日本語の語源 Vol１ おおきに Origins of Japanese Words Vol 1- Ookini

日本にも方言があります。特に有名なのは関西の言葉です。｢おおきに｣は京都などで使われている言葉で｢有難う｣の意味です。｢たいへん 有り難い｣という意味で、｢おおきに 有り難き｣と使われていたが、いつの間にか、最初の部分だけが残ってしまったようです。

Japan also has its dialects. Of these, the well-known one is the Kansai dialect. In areas such as Kyoto, ｢ookini｣ ｢おおきに｣ which holds the meaning of ｢arigatou｣ ｢有難う｣ is used. Although ｢ookini arigatou｣ ｢おおきに 有り難き｣ which has the meaning of ｢taihen arigatou｣ ｢たいへん 有り難い｣ was used previously, overtime unknowingly, it seems like only the first portion of the phrase is left.

Note:

｢Arigatou｣ means ｢thank you｣.

｢Taihen arigatou｣ means ｢thank you very much｣.

Shakai no Mado 社会の窓

I learned the following idiom from a television program.

Shakai no mado. 社会の窓.
Translated directly, it would be "The window(s) of society".

However, in modern context, the idiom is actually referring to the fly of a men's jeans, pants, or any other garments. The idiom originated from the title of a NHK radio show in the Showa period, which often exposed unknown secrets of society to listeners.

So male readers, the next time when you hear someone say to you "社会の窓が開いている" (your window of society is open), look downwards and try to close it discreetly. ^^

震災が教えてくれたこと。 Lessons to be Learned from the Earthquake Disaster.

大地震から２ヵ月経ちました。信じられないほど悲しい出来事でしたが、同時に私には忘れていた何かに気づく機会でもありました。

それはまわりにいる人の優しさです。地震の直後「家族の安否は確認できましたか」と日本からメールをくれた森谷先生。（実は森谷先生の家も少し壊れたそうです。）
「家族は大丈夫」とメールやSMSをくれた学生の皆さん。そして、募金に協力してくださって方々…。私はそれまで毎日忙しくて、仕事のことか見えなくなっていたんですね。自分が優しい人たちに囲まれていることを改めて感じました。

被災地や傷ついた人の心がもとに戻るには、とても長い時間がかかりますが、前より元気な街になって甦ると信じています。私も自分にできることを見つけて力を貸したいと思っています。

そして、いつか皆さんと立ち直った東北を旅ができたらしいいですね。

2 months have passed since the Touhoku Earthquake disaster. While it had been a tragic event unfathomable to many, at the same time, it also provided an opportunity for us to rediscover what we may have forgotten.

A case in point: the kindness from people all around us. Moriya-sensei sent an email from Japan right after the earthquake happened, asking us if our families were alright.
(Actually, on the other hand, I think Moriya-sensei's home was slighty damaged.)
"Students have sent me mails and messages asking "Is your family alright?" And also, those people who have helped in raising funds for the cause.. Since then, I've been rather busy everyday, at times even losing focus. Once again, I have experienced the fact that I'm surrounded by many kind and helpful people."

Much time will be needed to repair the emotional wounds of victims and of those affected in other ways, but I believe that the streets will be restored to become even livelier than ever before.

I will also try to do my best in finding strength and lending a land to those people in need.

And I'm sure that everyone wishes to travel to Touhoku again once it has been restored, right?

-土屋先生 (Tsuchiya-sensei)

銀魂 Gintama

Let's talk about anime!

After taking a year-long break, the madcap parody anime Gintama (銀魂) is back with its fifth season!
And in glorious widescreen (16:9) format as well! After years of complaining, our protagonists were greatly pleased indeed!

For those who are unsure about what Gintama is all about, it follows the adventures of protagonist Sakata Gintoki and his trusty "employees", Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura (see above). They run the Yorozuya Gin-chan, a freelancer business that takes on any kind of requests, from searching for a lost cat to saving an entire town from a tyrant ruler!

One of them is holding a badminton racket.

Set in the Edo period, many characters join them in their hilarious antics, such as the unforgettable Shinsengumi, although the creator Sorachi Hideaki's version of its members are not what you would expect!
For example, Hijikata Toshirou is a mayonnaise maniac, Okita Sougo is a sadist, and Kondou Isao is a...stalker?

Parodies of various fellow Shonen JUMP titles can be found in Gintama, such as Dragonball Z, BLEACH, and even Death Note!
And if you are studying the Japanese language, you can learn quite a bit about Japanese culture and phrases, though the title cards in every episode and the countless puns in the show. ^^

Gintama has a superb cast lending their voices to the characters, such as Sugita Tomokazu (Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi - Kyon), Tachiki Fumihiko (Neon Genesis Evangelion - Gendou Ikari), and Kujira (Naruto - Orochimaru). (A personal favorite is Kagura, voiced by Sugimiya Rie)
And the simplistic art is easy on the eyes as well~

A recommended title for lightening your mood, especially after a day of hard work!

Can you guess it?

Something one of our students had drawn in his free time.
Can you guess a Japanese phrase (pun) from this picture? ^^

Hint: The sound effects are coughing sounds.

Answer:
責任を取る （咳人を取る）
(seki-nin wo toru)

=P

Latest donation update + Charity Curry Cooking Event!!

Thanks to all the students who have donated to the quake fund!!

The amount has reached $600 and growing!!

In light of the recent events and to spur more fund raising, Aoba has decided to hold a Charity Curry Cooking Event!!

Date: 17th April 2011, Sunday

Venue: Aoba Language Centre

Time slots-
Session One: 1100 to 1230 hrs
Session Two: 1300 to 1430 hrs

Cost: $10 (Students, Guests)

Feel free to bring your family and friends along~

Event highlights:

Sensei will teach everyone how to prepare Japanese curry and rice. Appetizers such as salads, desserts/ fruits, green tea will also be provided.

It's an eat-all-you-can session!!

Hurry up and grab your tickets at our reception!! :D

Devastating earthquake and crisis for Japan- Calling out for donations and help!!!

Everyone in the Aoba family would like to extend our deepest condolences to all parties who have been affected by the recent monster earthquake.

It pains us to see towns and everything in it being washed away.

For those of you who have friends and family living in the affected quake zone, and are unable to contact them, please use the Google crisis response for help.

http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

You may enter names to be searched or update the status of someone.

There is also an option to make a donation to the quake fund. Please donate your generous contributions to the rescue efforts of the quake.

Aoba is also collecting donations on behalf of the Japanese red cross society. If you would like to make a donation without using credit cards or internet transfer, you may head down to our school and pass the amount to the reception desk. All funds collected will be consolidated and donated the Japanese Red Cross Society.

There are currently many people who are without food, water, electricity and shelter. Any amount will make a significant difference to those survivors.

Whole towns and cities have to be rebuilt and Japan is currently trying its best to lighten the situation.

For those of you who would like to share an insight or express your feelings with regards to the earthquake, please leave us a comment.

Let us do our part to help this nation!!