Useful usage of「んだ」in Japanese

Miku Real Japanese

4 Feb 202311:00

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the importance of New Year in Japan, highlighting traditions such as thorough cleaning before the holiday, eating traditional 'osechi' dishes, and visiting shrines on New Year's Eve. It features a conversation between the host and Sayaka, who shares her family's customs, including eating 'toshikoshi soba' and attending shrines on December 31st. The script also touches on the challenges of traveling back to hometowns during this period.

Takeaways

🎉 New Year in Japan is a significant event with various customs and activities.
🧹 Before New Year, Japanese people engage in thorough cleaning, known as 'o-soji', which is the most extensive cleaning of the year.
🍣 'Osechi' is a traditional Japanese cuisine that families enjoy during New Year.
🍜 'Toshikoshi soba' is eaten on New Year's Eve (Omisoka) to wish for health and longevity in the coming year.
🏮 On New Year's Eve, families visit local shrines at night, often joining long queues and socializing with neighbors and acquaintances.
📅 December 31st is the day when families traditionally eat 'toshikoshi soba' and visit shrines for the first time of the new year.
🌆 Visiting shrines at night on New Year's Eve is a common practice, despite the crowds and long waiting times.
🚆 Many Japanese people return to their hometowns for New Year, leading to traffic congestion and difficulties in obtaining train tickets.
🏡 The speaker currently resides in Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku, which is a new place for them.
🌐 The conversation also touches on the speaker's experience of learning languages, including Japanese and Korean, and their travels.

Q & A

What is an important event for Japanese people during the New Year?
-Oshogatsu, or the Japanese New Year, is a significant event where various activities are performed, such as cleaning and preparing traditional meals.
What is the significance of 'osechi' in Japanese New Year celebrations?
-Osechi is a traditional Japanese New Year meal that is eaten with family, symbolizing good health and prosperity in the coming year.
What is the tradition of 'toshikoshi soba' on December 31st?
-Toshikoshi soba is a type of soba noodles eaten on New Year's Eve to ensure good health throughout the coming year.
What is the typical activity on New Year's Eve in Japan?
-Many Japanese families visit local shrines on New Year's Eve, often participating in a countdown and socializing with neighbors and acquaintances.
Why do Japanese people often return to their hometowns during the New Year?
-It is a common practice for Japanese people to return to their hometowns during the New Year to spend time with family and reconnect with old friends.
What challenges do people face when traveling back to their hometowns during the New Year in Japan?
-There can be significant traffic congestion and difficulty in obtaining train tickets, such as for the Shinkansen, due to the high volume of people traveling.
What is the role of a shrine visit during the New Year celebrations?
-Visiting a shrine is a way to pray for good fortune and blessings in the new year, often involving a countdown to the new year at the shrine.
How has the practice of visiting shrines during the New Year changed over time?
-While it used to be a yearly tradition for many, some people have noted that they do not visit shrines as frequently as they used to.
What does the phrase 'toshikoshi soba' literally mean and why is it eaten on New Year's Eve?
-The phrase 'toshikoshi soba' literally translates to 'year-crossing soba' and is eaten to symbolize crossing from one year to the next in good health.
What is the significance of the countdown at the shrine during New Year's Eve?
-The countdown at the shrine is a communal event that marks the transition to the new year, often accompanied by prayers and socializing.
How does the script reflect the cultural importance of family and community in Japanese New Year celebrations?
-The script highlights the importance of family gatherings, such as eating osechi and toshikoshi soba, and community involvement, like visiting shrines and interacting with neighbors and old friends.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 New Year's Traditions in Japan

This paragraph introduces the significance of New Year's celebrations in Japan. It mentions that the Japanese engage in various activities such as thorough cleaning before the New Year, known as 'o-soji,' and eating traditional Japanese cuisine called 'osechi.' The speaker, along with Sayaka, discusses how they spend New Year's Eve, including eating 'toshikoshi soba' (year-crossing noodles) for health and visiting a local shrine at night on December 31st. The paragraph also touches on the customs of counting down to the New Year at the shrine and the challenges of traveling back to hometowns, leading to traffic congestion and difficulties in obtaining train tickets.

05:02

🏡 Life in Kagawa Prefecture and Language Learning

The second paragraph delves into the speaker's personal life, revealing that they currently reside in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku, Japan. It also mentions their past experiences as a full-time employee in the UK while teaching Japanese part-time online. The conversation shifts to the topic of starting a podcast in 2020, with the speaker sharing that they were working full-time and teaching Japanese in their spare time. The paragraph highlights the speaker's appreciation for the opportunity to teach and learn languages, such as Japanese and Korean, and the impact it has had on their life.

10:49

🙏 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

In the final paragraph, the speaker expresses gratitude to the viewers for watching the video until the end and looks forward to meeting them again in the next video. This closing segment serves as a warm and appreciative farewell, setting the stage for future content and interactions with the audience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Oshogatsu

Oshogatsu, or Japanese New Year, is a significant event in Japan. It is a time when various customs and traditions are practiced. In the script, it is mentioned as an important occasion that involves family gatherings and traditional activities. For example, the speaker talks about eating 'osechi' and visiting shrines, which are typical Oshogatsu activities.

💡Osoji

Osoji refers to the thorough cleaning that Japanese people do before the New Year. It is a custom to clean the house from top to bottom to welcome the New Year with a clean slate. The script mentions 'osoji' as something that is done before Oshogatsu, indicating its cultural significance in preparing for the new year.

💡Osechi

Osechi is a traditional Japanese New Year's food, often served in a special box. It is a set of dishes that symbolize good luck and prosperity. In the script, the speaker mentions eating 'osechi' with family, which is a common practice during Oshogatsu to celebrate the new year.

💡Toshikoshi Soba

Toshikoshi Soba is a type of soba noodles eaten on New Year's Eve in Japan. It is believed that eating these noodles will bring good health and longevity in the coming year. The script specifically mentions eating 'toshikoshi soba' with family on December 31st, highlighting its role in the New Year's Eve celebrations.

💡Shrine Visit

Visiting a shrine is a common practice during Oshogatsu, especially on New Year's Eve. It is believed to bring good fortune for the coming year. The script describes going to a shrine at night on December 31st, joining long queues with local people, and participating in a countdown, which is a part of the shrine visit experience.

💡Countdown

A countdown is a common activity during New Year's Eve celebrations worldwide, and it is also practiced in Japan, especially at shrines. The script mentions participating in a countdown at the shrine, which is a way to ring in the New Year and wish for good fortune.

💡Hometown

In the context of the script, 'hometown' refers to the place where people originally come from. It is mentioned in relation to people returning to their hometowns during Oshogatsu, which is a common practice in Japan. This often leads to traffic congestion and difficulties in transportation, as many people travel back to their roots to celebrate the New Year with family.

💡Shikoku

Shikoku is one of the four main islands of Japan. The script mentions that the speaker currently lives in Kagawa Prefecture, which is located in Shikoku. This provides geographical context to the speaker's location and their experience of living in Japan.

💡Podcasting

Podcasting is a form of digital media where a series of episodes are released, often in an audio format. The script mentions starting a podcast in 2020, which indicates a shift in the speaker's activities from full-time employment to also engaging in media production.

💡Japanese Language

The Japanese language is a central theme in the script, as the speaker discusses learning and teaching it. The script mentions the speaker's experience as a part-time Japanese language teacher while working full-time, showing the importance of language learning and teaching in their life.

💡New Year's Resolutions

While not explicitly mentioned, the concept of New Year's resolutions is implied in the script through the discussion of starting new activities in the New Year, such as podcasting. It suggests the idea of setting goals and making changes at the beginning of the year, which is a common practice during Oshogatsu.

Highlights

Introduction to learning natural Japanese through simple conversations.

Importance of New Year's celebrations in Japan.

Preparation for New Year's with thorough cleaning.

Tradition of eating 'osechi', a traditional Japanese New Year's dish.

Discussion on how to spend New Year's with family.

Eating 'toshikoshi soba' on New Year's Eve for health in the coming year.

Visiting local shrines on New Year's Eve with family.

Crowded shrines and long queues on New Year's Eve.

Socializing with neighbors and acquaintances at the shrine.

Countdown at the shrine on New Year's Eve.

Changes in recent years regarding shrine visits.

Returning to hometowns for New Year's and its impact on transportation.

Discussion on the tradition of returning to family during New Year's.

Impact of New Year's on traffic and train tickets.

Introduction of a guest, Sayaka, and her role in the conversation.

Discussion on living in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku.

Mention of starting a podcast in 2020 and its background.

Discussion on the experience of working full-time while teaching Japanese part-time.

Gratitude expressed for the opportunity to teach and learn Japanese.

Closing remarks and invitation to watch future videos.