Activate Your Japanese!

What would you do
if you were Xuan?

Xuan, I've heard the rumors!

You're helping with the town festival?

Yes.

I want to broaden my horizons.

That's great!

Did you make friends with the others?

Yes.

They were all very kind.

But...

But?

Xuan-san...

Like I said to Aoi-chan,
we're still shorthanded.

I see.

Do you know anyone who could help?

I'll look around.

- Thanks.
- Okay.

I see.

Then why don't you try
Monica and Danny?

That's a good idea.

Um...

Do you think it's okay to ask Rei-san?

You could give it a try.

It might cheer him up.

Okay.

You don't have to worry about me.

But...

I can't say I'm not disappointed.

I mean, I really worked hard on it, so...

"How can I cheer him up?"

Anyway, how's the festival?

Kaan-san introduced you,
didn't he?

Yes.

I went to my first meeting the other day,
and it was nerve-racking.

So...

You're really making progress.

It's all thanks to you.

I haven't done anything.

"I should ask now!"

Rei-san.

I'm part of the Logistics Team.

We have to set up tents and chairs,
and it's a lot of work.

Oh yeah?

I'm on the same team as
my friend Aoi-chan.

I see.

- It's good to have a friend with you.
- Yes.

But...

we're still shorthanded.

That's rough.

Well, good luck.

Thanks. I'll do my best.

I need to get back now.

I appreciate your concern.

"What just happened?"

What's the matter?

I thought I asked Rei-san
to help us with the festival.

Really?

You wanted him to help?

Uh-huh.

Then you should've asked him properly.

I thought I did.

It didn't seem like it.

But I told him that it was a lot of work
and that we're shorthanded.

The normal response would be to say,
"How can I help?" or "I can't help you."

I don't think he understood
you were asking him for help.

What was I supposed to say?

Have a look at this.

You look happy. What's with you?

I have a favor to ask of you.

A favor?

It's my girlfriend's birthday soon.
Our first one together!

- You can't mess that up.
- I know!

But I've no clue what to get her.

So you're in need of my expert advice?

That's right! Expert advice!

I see.

I should tell him that I need
to ask a favor first.

Yes!

Now you should be all right.

I need to get back now.

I appreciate your concern.

Wait!

I have a favor to ask of you.

A favor?

Yes.

I'm one of the staff members
for the festival.

You said that earlier.

But we're shorthanded.

You want me to help with the festival?

Yes! That's right!

The festival...

I could help in the afternoon.

Really?

I'm sorry.

Tadokoro-san...

"Inagaki-san can't come..."

"Someone who could do a stall instead...?"

Rei-san!

I have another favor to ask of you.

What?

Well, Inagaki-san...

The man who makes takoyaki balls
won't be participating this year.

I just heard.

Rei-san, could you do
a stall at the festival?

- You want me to make takoyaki balls?
- No.

I want you to make the dishes
you planned for the autumn campaign.

I'd love to have the chance
to try your food.

You worked so hard on the menu.

I'm sure it would delight
people at the festival.

It's food made by a chef
of a Japanese restaurant.

That's a silly idea.

Is that a no?

When I explained my menu
to my "senpai,"

he told me it was silly.

Maybe my silly menu is
just the thing for your silly idea.

What do you mean?

I'd like to try.

Really? I'm so happy.
I love you!

- Huh?
- I'm sorry. That came out wrong.

Don't worry.

So what kind of gifts do women like?

Coffee, please.

That's right. No, no...

I'm just doing research
for my next novel.

Okay.

Yeah?

A handkerchief?

"People understand you better
when you get to the point first."

"With Rei-san on board,
the festival is going to be so exciting!"

"I'll give it my best, Yansu!"

"Today's Strategy!"

Now, when you want someone
to do something for you,

it can be hard to come right out
and ask them to do the task for you.

But if you take too long
explaining your reasons first,

the other person might get confused
about what you're trying to say.

What will you do if that happens?

Let's look at the strategy Xuan used.

Wait!

I have a favor to ask of you.

We're shorthanded.

You want me to help with the festival?

Tell them first that you
need a favor.

"I have a favor to ask of you."

Say this phrase first, before going into
the details and reasons for your request.

Then the other person will be listening,
knowing they're being asked to do something,

so it'll be easier to understand.

In the workplace,
you could say...

"Do you have a minute?
I have a favor to ask of you."

That would be better.

Goodbye for now.

Meet Senpai from all over Japan.

Tsutsu Uraura, let's hear about the lives!

Today's senpai is Thin Theint Theint Soe from Myanmar.

She lives in Higashiosaka City.

With lots of factories, it's known as a town of craftsmanship.

She works at this company.

It produces plastic parts, from start to finish.

Thin came to Japan in 2017.

At her company, she makes designs for molds for plastic parts.

It's hard to make these designs.

But my coworkers help me,
and now I can do it.

Thin's father worked as a machine repairman.

Since she was young, she's had an interest in Japanese manufacturing.

After college in Myanmar, she went to a Japanese language school.

There, she heard that Japanese companies needed engineers who could speak Japanese.

She attended a job interview and was hired.

I came because I wanted to learn
about Japanese technology.

Thin was the first foreigner to be hired as a regular employee here.

She has the same employment conditions as Japanese employees.

Her coworkers helped her when she was unsure.

She says their kindness saved her.

Thin is now in her fourth year at this company.

Each year, more foreign staff members have been brought on.

Our group has about 300 employees,
about 1 in 3 of whom are from abroad.

We all work together as a team.

There are many hard workers who are
eager to challenge themselves.

I would welcome more workers
like that in the future.

Thin lives in Osaka City in Osaka.

Osaka is a gourmet paradise, with lots of delicious food.

Thin had looked forward to eating one food since before she arrived.

An Osaka specialty.

Takoyaki: fried balls of batter with octopus and green onions or other vegetables.

Thin knew she wanted to try this food when she got to Japan.

Hot! Delicious!

The inside is gooey.
And it has my favorite: octopus.

I love takoyaki!

Today, Thin is at an amusement park.

She looks after ker "kohai" both on and off the clock.

She's with a "kohai" who is also from Myanmar.

To help improve their language ability, they speak in Japanese.

Thin asks if there's anything her "kohai" is struggling with.

The trains. I didn't know
how to ride them at first.

She told me what to do.

- She's a great senpai.
- Thank you.

She's like my mom. Really.

Here's Thin's favorite word.

Challenge.

Attempting difficult tasks.

I work in design. I challenge
myself to create 3D models.

I want to be able to work
on my own as a designer.

Even if I'm not quite there yet,
I want to do my work perfectly.

I'll strive to do that.