Scott is the one on the left. As you can see we intend to make our way to Nagasaki. There is indeed method to our madness. You see we're on the trail of Victorian Scot and entrepreneur Thomas Glover!

A brief history. Glover was born and raised in Fraserburgh, Scotland and when he grew up joined one of the many trading companies that was bringing wealth to Scotland.

He initially landed in Nagasaki and worked for a company that bought and sold Japanese Green Tea. Soon though he had founded his own firm which bought and sold Gunpowder and arms to the Japanese during various rebellions in Japan during the 1860s.

After helping with the fall of the Feudal Tokogawa Shogunate, he had cordial relations with the new government and thus secured himself a position to trade with the Japanese. He secured contracts to build Japan's first western style warships, imported trains and created the infrastructure for Japan's Industrial revolution. In short it is thanks to him that Japan is a global economic powerhouse. If it wasn't for him multinationals such as Mitsubishi Corporation would have never existed.

Thus we felt as students in Aberdeen that it would be great if we could trace the roots of Thomas Glover through Japan, see, ride and experience the things that he brought to this country and see for ourselves the legacy of his entrepreneurial spirit.

More news and plans later!

Booked Tickets

Pete and I have booked our tickets to the wonderfull island of Japan, and shall be winging our way there on September the eighth, in the year of our Lord two thousand and six.
Die - \(*0* )/-))))))o /(+_+)/ -Aaaaghh