New Friends Friend
Color me impressed, ladies and gentlemen. You might have noticed my new link to the Guide to Friends (日本語) on my Japan Blogroll. The actual title of the page is this: シットコムで笑え！海外ドラマ「フレンズ」英語攻略ガイド. You can see why I tried to shorten it up a bit. That translates to something like: “Laugh with sitcoms! English capture guide to the foreign drama ‘Friends.’” I am assuming that capture is used here in the same way that we say “screen capture” or, for people who don’t like to go around their elbows to get to their thumbs, “screen cap.” Anyway, it is exactly what it sounds like - a site that pulls quotes from one of the most quotable sitcoms ever exported from the states. The great thing is that their is discussion of the meaning of the jokes. That’s right folks, this is where “Rach,” the blogger behind the site, attempts to explain some complicated humor in Japanese. (It’s not like I’ve ever tried to do that before…) What I’ve read so far (basically the posts available on the front page) is really great. And from here on out I plan to chip in when something isn’t properly understood or if there are questions. How cool is that?
I’m sure that Rach would welcome English comments, too. Why do I say that? Well, according to her profile (and the subtitle on her blog), her English comprehension is fabulous. Here’s a rough translation. (Sorry if it’s imperfect, Rach. Feel free to fix it.)
名前は Rach（レイチ）です。海外ドラマをDVD鑑賞し、英語を身に付けました。2007年3月に英検１級合格、TOEICは現在945点（リスニングは満点）。海外経験がなくっても、DVDでここまで出来ました（って自慢かよ!?）学習歴 を見ると、私の半生がわかる、かも?
My name is Rach. I’ve got a thing for foreign dramas, which has led to my acquisition of the English language. In March of 2007 I successfully passed the 1st rank of the Eiken (English standardized test) and reached 945 points on the TOEIC exam (Test of English for International Communication - another standardized test) with full marks in listening comprehension. I’ve never been overseas, but I’ve come this far thanks to DVDs. (I guess I’m bragging?) If you take a look at my curriculum, you’ll see where half my life goes.
Needless to say, that is an awesome achievement. Major kudos. Anyhoo, I just wanted to alert you guys to this cool blog if you’ve never hit it before. My first note was to Nicole at The One With Nicole in Japan. If you can’t tell, her blog title is based on the original English episode naming scheme from Friends. She’s a diehard fan, go figure. For the rest of you, though, check it out. It’s good stuff. (By the way, I found this blog when Rach left a comment at Mayumi-san’s Osaka-ben blog - her new podcast is up.) 
Enjoy.
on June 5th, 2007 at 10:55 am
I’m selfishly trying to figure out a way to incorporate this into class… somehow somehow, I will find a way.
I’m just afraid they won’t love Chandler like I do.
on June 5th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Nicole, I’m not sure I love Chandler like you do…ha ha ha. Is he your favorite? I think I’m torn. Chandler and Joey both kill me. Ross irritates me more often than he kills me. Rachel is the same way. Monica is more funny to laugh about than at…and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Phoebe isn’t always as involved as I’d like, but she is brilliant most of the time she’s on screen. (Yes, that was sarcastic.) They had a really good string of repeat side characters, too. I miss that show. Ha ha.
Also…I am positive that there is a way to work this into a classroom lesson. You’ve just got to be reaaaally careful about which quotes you use. The sperm bank one, for instance, probably wouldn’t fly… Ha ha ha.
(And the supposebly one is a wickedly hard translation…)
on June 5th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Joey is by far the best Friend.
This will be perfect for my wife, who is also a Friends fan, and interested in learning English.
on June 5th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
If my teachers can watch porn at school and the students can talk about breast implants, I don’t see why I can’t bring a little info about NY sperm banks into the classroom. But yes, this was a problem I was facing - all the quotes are a little “risque” however, they ARE in high school for god’s sake.
And yes. If Chandler were a real, live, breathing person, I’d marry him.
on June 5th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Nicole…Chandler was pretty commitment-phobic before Monica (and the Janice running gag - Yemen, anyone?). What makes you think he’d take you? Unless it was a Ross and Rachel drunken wedding type situation…hahaha.
on June 6th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Thank you for introducing my blog on your new entry and putting it on your ‘Japan Blogroll’.
The title ‘Guide to Friends’ is so simple and looks official. (lol)
Sooner or later, I’m sure you’ll know how “fabulous”(Rach fingers quote-mark gesture) my English comprehension is. If you tell me that your Japanese is bad, I feel like going flush myself down the toilet (Friends 1-8).
I’ve just written about this piece ‘New Friends Friend’ on my new entry. Thanks again.
on June 6th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
レイチさんとこのブログスゴイでしょ！？ 私も毎日感心しながら読ませてもらっているのです。デイズさんも気に入っておられる様で、かれこれ一年以上お友達してもらっているレイチさんのサイトがこんな風に紹介されてると嬉しくなっちゃいます。
それから、私のポッドキャスト6月号(笑)も紹介して下さって、どうもありがとうございました。
Isn’t Rach’s blog awesome, huh? I am also reading her articles with admiration everyday. Deas seems to find it great as well and I am so happy to know that and about the entry about her site as a friend of over a year.
And thank you very much for introducing the June issue(w) of my podcast.
もしよければ、私の変な英語をご指摘下さいね。
on June 6th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Rach-san - Anytime! I’m happy to introduce people to sites I like. Your site is really neat, so I am glad to pass it along to others who will enjoy it too.
Mayumi-san - Her blog is awesome. Ha ha. And, since you asked…
You might want to change some phrasing in your comment.
“Isn’t Rach’s blog awesome, huh?” < - You only need the "Isn't" or the "huh?" - not both. They do the same thing in this sentence, so it is redundant to keep them both. I'd say "Isn't Rach's blog awesome?" but "Rach's blog is awesome, huh?" is also quite natural.
"find it great" -> “think it’s great” (Find can sometimes be used this way, but it made me reread the sentence this time, so I would change it.)
“as a friend of over a year” -> I might put this at the beginning of the sentence with a comma after it. It makes a nice introductory clause, but is a bit clumsy at the end.
“issue” -> Issue works. You could also say “episode” or “release” or “edition” or any other word.
Hope that helps!
I’m glad that I’m making Japanese blogger friends. I had hoped that I would eventually be able to do so, but it’s really neat to be able to join such a cool circle of people who are interested in language and meaning.
（爆）
I learned 爆 from Rach-san.
on June 6th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
“In March of 2007 I successfully passed the 1st rank of the Eiken (English standardized test) and reached 945 points on the TOEIC exam (Test of English for International Communication - another standardized test) with full marks in listening comprehension.”
Rach-san. You are awesome. And it’s quite encouraging to know that someone has never been abroad, but is coming that far thanks to DVDs.
Please tell us more about your English learning experiences. It will be great help for us.
on June 7th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Dear Deas
Your explanation to Mayumi is so clear and easy to understand. That’s really helpful to me, too.
Maybe I should’ve written, “I’m sure, sooner or later, you’ll know how “fabulous”…”.
BTW, I use （爆） as （自爆） (= to blow myself up, self-destruction)
But I guess some Japanese people might use （爆） as （爆笑） (= explosion of laughter)
In this case, （爆） might mean “strong （笑）”.
You know （笑） is (lol) = laughing out loud, right?
I’m not sure which is the true meaning of （爆）. So I asked my Japanese readers how to use （爆） on my new entry.
Dear TofuUnion
Thank you for your compliment. However, as I said above, my English comprehension is not that good.
It’s just that I love English. It’s fun learning English using Friends DVDs. I don’t know what I should tell you about my English learning experience. I just watch Friends DVDs over and over again, and try to figure out what they want to say & how they feel, using some dictionaries or grammar books.
Your kind words encourage me to keep going. Thank you so much.
P.S.
You guys don’t have to call me Rach-san. Just call me Rach, please. I feel so glad to hear someone, especially English native speakers, calling me just “Rach”. But I have to apologize for using Rachel’s nickname as my handle (ハンドルネーム). That name is so mistakable on my Friends site, huh?
on June 7th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
You got it, Rach.
Consider the “san” dropped. But only if you agree to drop it from my name too. Deal? Deal. Cool.
I did know that (笑) is used for laughing out loud. I discovered it 2 years ago on foreign study in Tokyo when I used to use my cell phone to text message all of my Japanese friends. I like the idea of a “little explosion of laughter,” though, so I’ll keep using (爆) when it’s appropriate to do so.
So, Rach, I have to ask, because others have been commenting about it, who is your favorite friend? Do you have one? And if you do, why? Ha ha.
on June 7th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Great conversation in the comments here…
One thing about 海外ドラマ, Looking forward to the Heroes in Japan…will Hiro take center stage here in Nippon as he has in America, or will he flop…hmmm…
on June 8th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Hi, Deas!
My favorite friends are Rachel & Chandler.
On Friends 2-7, Rachel landed on Ross’ back in order to get the phone from him. I thought that’s so cute. That’s why I named myself Rach.
On Friends 1-18, Rachel asked, “Guess what?”
Chanlder replied, “Okay… the fifth dentist caved, and now they’re all recommending Trident?”
I really admire his sense of humor. Since his jokes are so sophisticated, it’s so hard to explain the meaning in Japanese. First of all, I have to explain what Trident commercial is like to Japanese readers…
on June 8th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
I agree with you about Chandler. His humor is sophisticated, witty, and sarcastic. It’s right up my alley. Rachel and Ross both tend to aggravate me. They get into so much trouble that I worry about them more than I laugh at them. Or I get embarrassed on their behalf. Does that make sense? Ha ha.