2020-07-21 Thanks, Kuroneko - I needed that by cityhillsandsea

2020-07-21 Thanks, Kuroneko - I needed that

(The text on the side of the truck is in English but it's a bit hard to see. It reads: "Don't worry. Everything will work out. It's amazing that you've come this far. Believe in yourself. We are here for you.")

For those not in the know, this is a delivery company.
Oh, I treasure all my Kuroneko boxes! When my mother immigrated to the US at age 80, she came with 30 of them and our family just passes them around as we ship and pack and store :)
And I must say that "Engrish" has gotten better in Japan!
July 22nd, 2020  
@jyokota I'll be honest, a big part of the reason I actually went out of my way to take a picture of this was because I was so impressed with the English...

And I'm a big fan of Yamato too - the local drivers are great.
July 22nd, 2020  
@cityhillsandsea -- It's been decades since I lived in Japan so I recall the really bad Engrish rather vividly. Have you been there long?
July 22nd, 2020  
@jyokota Nearly 20 years(!) The English has definitely improved but this high level is very unusual, even today. Maybe Kuroneko have a kikokushijo working in marketing?
July 23rd, 2020  
@cityhillsandsea -- that would explain it, and it's so rue that the English now its so much better. Now for Westerners not to use kanji as visual art without meaning . . . the reverse trend! But 20 years? You're really quite Japanese by now. You will have reverse culture shock if you ever get to return "home"
July 23rd, 2020  
@jyokota Not really, I'm quite stubborn and haven't really assimilated as much as I should have...(!) But I do get quite perturbed by lackluster customer service when I'm back home visiting.
July 24th, 2020  
@cityhillsandsea -- ha, but the overly polite customer service doesn't actually end up being efficient all the time . . .

My friend wrote a book entitled "Polite Lies" alluding to many, many, politeness that are really fronts for other inexpressible ways of thinking.
July 24th, 2020  
@jyokota Oh yeah, tatemae and honmae and all that jazz... Lies to preserve the wa and make sure nobody loses face. Drives me nutso! I like things to be straight!
July 24th, 2020  
@cityhillsandsea precisely why I am viewed as non-Japanese these days . . .
July 24th, 2020  
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