Activate Your Japanese!

What would you do
If you were Xuan?

"As I teach Danny and do my own work," "my days are busy but fulfilling."

Like this...

And smooth out the wrinkles.

Got it?

I think so.

Then try it with that bed.

By myself?

By yourself.

Isn't it early for that?

It'll be all right.

I'll watch and tell you if you go wrong.

Did it take long for you to get it right?

Did it take long?

Maybe.

But I got better by doing it myself.

So it did take you a long time.

"That's your takeaway?"

Then I'd be awesome if I got it right?

"Is he fishing for compliments?"

You'd be awesome, Danny.

Really?

"I was right."

"Some people thrive on compliments,
but to be this obvious about it..."

Still at it?

- Hi, Sumire-san.
- What are you doing?

I'm making the bed by myself.

What are you so proud of?

Sumire-san, we're nearly finished.

Danny's a quick learner, unlike me.

That's right. I'm quick at learning.

Okay, smarty-pants.
There's still a lot to do, so hurry up.

Have you finished writing
your next novel?

You really don't get it.

That's something you don't ask a writer.

I can't answer that!

I'm sorry. You're right.

You should know better.

Anyway, the next one is about a hotel.

- You're still telling me?
- Just you.

Okay.

Mysterious crimes are going to happen
at the hotel, and they're going to be solved
by one of the staff members!

It's totally new, right?

I guess so...

Am I your inspiration by any chance?

- Nope!
- Okay...

And when he solves a case, he uses the clues he gets from
the regular guests he's friends with.

- So it is me?
- Nope!

Okay...

But I'm still trying to nail down
the character of the protagonist.

I can't quite get it right.

Danny!

What are you smiling about?

I'm a quick learner. I'm awesome.

You should work hard too.

What's that about?

Hey... Danny?

So much attitude for a rookie.

Why is he so confident?

Yeah, that can work.

That'll work!

Have you seen Sumire?

She's on her break.

Is she?

Then you'll do.

Can you change the light bulb
for the light by the elevator?

The light bulb?

As soon as possible.

Okay, as soon as possible.

Thanks a bunch!

Hold the elevator!

I'm sure she should've said, "Thanks a lot."

Never mind that.

Xuan-san...

What does "as soon as possible" mean?

Um...

Ah, it means "do it soon if you can."

That's right.

"If it's 'if you can,'" "I'm busy now, so I'll do it later."

We have lots of bed making to do today,
so we can't do it now.

You're right.

We'll change it later when we have time.

Yansu!

Are you sure that's okay?

What do you mean?

The light bulb.

Maybe Ota-san was just being polite
when she said "as soon as possible."

Polite?

Perhaps she wanted it done, but she saw that you two were busy.

That's why she didn't give you
a clear deadline.

Then we should do it quickly?

Okay. We'll do it once we finish the beds.

Do you think that's okay?

We'll finish by 3 pm.

So Ota-san's "as soon as possible"
is 3 pm?

I don't know, but...

Then you should ask her.

It's important to check
what time she meant.

Check the time...

Okay, I'll do that.

Ota-san!

What's the matter?

It's about changing the light bulb.

When you said "as soon as possible,"
what time did you mean?

Well...

We have a number of
early check-ins today.

Could you do it by 1 pm?

1 pm?!

No?

I'll ask someone else if you can't.

It's all right. I'll do it by 1 pm.

I'm sorry. That was careless of me.

"As soon as possible" was vague.

I should've been clearer.

I'll be more careful
when it's "as soon as possible."

"Phew!"

"I'm glad I checked."

That's it.

You changed the light bulb?

Yes.

Where's smarty-pants?

He's practicing making beds.

Really? Let's see.

He hasn't finished any of them!

Quick. There's no time!

"If someone says 'as soon as possible,'
it's best to check what time they mean."

"Nice save, Yansu."

"Today's Strategy!"

"As soon as possible."
"Finish it by tomorrow."

Such instructions are a bit vague
and can be confusing.

You and your supervisor might have
different deadlines in mind.

What will you do if that happens?

Let's look at the strategy Xuan used.

When you said "as soon as possible,"
what time did you mean?

Could you do it by 1 pm?

Ask when exactly it needs to
be done by.

"When you said 'as soon as possible,'
what time did you mean?"

"Soon" means different things
to different people.

So ask when the deadline is
and make sure there's no misunderstandings.

Some people say, "You can do it later,"
or "If you have time, can you do this?"

When someone says that to you,
just ask, "When does it need to be done by?"

Goodbye for now.

Meet senpai from all over Japan, Tsutsu Uraura!

Let's hear about their lives.

Today's senpai is Irina Cheblakova from Russia.

She works in Tottori, helping businesses expand abroad.

Russia, China, and other lands can be reached by sea from Tottori.

This organization promotes economic exchange.

We have three staff members.

- She's from Vietnam.
- Hello!

- She's from China.
- Hello!

And I'm from Russia. Hello!

Irina came to Japan in 2011.

She's in charge of this center.

Irina supports companies that want to do business with Russia, and writes a newspaper column about Russian culture.

She's so reliable.
She's like our leader.

Even small companies want to expand
to Russia or start a business.

I think that's great.

Today, a member of a food and supplement company has come for advice.

The company imports ingredients from Russia.

Now, they're thinking of exporting products there.

Recently, I sent
supplements to Russia.

Japanese products
are trusted in Russia.

I went to Russia for the
first time two years ago.

She told me a lot.
It was very helpful.

After university, Irina worked at a Japanese restaurant in Russia and began studying Japanese.

She then worked with a team helping Japanese businesses in Russia.

A coworker told her about her current position.

She applied.

She passed a difficult Japanese test, and was hired.

Irina lives in Tottori City in Tottori Prefecture.

These famous sand dunes extend 16 kilometers and are 2.4 kilometers across.

Nicknamed Horseback Dune, this section rises up to 47 meters.

The scenery draws lots of visitors.

Tottori also has lots of greenery and a thriving farming industry.

Vegetables here are very nutritious.

A local specialty is curry packed with vegetables.

Irina particularly likes this curry with natto.

I love natto, and I love curry.
This is the absolute best!

As Irina's Japanese advances, she learns more about Japanese culture.

Every other month, she visits a temple to do zen meditation, which she had long wanted to try.

I feel at one with the world.
It's healing.

She wants to know even more about Japanese history and culture.

Now she's learning kenbu, a dance using swords.

She's an avid student.

It makes me glad to know that
people from abroad are interested.

Here are Irina's favorite words.

It's better to do it and regret it,
than not to do it and regret it.

This is my life motto.

If you do it and regret it,
then, oh well, it's already done.

If you don't do something,
you might wish you had done it.

But the chance is already gone.

Irina has made the most of her time in Japan.

Her goal is great Japan-Russia relations.

Keep at it, Irina!