Nihongo (Japanese Language) Part 2: Shopping for White Day

March 14th is a special day here in Japan called, "White Day."  This is the day that men give small gifts (typically cookies or candy) to their wife or girlfriend, to female co-workers, and female friends.  This may sound similar to Valentine's Day, which occurred one month earlier.  The only difference is that in Japan, on Valentine's Day, the women are supposed to give gifts to the men!  I was pretty excited to hear about this when I first arrived in Japan, but quickly learned that the guys are not off the hook - the gift-giving obligation is simply fulfilled one month later on White Day.

So, I set off from our apartment this afternoon in search of flowers and chocolate.  In the past I've purchased flowers (already assembled into bouquets) at the flower shops attached to the grocery store or mall near the train station.  The process is simple enough:  the prices are on the flower arrangements, so you simply pick out a bouquet that looks nice and pay for it at the cash register.  No need to speak (or understand) any Japanese. However, today I was feeling brave and thought I would stop by the small flower shop only a few blocks away from our neighborhood.

Here's how the conversation unfolded:  (compare this to my first conversation as documented here)

"Please come in! (very polite form of Japanese)

     "Hello." (very generic, simple form of the greeting)

[Lots of rapid Japanese that I don't understand.]

     "I'm sorry, I didn't understand."

[Another polite question that I don't understand - but I think he's asking me what I'm looking for.]

     (pointing to the only pre-assembled bouquet that I see in the tiny store) "I like these.  How much do these cost?"

"500 yen." [Then, more Japanese that I don't understand - I think he's asking who the flowers are for.]


    "Today is White Day.  These are for my wife."

[more Japanese - I think he's telling me not to buy the flowers]  Then, recognizing that I don't understand Japanese, he draws a picture of a coffin on his notepad and shows it to me. 

    (Hmm, I think he is trying to tell me that this particular bouquet of flowers is an appropriate gift for a funeral.)

    "I see.  Okay then.  One of these, one of these, and one of these please (pointing to three different colored roses)."

"Yes.  Very good."
 

     "How much does it cost?"

"900 yen."

     "Okay.  Thank you very much."

Okay.  Mission accomplished (I hope!).  As the shopkeeper created the bouquet and wrapped the flowers he tried to engage me in some small talk:

"Where are you from?"
"I'm American, I'm from Minnesota."
"When did you move to Fukushima?"
"January."
"How long do you intend to stay?"
"Two years or maybe longer." 
"Wow, that is a long time to stay!"
"I am teaching English at Izumi Lutheran Church in the Nodamachi neighborhood.  I think Fukushima is beautiful."
"Thank you."

He is finished wrapping the flowers and then charges me only 800 yen (he probably felt sorry for me, or something).

     "Thank you very much.  These flowers are, um (desperately groping for an appropriate adjective), fun!"
 
[He gives me a sideways nod of the head - which means my adjective of choice didn't make sense]

     (*crap*)  "I mean, these flowers are . . . . . cute!"  (One hears this adjective even more often than "Sa mui!" here in Japan).

"Ah yes!  Thank you very much."

     "Thank you. (past tense)."

We then went on to exchange many more bows and "Thank yous" as I left the store with my flowers.

Whew!  I little more stressful than shopping at the grocery store, but at least all the Japanese lessons are starting to pay off (I hope!).

Happy White Day to my beautiful wife, Haidee!