I didn't do much Thanksgiving celebrating when I first came to Japan. For one, it is an American holiday and I was the only one in our family that had any memories of it (and we didn't even have close relatives in California when I lived at home). But after becoming friends with Marlene's family we have had a somewhat regular Thanksgiving. Marlene's husband had spent time in America (unlike Tetsu) and so he has good memories of celebrating Thanksgiving. Marlene also has an American kitchen in her house with an oven large enough to roast a turkey (I can make 12 cookies at a time in my oven/microwave) and so if any celebrating is to be done, Thanksgiving is held at Marlene's house! Alas this year Thanksgiving has been shelved or at least postponed...
Tetsu was off in Morioka for nearly a week... Marlene and husband went to an Onsen the same week... and her husband is traveling this week also. Their son and wife who live in Tokyo don't feel comfortable traveling at this time.... Another set of friends who also are included have had members traveling out of the prefecture... All-in-all, except for me, there have been too many ways for us to come into contact with Covid-19 and the numbers of Covid cases are increasing alarmingly. We will all hunker down in our homes and think about the possibilities next month... Hah!
So... How about a Japanese lesson on saying "Thank you"? I was walking towards the crosswalk this morning when I crossed paths with a jogger. As I went by him I said "Good morning." and he said "Otsukaresamadesu". And that got me thinking about how we say thank you in Japan.
Maybe the term you have heard the most if you have heard any Japanese at all is: "Arigato." It means "Thank you". But Japanese isn't that simple! Depending on to whom you are speaking the language and the words change! I might say "Arigato" to a child who brings me something but I'll say "Doumo Arigato" to someone maybe my age, or maybe after I've made a request. "Doumo" alone is a bit glib sort of like "thanks" and if Tetsu brings me a coffee while I'm busy doing something else I might only get a "Doumo" in. Actually "Doumo Arigato Gozaimasu" is the most polite form and even that "gozaimasu" (which is present tense) can be changed to "Gozaimashita" if one is thanking someone for something in the past.
Doumo
Arigato
Doumo Arigato
Domo Arigato Gozaimasu.
Ah! But the language changes again depending on where you are! If I am at a workplace then I might say to someone "Otsukaresama" which is what the jogger said to me. It means that he is thanking me for doing my job, (he could tell because I was wearing a uniform) and it literally means "thanks for your tiredness", I guess recognizing the effort.
"Sumimasen" is another phrase that I actually use quite a lot. It can also be used for apologizing as it means "I'm sorry" but it can be used for thanking someone when the nuance is "Thank you for your help, I'm sorry I've taken up your time."
There is a whole other set of vocabulary depending on dialects in Japan though the only one I am half familiar with (I hear it on TV) is "Okini" which is the way "Thank you" is said in the central part of Japan. I'm pretty sure that each area of Japan has a different way of expressing gratitude and one learns it as one lives in the area...
It can get confusing.
Thank you for visiting my blog again today.
Doumo Arigato Gozaimasu! with a smile and a low bow included!
I remember saying some of those words when our Japanese student was living with us, and again when her Mum came to visit for 5 days, she thanked Hugh and myself so many times, most of all for driving Mayumi to school each morning. We are thankful for living where we are. for family ,for friends world wide.
ReplyDeleteDoi tashi mashite. Kiyoumibukai burogu posto wo kaite kurete arigatou.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU. I am grateful to be able to read all your interesting blog posts. Keep up the good work, Tanya.
Very interesting - so many different ways to say "thankyou". When I used to go shopping at our large shopping centres and had lunch or a cuppa in the food section, if someone came to clean down my table, I always tried to say "thanks for your hard work" because it seemed such a menial task. I haven't been to a large shopping mall for months, because of COVID but thankfully restrictions are slowly easing in Australia. I live in New South Wales so restrictions haven't been too bad - but the poor Victorians, to the south of us, were on very hard lockdown for 4 months. Now they have not had a COVID case for 26 days (praise God) so things are looking up for them. Saw on the news that Japan was having a surge of Corona cases - stay safe. It must be terrible in the US, Brazil and Europe are getting it tough too, especially those heading in to Winter. I don't hear much about the African Continent. Closer to us in New Zealand, they are doing well too. Stay safe!!!
ReplyDeleteTanya, thank you so much for sharing part of your life with me (and other blog readers). I appreciate your outlook and your kindnesses.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Thanksgiving, however you celebrate this year.
Be well, my friend.
Thank you Tanya for explaining to us. I was taught manners as a child, and I always say thank you when I am out and about. Sadly I feel the words of “thank you” have diminished from our Australian language. I don’t often hear it being said these days. I held a door open for a family, no acknowledgment.... I was asked to pass something to a young man at the supermarket, no “thanks”.... a lady was given a large donation for her charity on TV...did not say thank you!!! Stay safe and thank you for your friendship.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that here in America that manners aren't being taught. I do seem to hear the words Thank You very often if at all, when I'm out shopping.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the language lesson. :) I'm thankful for you sharing your life with us through your very interesting blog. It really is a blessing to read.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Tanya! I am thankful your good work in organizing your photos and thoughts and sharing them with us. I have enjoyed your blog for years and read with great interest about your daily life in Japan.
ReplyDeleteMy father always said "much obliged" instead of thank you, especially to people he didn't know.
Happy Thanksgiving from
Gail in Washington State
I want to say a thank you (in any form or language) to Tanya and this blog. You are the one who alerted us very early last winter that hand sanitizer was impossible to find in Japan. Because of that I was able to buy it in the US before anyone else was looking for it! I've thought of you and this blog all year long, every time I use my hand sanitizer. Had you not mentioned it, I wouldn't have even thought of buying it until too late. Thank you.
ReplyDelete