SoReDeWa means “then” in Japanese.
Japanese people use the word in “Good Bye” as well.
SoReDeWa (Then) I will do this. SoReDeWa (Then) let’s do this. SoReDeWa (Then) what do you think?
And
SoReDeWa bye! (Bye, then!)
DeWa can be shortened as “Ja”.
So many Japanese use it as “SoReJa”.
SoReJa!
Bye now!
Hi!
I am happy to share my beautiful photo with my Dad and nephew and his dog Baggy and my dog Romeo.
13th March 2019, I was invited to a ceremonial party for Japan Theatre Magazine Prize.
My director Mme. Masako Okada has been chosen for her lifetime achievement in theatre, especially her latest world of “Moi Ota, le riviere d’Hiroshima” a French play, was well received.
I was invited as performing Ota the title role of the play.
Though Masako Okada is worldly well known in French theatre scene, and been knighted from the French government, recent Japanese theatre society looks little on her.
Thus this prize from Theatre Magazine seeing her life time achievement in Japanese theatre is very very important.
What she taught and introduced from French theatre, directly through Nicolas Bataille and Bella Reine, bore and inspired so may important people such as Tamasaburo Bando.
I am honored to be there with her.
“DeWa” means “then” in Japanese.
But Japanese people quite often use it when they ask for leave.
They also use it for “now” as in “Now we start”.
In rehearsals, the director commands to reprise the scene by saying “DeWa” (“Now, please start”).
In eating, you say “DeWa” to start.
DeWa.
Another little word.
But strong word.
It starts things.
Japanese people use “Ja” quite often.
“Ja” is another magic word which can be used almost anything.
It’s just like “Well” in English.
“Ja” is “Good bye”.
“Ja” is “See you”.
“Ja” is “Yes”.
“Ja” is “No”.“
Ja” is “Then”
Japanese people love to shorten sentences. They don’t finish the sentence. The listeners must guess from both the situation, tone of the voice, and the facial expression.
It is strongly connected with Japanese mind (which I must tell you at some point in the future).
Ja.
A little word.
A small word.
Meaning big.
Meaning a lot.
You may already know this word, AriGaTo (a-ri-ga-to).
It means “thank you”.
“Ari” means ‘be’, or ‘there is’.
“Ga-to” is from “gata-i”, meaning ‘rarely’.
It rarely happens.
What a rare thing!
The Japanese use this word only when receiving good things, words, deeds, and reaction.
“How rare this happiness is!” is AriGato.
You use the word almost any time, and that will smoothen the interaction.
AriGato is a magic word to make the world peaceful.
You combine the word with Oji-Gi, the bowing custom.
AriGato.
Thank you.
What a rare happiness from you!
The world is made with appreciation.
As I said before, Japanese are very shy and not good at expressing their feelings on their faces.
What’s more confusing is that they smile.
The Japanese smile when they are shy.
The Japanese smile when they are angry.
The Japanese smile when they are sorry.
The Japanese smile when they are interviewed by a TV reporter about very very tragical news.
Well, not always, of course.
But most of the time, for sure.
But please don’t think the Japanese are stupid or heartless.
We the Japanese simply don’t know how to deal with big feelings.
It is an uneasy smile.
Te-re-Ka-ku-shi, is the Japanese word.
Te-re means shyness and/or nervousness.
Ka-ku-shi means hiding.
Uneasy Smile.
Te-re-Ka-ku-shi.
Hiding nervousness.
By showing no harm.Beautiful.
Shy people show less facial expression.
Even in USA, many young kids are shy and they show less.
We Japanese are very very shy even when we grow up.
Many Japanese feel safe only in their closed small circle.
Maybe that’s why they don’t show emotions or feelings on their face.
Maybe they are like lots of superheroes who don’t show their true feelings.
On the other hand, too much facial expressions are made on TV shows and TV dramas.
I think this phenomena originates from their shyness as well. They want to hide their true feelings so much that they tend to fake their emotions, which leads to those too-much-bad-acting expressions.
What do you think?
Tell me your experience and reaction to Japanese.
Along with bowing, we Japanese often (or rather, always) say “Domo, domo”.
Do-mo [do-mo] is one of the strangest words in Japanese.
You can use it both positively, negatively, questionably, thankfully, and at almost any situations.
The origin of the word Do-mo may be from “somehow”.
For, “Do-” means “how”.
You can use it when ….
..you receive something.
…you bump into somebody.
…you want to apologize.
…you want to show your appreciation.
…you are asked about your health and you don’t want to answer it.
Thinking about it, Do-mo may be close to English word “well”.
Do-mo.
A magic word.
Show your feeling
By hiding your thoughts.
Ak-shu [a k sh] means shaking hands.
As I said before, Japanese greet with bowing.We rarely touch other people’s body.
People from shaking-hands culture may be surprised at how weak and shy hands a Japanese has.
We Japanese are simply not accustomed to it.
Please greet us with bowing.
Well, as a theatre practitioner, I teach shaking hands (truly, they need to be taught!) to university students and global business people — many times with executives.
I also find that business executives from other Asian countries also love to know how to shake hands.
But do you know how to shake hands properly without awkwardness?
Shaking hands is a part of acting techniques.
It’s that difficult!
