Activate Your Japanese!

What would you do
if you were Xuan?

"Today, I've come to
Kaan-san's food truck for lunch."

Alone today?

Yes. Ota-san is still at work.

Then you've come for him?

Him?

The special person you can talk to.

It really... helped.

Rei-san... I helped you?

You have a good person to talk to!

He's not like that!

I mean...

If there's something you want to say,
just say it.

Something I want to say...?

If you're not going to, I'll say it.

Huh...?

Why are you smiling?

It's nothing!

Anyway, Rei-san's working
at the restaurant right now.

He's here.

Rei-san?!

He can see you.

What are you doing?

Why are you here?

Is it because your "senpai" was harsh?

You quit the hotel?

The food truck's going to be
so popular because of you.

You'll become a famous chef, and you'll come back and
take over the restaurant?

Is that what you think of me?

I didn't mean to...

He's doing research.

I'm interested in other cuisines.

I come here on my days off
to learn about Turkish food.

I didn't know.

The autumn campaign...

Every year,
our restaurant makes a new bento.

If they choose my menu for it, that would mean they recognize me
as a proper chef.

That's why you're here.

It's nearly done.

"He's studying on his days off."

"He works so hard."

Hi there!

Coming!

- Too close!
- Sorry.

"What？" Could you teach me
some Vietnamese dishes?

Use my kitchen.

Thank you.

All right... let's make banh xeo.

Banh xeo?

We use bean sprouts, shrimp,

and coconut milk.

And...

And?

There's another ingredient
that would make it taste better.

What is it?

It's that thing. You know...

Um...

What is it called?

I say "nantoka"
for the part I don't remember.

That's right.

There's something I want.

A "nantoka" rod.

Yes! A "nantoka" rod...

I meant "nantoka!"

"Nantoka?"

"This is no good. He won't understand."

It's the...

"What should I do?"

Yansu!

What's wrong?

Banh xeo needs another ingredient,
but I can't remember its name.

I see.

You have a problem there.

I need it to make it taste good.

I really want to tell Rei-san.

I see.

If you can't remember what it's called,
try and explain it with other words.

Other words?

How about describing its characteristics
like color and shape?

Color and shape?

That's right.

Watch them.

Kaan-san,
I'd like that dish next time.

- That dish!
- Which one?

It's meat and bread...

with tomato sauce and yogurt...

and it isn't spicy.

- Iskender kebab?
- Yes!

Iskender kebab!

I see what you mean.

Looks like we're good.

Should we make it without that thing?

No!

We need it for banh xeo.

But you can't remember its name.

Well...

They're green leaves,
and they have a strong smell, and they're used in Japanese cuisine too.

Green leaves... strong smell...

Used in Japanese cuisine...

Is it shiso?

That's it! It's shiso!

Shiso leaves!

What a relief!

Now we're ready to cook.

What do you think?

It's good.

The shiso sauce really works.

I'm so glad you think so.

Teach me other dishes too.

It would be my pleasure.

Finally finished work!

I'm so hungry.

Are you still open?

When did they get so close?

They can see you.

We can see you.

I should go, shouldn't I?

Sorry to intrude!

"If I don't remember words,
I should find other ways to explain them."

"Then I can communicate
my thoughts better."

"Isn't that right, Yansu?"

"Today's Strategy!"

I'm not going to comment on
what's going on between Xuan and Rei-kun!

Anyway, the names of things
or places...

There are times
when we just can't remember them.

What will you do if that happens?

Let's look at the strategy Xuan used.

We need it for banh xeo.

Well...

They're green leaves,
and they have a strong smell, and they're used in Japanese cuisine too.

Is it shiso?

Describe its characteristics
if you can't remember what it's called.

"They're green leaves,
and they have a strong smell, and they're used in Japanese cuisine too."

Giving a description is a good alternative
when you can't remember the name.

Do that, and people will understand you.
No need to give up.

Use this strategy, and you'll be able to
enjoy talking to people even more!

Goodbye for now.

Meet senpai from all over Japan, Tsutsu Uraura!

Let's hear about their lives.

Today's senpai is Om Saory from Cambodia.

Zentsuji City, in Kagawa.

Fields of spring onions fill the area.

Saory works in these fields.

He came to Japan in 2014.

The work is fun.

At first, the onions made
my eyes sting. But not anymore.

The farm where Saory works mainly grows spring onions.

They also grow broccoli and corn.

About two tons of spring onions are harvested here daily.

After harvesting, the onions are washed and grouped by size.

Then they're packed into boxes.

There are currently twelve employees from abroad working at this farm.

Saory is quite serious. He's the
oldest of the workers from abroad.

And he's been with us the longest,
too. We depend on him.

These are the last ones.

He's a kind senpai.

I didn't know any Japanese.
He taught me.

Saory got a Japanese driver's license two years ago.

He delivers the spring onions that are ready to be shipped out.

He takes them to this agricultural co-op.

Saory is well known here.

He's so serious.
And he does his work so well.

- Thank you.
- Thanks for your hard work.

Saory was born and raised in a farming family in Cambodia.

He helped out around the farm.

Interested by what he saw on TV and online, he moved to Japan in 2014.

He spent three years as a trainee and two as a technical intern trainee.

Then, in 2019 he received a Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa.

After work, he looks forward to one thing in particular.

Video calls with his wife and daughter in Cambodia.

Even if we're far apart, I feel
happy when we talk on the phone.

If I have the chance,
I'd love to bring them to Japan.

Saory lives in Zentsuji City, in Kagawa.

The city's named after this temple, which has a history of more than 1,200 years.

Zentsuji City is surrounded by picturesque mountains.

Saory loves the local scenery.

On his days off, he goes biking with his coworkers.

Here's a local favorite of Saory's.

Sanuki udon noodles, which have a particularly firm texture.

One popular way to eat sanuki udon noodles is in kama-tama udon.

Freshly boiled udon noodles are topped with a raw egg.

It's good. The egg in particular.

Here are Saory's favorite words.

Thanks for your hard work.

After a hard day of work, saying
thanks makes everyone feel happier.

I want to use these words
even in Cambodia.

Saory's dream is to use the skills he's learned in Japan, as a farmer in Cambodia.

Thanks for your hard work every day, Saory!