さくぶん ３

二十ねんごに　かぞくの　ちかくに　いたい　ですから、ハワイに　います。りょうしんと　いもうとの　かぞくの　ちかくに　います。わたしの　かぞくは　五人　です。おっとと　おんなのこと　おとこのこが　二人　います。わたしの　こどもと　いもうとの　こどもは　あそびます。

本お　かけます。毎朝　こどもは　学校へ　行きます。そして　おっとは　しごとへ　行きます。それから　かきます。昼ごはんを　たべます。それから　いぬと　こうえんへ　さんぽに　行きます。びじゅつかんへ　えを　みに　行きます。えいがかんへ　えいがを　みに　行きます。いろいろなところへ　行きます。おっとと　こどもは　うちへ　かえります。わたしは　りょうりを　します。みんあ　いっしょうに　晩ごはんを　たべます。それから　こどもは　ねます。わたしは　かけます。

ニューヨークの あき

あき休みに　３かい　セントラル　パーコ(Central Park)へ　いきました。きれいな　きの葉が　たくさん　ありましたから。あかいきの葉と　オレンジきの葉と　きいろいきの葉が　ありました。

ハワイは　きせつが　四つ　じゃありません。二つだけ　あります：　あめと　あめじゃありません。ぜんぜん　ゆきが　ふりこめません。いつも　いいてんき　ですよ。おもしろくない　です。

ニューヨークの　あきが　だいすきです。 

Katakana Analysis (final)

One interesting usage of カタカナ can be found in the branding of the Japanese clothing store chain Uniqlo. At first read, the reason for the use of カタカナ in Uniqlo's logo and name, ユニクロ, may appear to simply be the use of a loanword. ユニクロ seems to be a kind of combination of "unique" and "clothes". However, this reading does not adequately explain the entire depth of meaning behind the brand's choice to write in カタカナ. Uniqlo is a Japan- based, Western-style clothing store with a selection of mainly basic graphic tees and jeans. Thus, the use of カタカナ may be a reflection of the brand's desire to associate itself with more of a Western appeal. The trend in Japan toward the Western as the cool also cannot be overlooked. The use of カタカナ in the branding undoubtedly ups Uniqlo's cool factor, and thus its desirability and sales.

Another interesting use of カタカナ with complicated reasoning behind it is the title of one of サカナクション's songs. サカナクション is a band from Sapporo, Hokkaido whose music ranges from alternative rock to electronic to dance pop. Of course, the very title of the band is an interesting case of カタカナ usage. The band name is a combination of a Japanese word and an English word, sakana (fish) and action, and could have been written as a combination of kanji and romaji. However, the combination seems to merit the use of カタカナ. First, I have been told that people tend to use カタカナwhen coining new terms. Also, as the band name is neither wholly Japanese nor wholly English, but rather something in between, カタカナ is a perfect fit as a kind of in between cultures writing system.

But this is a digression. My main interest is in a song title off their most recent album: "モノクロトウキョー". Translated into English, this song is "Monochrome Tokyo". Here again, as seen in the very name of the band, is a combination of an English word and a Japanese word. However, whereas the Japanese word in the name of the band was　さかな written in カタカナ, the Japanese word in the title of this song is とうきょう. The writing of the name of the nation's capital in カタカナ can be read in many different ways. One of the more negative readings could be a kind of corruption of the symbol of Japan, taking it and making it foreign. However, I see this not as an insult to Japan, but rather as a reflection of the singer's personal state. The song is about wandering the streets of Tokyo and feeling as though walking in a strange land. The lyrics are laden with a sense of isolation and loneliness, as though the singer is disconnected from Tokyo. With this reading in mind, the writing of the Japanese capital in カタカナ effectively conveys the feeling that this city, so familiar and central to the nation, is somehow a foreign land to the singer.

Textbook Analysis: All four textbooks give the basic definition of katakana as a purely phonetic representation system used for loan words and onomatopoeia. Three out of the four textbooks devote about one line to the explanation of katakana, and this is probably because those three textbook excerpts are focused on not katakana alone, but all three writing systems. It makes sense that katakana is defined that way because those two usages, loan words and onomatopoeia, are the most common, and in an introduction to all three writing systems the textbooks want the most basic definition. The last excerpt goes into more detail about katakana, such as its history and other, less common usages, because it is devoted solely to explaining katakana. It is important to note that all four excerpts compare katakana to hiragana. This is probably so that the student has a better idea of how katakana is a unique writing system.

カタカナLiterary Work

ハッピーは　なんですか。

のりこちゃんは　バスで　しょうがっこうから　うちまで　かえりました。しゅくだいが　ありましたから、いそがしかったです。　のりこちゃんの　せんせいは　いいました。「みなさん、きょうのしゅくだいです。かぞくに　きいてください。“ハッピーは　なんですか”。」

それから、のりこちゃんは　おとうさんにききました。「おとうさん、ハッピーは　なんですか。」おとうさんは　いいました。「あのう、おかあさんの　りょうりを　たべます。ハッピー　です。」

のりこちゃんは　おねえさんの　へやへ　いきました。のりこちゃんは　おねえさんにききました。「おねえさん、ハッピーは　なんですか。」おねえさんは　いいました。「かれから　プレセントを　もらいます。ハッピーです。」

のりこちゃんは　だいどころへ　いきました。のりこちゃんは　おかあさんに　ききました。　「おかあさん、ハッピーは　なんですか。」おかあさんは　いいました。　「えと．．．かぞくと　いっしょにいます。ハッピー　です。」

のりこちゃんは　おばあさんの　へやへ　いきました。のりこちゃんは　おばあさんに　ききました。「おばあちゃん、わかりません。イライラします。ハッピーが　わかりません。」おばあさんは　のりこちゃんを　だきしめました。そして　いいました。「いま、ハッピー　です。」

のりこちゃんは　かきました。「ハッピーは　あい　です。」

There are various instances of カタカナusage in this piece. I will explain the less significant instances before moving into the central example. A couple words, バス and プレセント, are written in カタカナbecause they are loanwords. Another instance is the word イライラ (frustrated) which is onomatopoeic and therefore written in カタカナ.

The most important usage of カタカナin this story, and actually the most important word in this story, is the word ハッピー. On the most basic level, ハッピー is written in カタカナin order to drive the plot; のりこちゃん’s homework is to ask her family the meaning of this foreign word. Thus, ハッピーis written in カタカナbecause it is being used as a loanword. However, I specifically used カタカナin order to heighten のりこちゃん’s confusion and emphasize the quest. I thought using しあわせ（な）would make のりこちゃん’s questions merely homework, standard vocabulary learning of Japanese words for elementary students. Using カタカナand the American word, however, elevated her mundane homework to the level of personal journey and added an element of the unknown, the foreign. That was my intention in using カタカナ.

さくぶん ２

やまださんへ、
はじめまして。　つかやま　エリサ　です。　ハワイから　きましたが、いま　ニューヨークに　います。コロンビアだいがくの　よねんせい　です。えいがと　えいぶんがくを　べんきょうします。そして　にほんごの　いちねんせい　です。だいがくの　せいかつは　いそがしい　ですが、おもしろい　です。コロンビアの　キャンパスは　きれい　です。そして　しずか　です。でも　ニューヨークは　きれい　じゃありません。　そして　しずか　じゃありません。にぎやか　です。そして　ニューヨークの　せいかつは　たいへんですが、とても　たのしい　です。７月３１日に　にほんへ　いきます。　よろしく　おねがいします。
つかやま　エリサ

Katakana Analysis Draft

One interesting usage of カタカナ can be found in the branding of the Japanese clothing store chain Uniqlo. At first read, the reason for the use of カタカナ in Uniqlo's logo and name, ユニクロ, may appear to simply be the use of a loanword. ユニクロ seems to be a kind of combination of "unique" and "clothes". However, this reading does not adequately explain the entire depth of meaning behind the brand's choice to write in カタカナ. Uniqlo is a Japan- based, Western-style clothing store with a selection of mainly basic graphic tees and jeans. Thus, the use of カタカナ may be a reflection of the brand's desire to associate itself with more of a Western appeal. The trend in Japan toward the Western as the cool also cannot be overlooked. The use of カタカナ in the branding undoubtedly ups Uniqlo's cool factor, and thus its desirability and sales.


Another interesting use of カタカナ with complicated reasoning behind it is the title of one of サカナクション's songs. サカナクション is a band from Sapporo, Hokkaido whose music ranges from alternative rock to electronic to dance pop. Of course, the very title of the band is an interesting case of カタカナ usage. The band name is a combination of a Japanese word and an English word, sakana (fish) and action, and could have been written as a combination of kanji and romaji. However, the combination seems to merit the use of カタカナ. As the band name is neither wholly Japanese nor wholly English, but rather something in between, カタカナ is a perfect fit as a kind of in between cultures writing system.

But this is a digression. My main interest is in a song title off their most recent album: "モノクロトウキョー". Translated into English, this song is "Monochrome Tokyo". Here again, as seen in the very name of the band, is a combination of an English word and a Japanese word. However, whereas the Japanese word in the name of the band was　さかな written in カタカナ, the Japanese word in the title of this song is とうきょう. The writing of the name of the nation's capital in カタカナ can be read in many different ways. One of the more negative readings could be a kind of corruption of the symbol of Japan, taking it and making it foreign. However, I see this not as an insult to Japan, but rather as a reflection of the singer's personal state. The song is about wandering the streets of Tokyo and feeling as though walking in a strange land. The lyrics are laden with a sense of isolation and loneliness, as though the singer is disconnected from Tokyo. With this reading in mind, the writing of the Japanese capital in カタカナ effectively conveys the feeling that this city, so familiar and central to the nation, is somehow a foreign land to the singer.

しゅうまつ。。。なにをしましたか？

じゅうがつなのか、きんようびにJapan Society へいきました。よくあそこへいきます。三池 崇史 (Takashi Miike) のあたらしいえいが、一命 (Ichimei or Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai)、をみました。ともだちとみました。すごいでした！

 Takashi Miike is an extremely prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. He is probably best known in the states for his films Audition (1999) and Ichi the Killer (2001). He recently came out with the film 13 Assassins, which played in theaters earlier this year. Most of his films are extremely violent, although he does do a few family films (such as Ninja Kids!!!), which is strange.

...and Ninja Kids!!! ???

Anyway, you should go to see Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (Japanese title is Ichimei) when it comes out. It's a remake of Kobayashi Masaki's Harakiri (切腹 Seppuku, 1962) which starred the legendary 仲代 達矢(Tatsuya Nakadai). Although it is pretty depressing, Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai is beautifully shot, well acted, and really worth watching.

おいしい！！！

わたしはせんしゅういざかやへいきました。

I recently made another year and to celebrate my friends took me to an izakaya called Sake Bar Hagi. I had always suspected them of being great friends, but that night proved the hypothesis beyond a doubt.

Hagi is amazing. Really. おいしい！

But perhaps I should backtrack and explain what an izakaya is for all those unfortunate enough to have never been to one. An izakaya is, basically, a Japanese restaurant in which one is encouraged to eat, drink, and talk; eat, drink, and talk; and eat, drink, and talk for hours on end. The drink selection is wide and the dishes are meant to be shared by everyone at the table. It's a great place to sit back and relax with your friends while enjoying delicious beverages, tasty appetizers, and fun conversation.

That being said, Sake Bar Hagi is a superb izakaya. The food is wonderful and reasonably priced. The majority of the people there, everyone from the waiting staff to the patrons, is Japanese, which may be daunting at first but is actually an indication of the authenticity of the food, service, and atmosphere. Plus, it feels fantastic to be enveloped by the Japanese language.

The long and short of it is this: go to Sake Bar Hagi. If you remain unconvinced by my unashamed advertisements, simply look at the photos below. The food will speak for itself.

Seared Bonito Sashimi

 

Agedashi Tofu

Okonomiyaki

Why am I here?

Well, not quite the existential question, but rather why am I here in First Year Japanese at Columbia?

I have been interested in learning Japanese since 7th grade, but I haven't had the opportunity until this year. Unfortunately, I only have one year of my undergrad career left, so this is kind of a last-ditch effort to learn while I'm still in the school setting. Why wait so long? you ask. Strangely, perhaps, I spent a great portion of my life devoted to learning Spanish, which ate up the majority of my language-learning time. I actually haven't spoken Spanish for the last two years, so there goes all that education.

Regardless of my past language failures, Japanese holds a special place in my being. I recently interned in the Film department of the Japan Society and have thus been exposed to many Japanese films, classic and contemporary, all spoken in Nihongo. Also from that internship, I have a number of friends from Japan, and learning Japanese would definitely make karaoke much easier. I should also mention that I am determined to wander the Japanese countryside next summer, and I figure knowing at least a bit of Japanese will be useful in that setting.
 
I am mainly looking forward to the point where I can have short little conversations with my Japanese friends without their smiling at me patronizingly. I suppose that's a sort of test I've placed for myself.

So far, I haven't found anything too difficult, though I suppose that's because I have the unfair advantage of having taken a Japanese class this past summer. However, I know that pretty soon I'll reach the limit of what I already know, and I can't wait to fall into the sea of the unknown.

はじめまして！

はじめまして。たかやまえりです。ハワイからきました。いま、ヌヨクいます。にほんご をべんきょうします。コロンビアだいがくのがくせいです。どうぞよろしく！