Japanese Lesson 1 Part 1

[Part One]

This content teaches Japanese language and culture through the experiences of an expatriate family newly transferred to Tokyo. Learning is based on serialized lessons showing everyday experiences of a high school senior, Jason Miller, and his parents from Seattle, Washington. As Jason and his parents meet new friends, neighbors, teachers and business associates, more information will be provided to viewers about life, culture and Japanese history. Jason Miller , a high school senior from Seattle, moved to Tokyo a week ago with his parents. His one year of Japanese language studies is paying off big time since he knows just enough to get around the city on his own and meet new friends. Deborah Miller , Jason's mother, a product manager with Seattle-based coffee maker. Her transfer to Starburst's new Tokyo branch office will expose us to the life of corporate expatriates. At the same time, we can explore issues related to women working in Japan. Byron Miller , Jason's father, quit his multimedia programming job with Sierra Offline to accompany the family to Tokyo. We'll follow Byron's experiences looking for a job and then working with one of Japan's leading software companies. Yota Suzuki , Jason's neighbor, a sophomore at Todai (Tokyo University), Japan's most prestigious university. Yota studies international trade and hopes to have a career with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). Ken-ichi Suzuki , Yota Suzuki's father, a retired sumo wrestler, now an investigative reporter for TV Asahi. "Ken" will provide some very interesting insights on behind the scenes activities in Japan that most people (even the Japanese) never hear about. Mary Wilson , A friend and schoolmate of Yota and Jason. She is originally from Australia. Satoshi Watanabe , president of MangaToons, one of Japan's leading multimedia software companies and Jason's father's prospective new employer. Dr. Suguru Yamato , Jason's Japanese sensei (teacher) and one of Japan's leading cultural authorities. Jason attends Dr. Yamoto's Japanese history course at St. Mary's International School. LESSON 1 - Meeting the New Neighbor This lesson will teach you how to greet and to carry out a conversation in Japanese. In this dialog, Yota Suzuki and Jason Miller meet for the first time at Jason's house in Tokyo. Yota: Kon'nichi wa. Hello. Jason: Kon'nichi wa. Hello. Yota: Watashi wa Suzuki Yota desu. Hajimemashite. I am Yota Suzuki. Nice to meet you. Jason: Watashi wa Jeson Miraa desu. Hajimemashite. Doozo yoroshiku. I am Jason Miller. Nice to meet you. (May I ask you to be kind to me.) Yota: Miraa-san, anata wa Amerika-jin desu ka. Mr. Miller, are you an American? Jason: Hai, watashi wa Amerika-jin desu. Anata wa. Yes. I am American. How about you? Yota: Nihon-jin desu. I am Japanese. Jason: Suzuki-san, anata wa daigaku-sei desu ka. Mr. Suzuki, are you a college student? Yota: Hai, soo desu. Miraa-san wa. Yes. How about you, Mr. Miller? Jason: Watashi wa kookoo-sei desu. I am a high school student. Yota: Otomodachi mo kookoo-sei desu ka. Is your friend also a high school student? Jason: Hai. Suzuki-san wa nan'nen-sei desu ka. Yes. Mr. Suzuki, what year are you in college? Yota: Daigaku ninen-sei desu. I am a sophomore (second year student).