Huh? What? Questions?

by 75 Comments

huh_what.jpg

Hey, guys, this is Erin (the one that writes about food). I’m making this post because I’d love to know, how are we doing so far? Is Tofugu living up to your expectations? Exceeding them, even? If you guys have any questions you want to ask us –stuff about Japan, Japanese, ourselves– feel free to ask them here, ok? We try to be creative, but feedback is always helpful!

P.S. Like that picture of me and Viet looking angry/bewildered? Definitely not our best moment.

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  • Stacia

    Hmm…it’s definately getting there (to my expectations). I love Koichi’s blogs because that is what hooked me on english.koichi and then tofugu.com. But, I also love the additional blogs/articles just as much. I look forward to the development on this site.

    Uh…and for suggestions….*shrug* Love the food stuffs, gives me things to try, and just random tidbits on Japan is always good. If I think of anything…I’ll just comment again.

  • Stacia

    Hmm…it’s definately getting there (to my expectations). I love Koichi’s blogs because that is what hooked me on english.koichi and then tofugu.com. But, I also love the additional blogs/articles just as much. I look forward to the development on this site.

    Uh…and for suggestions….*shrug* Love the food stuffs, gives me things to try, and just random tidbits on Japan is always good. If I think of anything…I’ll just comment again.

  • Kitsune

    Oh, I love this site n.n I just found it through Youtube.. I think I’ll probably come here at least once a day. =D

  • Kitsune

    Oh, I love this site n.n I just found it through Youtube.. I think I’ll probably come here at least once a day. =D

  • Josh

    I love this site.And where do I ask questions about japanese?Beacause I have alot.

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    we’re working on a forum, but I don’t want to open it up until there is enough of a reader base to make it worth while. Soon, though, soon.

  • Josh

    I love this site.And where do I ask questions about japanese?Beacause I have alot.

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    we’re working on a forum, but I don’t want to open it up until there is enough of a reader base to make it worth while. Soon, though, soon.

  • Nick

    Yeh it’s great keep up the good work!

    Things that i would like to see though:
    Current fashion (and recent fashion history). Less of the harajuku stuff but more of what u would find in a magazine like ウイズ. so not stuff that is too crazy, but a bit of that is good too! Also hair styles that are interesting or really good lookin.

    The religions in japan, maybe shintoism mostly. I dont know much about it so i’d like to know, and perhaps about why most of them are non-religious.

    Cool phrases in japanese, like things you cant translate directly. Such as we have ‘don’t count your eggs before they’ve hatched!’. I’m under the impression they dont have many but maybe u can correct me?

    hope its not too much of a tall order!! Just throwing some ideas out there

    Thanks

  • http://www.myspace.com/rddr ジャーミー

    I really enjoy your blogs and you videos. I come back checking everyday for new posts. I really think you guys are doing great, and I find each of your informative segments interesting. I would love to know more about social things in Japan..(i.e. how friends would talk to each other or family and such.) I guess that goes under politeness level…heh’ (I guess I’m asking this because I can’t find any real Japanese friends :(..)
    ~
    Well, I guess just keep up with your random segments…Forum sounds good.
    ~
    Thank you for your attention to the audience.

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    While I don’t think we could do a completely comprehensive article on how teens in Japan talk, I do think we could help you out. Maybe an article about the use of なんか, one of my favorite words, would be good to start things off.

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    Guys fashion? I guess I could tell you the trends now that I think are cool. Some guys are so feminine in the way they dress, though, ew.

    Koichi likes to talk about Shinto, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind doing a post on that. I might do a “Erin’s 5 Most Favorite Temples” post, haha.

    Ooh, and Japanese proverbs (諺)! I really like those.

  • Nick

    Yeh it’s great keep up the good work!

    Things that i would like to see though:
    Current fashion (and recent fashion history). Less of the harajuku stuff but more of what u would find in a magazine like ウイズ. so not stuff that is too crazy, but a bit of that is good too! Also hair styles that are interesting or really good lookin.

    The religions in japan, maybe shintoism mostly. I dont know much about it so i’d like to know, and perhaps about why most of them are non-religious.

    Cool phrases in japanese, like things you cant translate directly. Such as we have ‘don’t count your eggs before they’ve hatched!’. I’m under the impression they dont have many but maybe u can correct me?

    hope its not too much of a tall order!! Just throwing some ideas out there

    Thanks

  • Ernie

    Hey i was wondering about the education in japan for college and how important does it revole around them just like in America. Where you can barly even get a job with a diploma.

    p.s. Im thoughts of when or if i become a doctor i was thinking to Japan and if i could go to school there.{to live and work}

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    Well, Ernie, the simple, generic answer is, when Japanese kids are in high school, they study their butts off, and they try really hard to get into good colleges. When Japanese kids are in college, though, they pretty much cruise and their teachers don’t care all that much (but perhaps this depends on the school, just like here). Generally, if you graduate from a “good” college, you can get a “good” job.

    I don’t know how employment opportunities for 外人 doctors are in Japan, honestly. Unless you’re Japanese. If you’ve got your heart set on working in Japan, you might want to stay in the US (or wherever you are) and then try to get a position in a hospital in Japan. Not too many foreigners work in positions like that in Japan, I think.

    Still, if you’re fluent in Japanese, I don’t see why you couldn’t go to college there (maybe not to your first choice, but still). You might also want to look into English-speaking colleges (all that comes to mind right now is Beppu Daigaku).

    This is just the answer I’m coming up with at the time, but do a little bit of research and correct me if I’m wrong. Good luck~!

  • http://www.myspace.com/rddr ジャーミー

    I really enjoy your blogs and you videos. I come back checking everyday for new posts. I really think you guys are doing great, and I find each of your informative segments interesting. I would love to know more about social things in Japan..(i.e. how friends would talk to each other or family and such.) I guess that goes under politeness level…heh’ (I guess I’m asking this because I can’t find any real Japanese friends :(..)
    ~
    Well, I guess just keep up with your random segments…Forum sounds good.
    ~
    Thank you for your attention to the audience.

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    While I don’t think we could do a completely comprehensive article on how teens in Japan talk, I do think we could help you out. Maybe an article about the use of なんか, one of my favorite words, would be good to start things off.

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    Guys fashion? I guess I could tell you the trends now that I think are cool. Some guys are so feminine in the way they dress, though, ew.

    Koichi likes to talk about Shinto, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind doing a post on that. I might do a “Erin’s 5 Most Favorite Temples” post, haha.

    Ooh, and Japanese proverbs (諺)! I really like those.

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    Yeah, pretty much going to college in japan means very little. Getting into it, like erin said, is the tough part. If you can get into a good university, it shows you’re smart enough and hard working enough to get that far, and after that it’s pretty lame compared to america. Don’t get me wrong, though, japanese high school is far advanced from ours, but when it comes to college, Japan lags behind.

    Doctors are a funny bunch in Japan, and perhaps worthy of an article. First of all, they learn everything in German, which is already kind of weird. Then when you get into the culture of the doctors in regards to their patients, it gets even stranger. But like I said, a whole article can be devoted to something like that, and perhaps even a video.

  • Ernie

    Hey i was wondering about the education in japan for college and how important does it revole around them just like in America. Where you can barly even get a job with a diploma.

    p.s. Im thoughts of when or if i become a doctor i was thinking to Japan and if i could go to school there.{to live and work}

  • Fred

    This is a type of website I’ve been looking for. Haha. It’s entertaining and informative. It’s a rare combination. I think y’all are doing great so far. I wish y’all good luck with everything. Thanks for the hard work!

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Thanks, Fred. You’re sweet.

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    Well, Ernie, the simple, generic answer is, when Japanese kids are in high school, they study their butts off, and they try really hard to get into good colleges. When Japanese kids are in college, though, they pretty much cruise and their teachers don’t care all that much (but perhaps this depends on the school, just like here). Generally, if you graduate from a “good” college, you can get a “good” job.

    I don’t know how employment opportunities for 外人 doctors are in Japan, honestly. Unless you’re Japanese. If you’ve got your heart set on working in Japan, you might want to stay in the US (or wherever you are) and then try to get a position in a hospital in Japan. Not too many foreigners work in positions like that in Japan, I think.

    Still, if you’re fluent in Japanese, I don’t see why you couldn’t go to college there (maybe not to your first choice, but still). You might also want to look into English-speaking colleges (all that comes to mind right now is Beppu Daigaku).

    This is just the answer I’m coming up with at the time, but do a little bit of research and correct me if I’m wrong. Good luck~!

  • http://myspace.com/fredydb327 Fred

    Here’s one question! How do you subscribe? I click on “SUBSCRIBE” and then it takes me to a feeder page. I don’t use feeds of any kind. I guess I’m less intelligent about the web then I thought? I already subscribed to the newsletter. How would I log in? Is that option available for everyone or just the web designers? Maybe it’s just too late and I’m confused and sleepy.
    PS: You’re welcome.

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    when you click on subscribe, usually there is an option that you can click to add it, which means in your bookmarks (or your feeder) you can quickly click and check to see if there are any new articles. It also depends on which browser you use, I think – I’ve only used firefox and safari, so I don’t know how it would work on anything else.

    As per the log in, I think you can create a registration – all it does is streamline the commenting process (for now), though perhaps in the future it will do something else. Hard to say at this point.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    I don’t know if I would say advanced.
    “Harder” seems like a good word, though, hahaha.

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    Yeah, pretty much going to college in japan means very little. Getting into it, like erin said, is the tough part. If you can get into a good university, it shows you’re smart enough and hard working enough to get that far, and after that it’s pretty lame compared to america. Don’t get me wrong, though, japanese high school is far advanced from ours, but when it comes to college, Japan lags behind.

    Doctors are a funny bunch in Japan, and perhaps worthy of an article. First of all, they learn everything in German, which is already kind of weird. Then when you get into the culture of the doctors in regards to their patients, it gets even stranger. But like I said, a whole article can be devoted to something like that, and perhaps even a video.

  • http://www.myspace.com/chriscurameng Kuristeru

    Yeah, if your using Firefox, you don’t really need to register or anything like that. (Maybe for the forums, when it’s up) When your commenting, Firefox fills out the required information automatically. Although, I could be wrong. I haven’t used any other browser besides Firefox in such a long time.

    Other than that ^^

    I love the site guys. So far everything I’ve read has caught my attention. I find all the videos very amusing, love that humor of yours Koichi. One of the things I would like to know are some things about yourselves. Mostly basic stuff, such as life-styles, backgrounds, likes, dislikes, etc. Other than that, everything is great. Oh and maybe a couple more things, lol “gomen”. One of my favorite Japanese musicians is Hikaru Utada, if you guys listen to her at all, would you like to share some comments about her?

    And just for kicks, I would really like to know how Koichi feels about Morning Masume. I laughed soo0o0o hard on your little comment in your video, “Secret to Learning Japanese”.

    Well it’s pretty much late and my eyelids feel heavy. Kon bon wa. Ja nai.

  • Fred

    This is a type of website I’ve been looking for. Haha. It’s entertaining and informative. It’s a rare combination. I think y’all are doing great so far. I wish y’all good luck with everything. Thanks for the hard work!

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Thanks, Fred. You’re sweet.

  • http://myspace.com/fredydb327 Fred

    Here’s one question! How do you subscribe? I click on “SUBSCRIBE” and then it takes me to a feeder page. I don’t use feeds of any kind. I guess I’m less intelligent about the web then I thought? I already subscribed to the newsletter. How would I log in? Is that option available for everyone or just the web designers? Maybe it’s just too late and I’m confused and sleepy.
    PS: You’re welcome.

  • http://www.tofugu.com koichi

    when you click on subscribe, usually there is an option that you can click to add it, which means in your bookmarks (or your feeder) you can quickly click and check to see if there are any new articles. It also depends on which browser you use, I think – I’ve only used firefox and safari, so I don’t know how it would work on anything else.

    As per the log in, I think you can create a registration – all it does is streamline the commenting process (for now), though perhaps in the future it will do something else. Hard to say at this point.

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    I don’t know if I would say advanced.
    “Harder” seems like a good word, though, hahaha.

  • http://www.myspace.com/chriscurameng Kuristeru

    Yeah, if your using Firefox, you don’t really need to register or anything like that. (Maybe for the forums, when it’s up) When your commenting, Firefox fills out the required information automatically. Although, I could be wrong. I haven’t used any other browser besides Firefox in such a long time.

    Other than that ^^

    I love the site guys. So far everything I’ve read has caught my attention. I find all the videos very amusing, love that humor of yours Koichi. One of the things I would like to know are some things about yourselves. Mostly basic stuff, such as life-styles, backgrounds, likes, dislikes, etc. Other than that, everything is great. Oh and maybe a couple more things, lol “gomen”. One of my favorite Japanese musicians is Hikaru Utada, if you guys listen to her at all, would you like to share some comments about her?

    And just for kicks, I would really like to know how Koichi feels about Morning Masume. I laughed soo0o0o hard on your little comment in your video, “Secret to Learning Japanese”.

    Well it’s pretty much late and my eyelids feel heavy. Kon bon wa. Ja nai.

  • Sexy Beam

    I love Koichi’s humor … the site would just be bland and boring without it! =) It is kind of sarcastic though, which I’ve noticed Japanese often don’t “get” in same sense of American-style humor, although there IS such a thing in Japan (皮肉).

  • Nick

    ahhh thanks! yeh the guys do look feminine and its kinda confusing from the back bc they’re not exactly built like men either haha! However, i did mean mainly girls/womans fashion, yes – i am a guy – i noticed that but i still find it interesting

    thank youuuuuuuuuu

  • Sexy Beam

    I love Koichi’s humor … the site would just be bland and boring without it! =) It is kind of sarcastic though, which I’ve noticed Japanese often don’t “get” in same sense of American-style humor, although there IS such a thing in Japan (皮肉).

  • Nick

    ahhh thanks! yeh the guys do look feminine and its kinda confusing from the back bc they’re not exactly built like men either haha! However, i did mean mainly girls/womans fashion, yes – i am a guy – i noticed that but i still find it interesting

    thank youuuuuuuuuu

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    Koichi prides himself on his sarcasm, haha.

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    Koichi really doesn’t know who MoMu are, honestly. He’s only seen a few of, what is it, Ayaka’s Surprise English Lessons when I was watching them. He just uses them as an example of the over-cutesy way some girls speak Japanese.

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    Koichi prides himself on his sarcasm, haha.

  • http://tofugu.com Erin

    Koichi really doesn’t know who MoMu are, honestly. He’s only seen a few of, what is it, Ayaka’s Surprise English Lessons when I was watching them. He just uses them as an example of the over-cutesy way some girls speak Japanese.

  • Onimusha Nosferatu

    who knows japanese besides koichi?

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Hehe, me. And Viet, when he’s under the influence.

  • Onimusha Nosferatu

    who knows japanese besides koichi?

  • http://www.tofugu.com Erin

    Hehe, me. And Viet, when he’s under the influence.

  • Viet

    Lies….

    :)

  • viet

    College is pretty much a four year vacation. The reason why Japanese kids study so dang hard for entrance exams is that their society heavily emphasizes on the name of the university you attend, not your GPA, major or anything else. College level work is cakewalk compared to studying for the entrance exams. So in essence, the path of your life is determined by the name of the university. Employers don’t really care what skills you have as they’ll will provide the necessary training. I mean, the students already proven themselves by studying like maniacs to get into that prestigious university. An example: Todai students are almost guaranteed to get high-level job such as in the government (as bureaucrats, considered to be one of the highly honored positions) or upper managerial positions in the private industry.

  • Viet

    Lies….

    :)

  • viet

    College is pretty much a four year vacation. The reason why Japanese kids study so dang hard for entrance exams is that their society heavily emphasizes on the name of the university you attend, not your GPA, major or anything else. College level work is cakewalk compared to studying for the entrance exams. So in essence, the path of your life is determined by the name of the university. Employers don’t really care what skills you have as they’ll will provide the necessary training. I mean, the students already proven themselves by studying like maniacs to get into that prestigious university. An example: Todai students are almost guaranteed to get high-level job such as in the government (as bureaucrats, considered to be one of the highly honored positions) or upper managerial positions in the private industry.

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