Activate Your Japanese!

What would you do
if you were Xuan?

"Today, I was asked to do a new task."

I have something for you three.

Ta-da! It's this.

The autumn campaign?

That's right.

It's one of the important events
at this hotel.

The Japanese restaurant produces
a new bento each year.

The autumn campaign...

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

"So it's this!"

We also ask everyone for their ideas, so we can plan fun activities for our guests.

The thing is… we want the hotel business to thrive,

and we'd like to welcome
more guests from abroad.

So...

I want you to think about it.

I'd like you three to come up with
an original idea for an activity.

An idea?

The three of us?

Are you sure?

I'm counting on you.

I look forward to hearing a great idea.

"I know it's hard to be given
a new job to do."

"But don't worry."

You can do it!

Hey! What are you surprised for?

Well, you turned around.

And don't steal my line!

What are you doing?

I'm worried about them.

Perhaps I gave them too much to do.

That's surprisingly nice of you.

Nothing.

I know!

You could go and spy on them.

Last year, we had a booth where
people could make Japanese sweets.

Lots of foreign guests came,
and it was fun.

Japanese sweets?

Do you need something?

Um… I thought there was duct tape here.

We haven't seen any.

Okay.

So what do you think?

Too detail-oriented?

You're right.

It's too detail-oriented.

"Too detail-oriented?"

"What are they talking about?"

"Oh no!"

How was it?

- You're in trouble!
- Why?

"Too detail-oriented."
They had to be talking about you.

You've been too hard on them.

Detail-oriented?

Me?

I don't think so.

Then let's not do Japanese sweets.
Any other ideas?

How about rental kimonos?

Good idea!

Wearing a kimono is fun.
You really feel like you're in Japan.

We could take pictures.

That's good!

We could have cute photo frames too.

I'll find an app for that.

Great!

You look like you're having fun.

Yansu!

Yes, it's great fun.

But isn't there someone
who's not joining in?

Danny?

He is a member of the team.

But he's not saying anything.

He probably doesn't have any ideas.

You won't know unless you ask him.

Okay.

You should ask what he thinks.

Why not steer the conversation
towards him?

Steer the conversation...

Ah! How about this app.

Hold on a second.

What about you, Danny? Any thoughts?

About wearing kimonos
and taking pictures.

Using an app to add cute frames.

It sounds fun.

But this is for the hotel's event, right?

You can take pictures anywhere.

That's true.

I think it should be an activity
where guests feel like...

"This is a great hotel!"

You have a point.

That is important.

Why don't we all think about it again?

Why not discuss this at Kaan-san's place?

Great idea!

Ota-san.

How are things going?

I'm not fussy about details.

I'm not detail-oriented at all.

You can plan the activity as you like.

Thank you. We're getting alone fine.

You are?

They're fine.

You're right.

- That's strange.
- Strange?

Well, good luck, everyone.

Oh yes...

Xuan and Danny, you two are on restaurant duties
next week.

A couple of part-time employees quit,
and we're shorthanded.

So thanks.

Yes, ma'am.

"Sukiyaki-gozen."

Japanese food names are difficult.

I'll be working with Rei-san next week.

I want you… to take it to that table.

I want... to try it too.

Xuan.

Rei-san.

"Oh, look at the time!
I need to sleep."

"People have different ideas."

"By exchanging opinions,
we'll be able to plan a great activity."

"Isn't that right, Yansu?"

"Today's Strategy!"

So...

Xuan, Danny, and Monica.

They're getting to be a good team!

Now, when you're discussing things
with people, there might be someone who's quiet
and not saying anything.

What will you do if that happens?

Let's look at the strategy Xuan used.

Hold on a second.

What about you, Danny? Any thoughts?

It sounds fun.

But this is for the hotel's event, right?

Bring them into the discussion
by asking for their thoughts.

If you say, "Participate in the discussion,"
some people might feel intimidated.

But if you ask for their opinion
by saying, "Any thoughts?"

it can make it easier for them
to join the discussion naturally.

Just because someone's quiet, it doesn't mean
they don't have an opinion.

Use this strategy, ask everyone what they think,
and have a better discussion.

Goodbye for now.

Meet senpai from all over Japan, Tsutsu Urara!

Let's hear about their lives.

Today's senpai is Tanikawa Iryna from Ukraine.

Obama, in Fukui, has a traditional appeal.

One wagashi shop here dates back almost 200 years.

Wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets.

Anko, made from azuki beans and sugar, is a common ingredient.

Iryna works at this shop three times a week.

Speed is important
when making wagashi.

She quickly wraps the anko in a colorful dough.

She uses tools and her hands to delicately complete the sweet.

These lovely wagashi look like autumn leaves.

Iryna met her husband Tomoharu in the U.S.

After getting married, they moved to Obama in 2015.

One day, Iryna stopped by this wagashi shop, and was fascinated.

I didn't know the ingredients,
or how to make the sweets.

I didn't even know how they tasted.

I wanted to know everything!

She asked the shop owner to teach her how to make them.

She was the first person to ask.

She's very enthusiastic.

After this chance encounter, Iryna began to work at the shop.

She loves to learn.

Now she can write kanji, too.

Her work is so lovely.

Her hard work paid off.

In 2018, she entered a national contest, and took first place!

Iryna lives in Obama, Fukui.

She loves the view from this observation deck.

You can see so far.
It feels great.

Obama has so much nature.

I observe, and learn its shapes.

It's a good way to be inspired
when making wagashi.

Iryna loves this local specialty.

Yakisaba-zushi, made with mackereline rice.

It's delicious.

The mackerel is quite fatty.

The ginger cuts through that fat.
It has a nice balance.

I study Japanese with "sajiki."

Sajiki contain "kigo," seasonal terms used in poetry.

This version introduces them in both English and Japanese.

Iryna uses these terms in her wagashi-making.

When I make wagashi, I often
give them seasonal names.

If I didn't study Japanese, I
wouldn't know the deeper meaning.

Here are Iryna's favorite words.

"A journey of a thousand miles
starts with a a single step."

Any journey, long or short, starts with just one step.

To achieve a goal, start with small efforts.

The world of wagashi is huge.

I don't think I will
ever learn everything.

But I'll go slowly, bit by bit.

I want to get better.

Iryna, we can't wait to see your future wagashi creations!