Comments on: The King of Foreign Otaku in Japan http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/ Japan News Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:56:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: cardslash02 http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-315202 cardslash02 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:02:21 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-315202 Is there anyway to get a hold of this show now?? it has been removed from Youtube and no one is seeding the torrents - please let me know! Is there anyway to get a hold of this show now?? it has been removed from Youtube and no one is seeding the torrents – please let me know!

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]]> By: hi http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-44702 hi Wed, 16 May 2007 06:39:33 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-44702 I know both the French guy and the Russian girl from a seiyuuML. I think the guy has guested on? Hosted? an anime/j-pop culture centric show on French TV once. He is also a staple at seiyuu events and knows some seiyuu well enough (like Inoue Kikuko and Hisakawa Aya) to talk to them in person and receive new year cards and such. He married a Japanese woman and moved to Japan last year. He was on another TV game show once, I think that one was about mixed marriages. Or something like that. The Russian girl is an idol wannabe who moved to Japan for voice acting and such. She has a Japanese name, an official website, and a CD single released maybe last year or the year before that. She and the French guy have a podcast going, and had a cafe talk event last Christmas. I know both the French guy and the Russian girl from a seiyuuML. I think the guy has guested on? Hosted? an anime/j-pop culture centric show on French TV once. He is also a staple at seiyuu events and knows some seiyuu well enough (like Inoue Kikuko and Hisakawa Aya) to talk to them in person and receive new year cards and such. He married a Japanese woman and moved to Japan last year. He was on another TV game show once, I think that one was about mixed marriages. Or something like that.

The Russian girl is an idol wannabe who moved to Japan for voice acting and such. She has a Japanese name, an official website, and a CD single released maybe last year or the year before that. She and the French guy have a podcast going, and had a cafe talk event last Christmas.

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]]> By: Global Voices Online » Japan: The King of Foreign Otaku in Japan http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-44480 Global Voices Online » Japan: The King of Foreign Otaku in Japan Tue, 15 May 2007 03:46:22 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-44480 [...] Last week, TV Tokyo aired a compeition between foreign otaku. In the end, Chang from Hong Kong was crowned champion. James in Japan Probe put together video clips with comments on the programme. Share This [...] [...] Last week, TV Tokyo aired a compeition between foreign otaku. In the end, Chang from Hong Kong was crowned champion. James in Japan Probe put together video clips with comments on the programme. Share This [...]

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]]> By: So you think you’re otaku enough? at 望み - What is that you desire? http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-44154 So you think you’re otaku enough? at 望み - What is that you desire? Sun, 13 May 2007 15:30:29 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-44154 [...] Source(s): pireze.org | Japanprobe [...] [...] Source(s): pireze.org | Japanprobe [...]

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]]> By: the overthinker http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-44131 the overthinker Sun, 13 May 2007 13:48:25 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-44131 I am quite happy to say that I could not have got a single question right.... I am quite happy to say that I could not have got a single question right….

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]]> By: James http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-44125 James Sun, 13 May 2007 13:40:40 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-44125 "I went to the same store as carlton, which they figured if two of the same contestants went to the SAME wrong store first, people might connect the dots. What dots, I’ll let you connect…" They gave you two different drinks than the others, or both shops had a drink that was pretty much the same? It seems it was pretty unfair of them to edit it and make it look like you absolutely had no guesses about the location. “I went to the same store as carlton, which they figured if two of the same contestants went to the SAME wrong store first, people might connect the dots. What dots, I’ll let you connect…”

They gave you two different drinks than the others, or both shops had a drink that was pretty much the same? It seems it was pretty unfair of them to edit it and make it look like you absolutely had no guesses about the location.

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]]> By: Jonathan http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-44123 Jonathan Sun, 13 May 2007 13:36:15 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-44123 the otaku comment though, didn't get aired. 90% of what we filmed didn't get aired, that's TV for you... lol the otaku comment though, didn’t get aired.

90% of what we filmed didn’t get aired, that’s TV for you… lol

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]]> By: Jonathan http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-44122 Jonathan Sun, 13 May 2007 13:34:28 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-44122 1. I applied to this show as a joke, got accepted, went on it as a joke, and had a fun time, I don't find anything I did embarrassing at all. 2. I went to the same store as carlton, which they figured if two of the same contestants went to the SAME wrong store first, people might connect the dots. What dots, I'll let you connect... but I am not allowed to say, but I did go to like 5 different stores... I dunno why they didn't show any of them, strapped for time I guess... 3. I am balding, I shave my head so that it doesn't show. It's not embarrassing it's who I am. and I am 20 :-D if you can understand Japanese, hopefully you understood my message, which was that if you don't do what you want in life when you want to, there's no meaning. I also said some things about how otaku in Japan are living true to themselves, like I am, which is why I am honored to consider myself an ｦﾀｸ. I love you all, peace, and enjoy your lives. You only get one. I'll see you on ニコニコ動画. 1. I applied to this show as a joke, got accepted, went on it as a joke, and had a fun time, I don’t find anything I did embarrassing at all.
2. I went to the same store as carlton, which they figured if two of the same contestants went to the SAME wrong store first, people might connect the dots. What dots, I’ll let you connect… but I am not allowed to say, but I did go to like 5 different stores… I dunno why they didn’t show any of them, strapped for time I guess…
3. I am balding, I shave my head so that it doesn’t show. It’s not embarrassing it’s who I am. and I am 20 :-D

if you can understand Japanese, hopefully you understood my message, which was that if you don’t do what you want in life when you want to, there’s no meaning.

I also said some things about how otaku in Japan are living true to themselves, like I am, which is why I am honored to consider myself an ｦﾀｸ.

I love you all, peace, and enjoy your lives. You only get one.

I’ll see you on ニコニコ動画.

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]]> By: Danny Choo http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-43879 Danny Choo Sat, 12 May 2007 10:55:09 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-43879 I'm so glad that I didnt go on! http://www.dannychoo.com/blog_entry/eng/802/TV+Champion/ I’m so glad that I didnt go on!
http://www.dannychoo.com/blog_entry/eng/802/TV+Champion/

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]]> By: dontcare http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-43837 dontcare Sat, 12 May 2007 08:04:44 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-43837 Baldy is 20? Yikes! He looks more like 39. Baldy is 20? Yikes! He looks more like 39.

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]]> By: the overthinker http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-43824 the overthinker Sat, 12 May 2007 07:12:09 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-43824 I have. But like much sarcasm in Japan, it doesn't really work. Sarcasm is not a big element of Japanese humour. Many people can read Japanese a lot better than they can speak it. I once heard the head of a major Japan-related academic organisation give a speech, and while his academic credentials were impeccable, his pronunciation was atrocious. I think fietclub is right though - they do all speak fairly well. Not ideally or perhaps totally fluently, but well enough to suggest that using chopsticks was mastered a long time ago. I have a theory - or a bare hypothesis really - that the things Japanese are amazed gaijin can do are the things that Japanese tend to worry about their own skills in or they feel are dying out. Chopstick skills are deteriorating in the young, according to one report I saw (too much western food/fast food), so the Japanese are extra-amazed at how well gaijin can use it. When that Canadian dude used some slightly uncommon keigo (滅相もない) and everyone went Oooh! that too might be a comment about the decline of correct language. Or even sitting in seiza - I have beaten Japanese at seiza gaman contests, but only younger ones (apparently PM Hara used to sit in seiza at all times - not many could do that now).... Conversely, has anyone been told "gosh, you bow well!"? I have. But like much sarcasm in Japan, it doesn’t really work. Sarcasm is not a big element of Japanese humour.

Many people can read Japanese a lot better than they can speak it. I once heard the head of a major Japan-related academic organisation give a speech, and while his academic credentials were impeccable, his pronunciation was atrocious.

I think fietclub is right though – they do all speak fairly well. Not ideally or perhaps totally fluently, but well enough to suggest that using chopsticks was mastered a long time ago.

I have a theory – or a bare hypothesis really – that the things Japanese are amazed gaijin can do are the things that Japanese tend to worry about their own skills in or they feel are dying out. Chopstick skills are deteriorating in the young, according to one report I saw (too much western food/fast food), so the Japanese are extra-amazed at how well gaijin can use it. When that Canadian dude used some slightly uncommon keigo (滅相もない) and everyone went Oooh! that too might be a comment about the decline of correct language. Or even sitting in seiza – I have beaten Japanese at seiza gaman contests, but only younger ones (apparently PM Hara used to sit in seiza at all times – not many could do that now)…. Conversely, has anyone been told “gosh, you bow well!”?

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]]> By: wes http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-43818 wes Sat, 12 May 2007 06:56:19 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-43818 it's not just english speakers learning japanese. it's any language learning any language. if you think out your thoughts in your native tongue and then translate before speaking, it will sound sort of weird. and i think her pronunciation is just poor from reading(manga) more than having actual conversations with people, but that's probably just a prejudiced guess against otaku, so her mouth might not be used to forming the sounds the way japanese is correctly pronounced. has anyone ever complemented or expressed shocked amazement at a japanese person for being able to use a knife and fork or spoon in response to their amazement at your chopstick use? or would that be too harshly sarcastic? it’s not just english speakers learning japanese. it’s any language learning any language. if you think out your thoughts in your native tongue and then translate before speaking, it will sound sort of weird. and i think her pronunciation is just poor from reading(manga) more than having actual conversations with people, but that’s probably just a prejudiced guess against otaku, so her mouth might not be used to forming the sounds the way japanese is correctly pronounced.

has anyone ever complemented or expressed shocked amazement at a japanese person for being able to use a knife and fork or spoon in response to their amazement at your chopstick use? or would that be too harshly sarcastic?

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]]> By: Ed http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-43719 Ed Fri, 11 May 2007 19:12:43 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-43719 Jonathan has been posting videos of himself on nicovideo.jp like this one: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm254229 Jonathan has been posting videos of himself on nicovideo.jp like this one: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm254229

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]]> By: dangomushi http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-43715 dangomushi Fri, 11 May 2007 18:57:57 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-43715 Are you kidding my feitclub? There's more to speaking Japanese than knowing what words to say. Take Miss Carlton for example. She seems to know how to speak the words of Japanese but her accent and tone in her voice while she's saying things is totally stilted and unnatural. It also sounded often like she was thinking about everything she needed to say while she was still saying it, instead of well practiced Japanese simply flowing from her brain to her mouth. I think that's one thing, at least from my experience, that English speakers learning Japanese need to focus more upon. Making yourself sound natural and flowing in your pronounciation.. not just paying attention to the words themselves... but also the proper rise and fall of tone in voice when speaking those words. Then again... on the issue of "chopstick usage"... just seems like Japanese always like to point things like that out. It's just a simple given that they'll compliment forigners on chopsticks. Same way they often compliment people with utterly abysmal Japanese skills for being "so good at speaking Japanese". Are you kidding my feitclub? There’s more to speaking Japanese than knowing what words to say. Take Miss Carlton for example. She seems to know how to speak the words of Japanese but her accent and tone in her voice while she’s saying things is totally stilted and unnatural. It also sounded often like she was thinking about everything she needed to say while she was still saying it, instead of well practiced Japanese simply flowing from her brain to her mouth.

I think that’s one thing, at least from my experience, that English speakers learning Japanese need to focus more upon. Making yourself sound natural and flowing in your pronounciation.. not just paying attention to the words themselves… but also the proper rise and fall of tone in voice when speaking those words.

Then again… on the issue of “chopstick usage”… just seems like Japanese always like to point things like that out. It’s just a simple given that they’ll compliment forigners on chopsticks. Same way they often compliment people with utterly abysmal Japanese skills for being “so good at speaking Japanese”.

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]]> By: feitclub http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-43663 feitclub Fri, 11 May 2007 14:06:51 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-43663 Considering how all the contestants apparently speak Japanese pretty well and have intricate knowledge of Japanese pop culture, it's all the more surprising that the narration would point out their chopstick usage. Considering how all the contestants apparently speak Japanese pretty well and have intricate knowledge of Japanese pop culture, it’s all the more surprising that the narration would point out their chopstick usage.

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]]> By: teruoS http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-43631 teruoS Fri, 11 May 2007 10:38:04 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-43631 Being 4th gen JA the comment about the complement on chopstick skill reminded me of a visit to japan I took when I was younger. A friends mother complemented me on my chopstick skills and with the left-hand too. Then she pointed out her son and husbands skills it was amazing that they could even feed themselves, we had a real good laugh, just me and her that is. lol Being 4th gen JA the comment about the complement on chopstick skill reminded me of a visit to japan I took when I was younger. A friends mother complemented me on my chopstick skills and with the left-hand too. Then she pointed out her son and husbands skills it was amazing that they could even feed themselves, we had a real good laugh, just me and her that is. lol

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]]> By: Tadashi http://www.japanprobe.com/2007/05/11/the-king-of-foreign-otaku-in-japan/comment-page-1/#comment-43623 Tadashi Fri, 11 May 2007 09:18:18 +0000 http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1722#comment-43623 My god, I knew every song they sang except the Dunbine opening. .__. My god, I knew every song they sang except the Dunbine opening. .__.

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