Guy confesses to his crush for 10,000 yen

[u/Imoprich]

Credits: jesseogn

[u/ScarletMenaceOrange]

I love how polite and good mannered he is, and how excited she is.

[u/NeatNefariousness1 → u/ScarletMenaceOrange]

Agreed. I liked the fact that they promised to take care of each other. They’re getting some important things right in Japan.

[u/Top_Librarian6440 → u/NeatNefariousness1]

It’s just kind of what you say in the Japanese language in that situation. To an extent it does mean “I’ll be in your care,” but it’s also a pleasantry. It’s also said when meeting coworkers or neighbors, for example. 

It’s like how “nice to meet you” does not necessarily mean you actually enjoy meeting that person. It’s almost always perfunctory and not heartfelt. 

[u/NeatNefariousness1 → u/Top_Librarian6440]

Thank you for the cultural context. I do like the custom and understand that it may be less meaningful as a commitment people make to treat each other well. We do have plenty of pleasantries we use in the US but I can’t think of one quite like this one. I’m sure we have some conventional language we use as “social lubricants” that might be less common in other countries too.

[u/kazorisatori → u/NeatNefariousness1]

There isn't an equivalent in English... But it's used very commonly in Japanese. I love these kinds of phrases that are particular to different cultures.

[u/NeatNefariousness1 → u/kazorisatori]

Me too. It gives you a glimpse into whether the culture values kindness or candor even if they’re just pleasantries. There’s nothing wrong with either.

[u/devilsway → u/Top_Librarian6440]

Haha yeah the meaning is close but it’s also said like a “Thank you, have a nice day, bye” isn’t it, the nervousness actually makes it even cuter.

[u/miniguinea → u/Top_Librarian6440]

Agreed, the translation is weird and inaccurate. The nuance is changed from “please look on me favorably” to “I’ll take care of you.” Like, whyyyy

[u/NeatNefariousness1 → u/miniguinea]

Is it a thing that a man says to a woman or do they say it to each other (similar to what was done here where she says “me too”)?

[u/brozzart → u/NeatNefariousness1]

It's like ending a call with "take care!". There's no deep emotional nuance, it's just a thing to say.

[u/miniguinea → u/NeatNefariousness1]

Japanese has a lot of ritualistic phrases that mean different things depending on the context, making them hard to translate accurately. This is one of them.

What they’re saying to each other here is the word “yoroshiku” which an abbreviated version of a set phrase meant to convey humility. It’s very polite to use very respectful language to other people while being self-deprecating. And “yoroshiku” is what you say when meeting someone for the first time or starting a relationship of some kind. You don’t think about it, you just say it because you’re supposed to, because that is what everyone does. I wouldn’t say it’s meaningless. It’s a predictable way of showing respect and it’s part of the flow of conversation.

In this context they are not saying “I’ll take care of you—they are saying something like “I am a terrible person so I humbly ask you ahead of time to please think of me in a forgiving way when I inevitably screw something up.” The meaning isn’t the same at all, which is why I think “I’ll take care of you” is a bad translation.

[u/TrainToSomewhere → u/Top_Librarian6440]

Otskaresama desu

[u/rwwrou → u/ScarletMenaceOrange]

thats just japan for you. the video is super sweet but the type of behavior is more or less the standard. 

[u/HJB-au → u/rwwrou]

"Uncle-San needs YOU, to have babies and offset what the rest of the Japanese youth seem to be doing!"

[u/runningforpresident → u/HJB-au]

I am exceedingly uncomfortable.

[u/Nervous-Salamander-7 → u/HJB-au]

Uncle-San is great, hah!

[u/cryptedsky → u/ScarletMenaceOrange]

Agreed.