Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."

In this program, we'll learn Japanese and about the country through Japanese news stories.

Our headline for today is:

New Anime Center Opens in Tokyo.

Growing up in Italy I saw animated series like Gundam and Sailor Moon on TV.

But I only found out much later to my great shock that they were made in Japan. I had no idea.

Japanese "anime" has a global following.

Many "anime" works are adapted from "manga."

Yes. And we'll talk about manga a little later in the program.

OK, before we listen to this news story in Japanese, let's go over some key terms.

"daihon."

script.

"ninki."

popular.

"bamen."

scene.

OK, now let's listen to the story.

On October 31, Anime Tokyo Station
opened in Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

It is a space for showcasing
Japanese anime to the world.

They have about 50,000 drawings, scripts,
and other materials used in the creation of anime.

In addition to the archive floor,

they also have a floor for showcasing
popular anime.

The floor is currently showcasing
famous scenes and more from "Naruto."

People who came to see (the facility)
were taking pictures and enjoying their favorite anime.

A visitor from France said, "Japanese anime is amazing.
It's why I came to love Japan."

It looks like they have "anime" works
from a variety of genres on display.

They are also showcasing the traditional production process.

That includes scripts and storyboards, as well as animation cels,

which you don't see as often these days because of the shift to digital animation.

So it's a place for visitors to discover anime classics, but also some more cutting-edge series.

OK, now let's review the following sentence from the story.

People who came to see (the facility)
were taking pictures and enjoying their favorite anime.

Now read along with me.

"mi ni kita hito wa"

"shasin o totte suki na anime o"

"tanoshinde imashita."

So in Japan, particularly devoted fans are called "otaku."

That's right.

So today we'll learn some words
that came from "otaku-bunka"

but have gained widespread usage.

We heard the phrase "suki na anime."
A word that's similar to "suki" is "oshi."

So, what is the difference between "oshi" and "suki?"

"Oshi" is a noun that comes from
the verb "osu,"

which means "to recommend"
something you like to someone else.

We use it to refer to the thing
we're recommending.

For example,

"Watashi no 'oshi' wa Sutajio Jiburi no 'Tonari no Totoro' desu."
(I'm a fan of Studio Ghibli's "My Neighbor Totoro.")

Ah, so it's kind of like saying "I'm a fan of X" or "X is my favorite."

Well, speaking of "oshi," there's also the commonly-used expression "ichi-oshi."

"Ichi" means "number one."

So we call our top recommendation, "ichi-oshi."

For example...

"Kono okashi wa, watashi no 'ichi-oshi' desu."
(This cake is my absolute fave.)

Now let's look at some expressions
you'll often see in "manga" and "anime."

Here I have three illustrations of rain.

We can use onomatopoeia
to express types of rainfall.

Yes, onomatopoeia are something that are pretty common in American comic books as well.

But there are definitely not as many expressions as there are in Japanese for rainfall.

On the left, the rain has just started,
so it's "potsu-potsu."

Chiara, what expression for rainfall
goes on the right?

So... this one here on the right...

I think this one is "zaa-zaa." Right?

Yes, "zaa-zaa" is correct.

Yamaguchi-san, can you guess
the middle one?

Well, that looks like a light drizzle, so I'd say "shito-shito."

That's right.

By expressing the sound of falling rain
in this way,

artists can better convey the scene
to readers.

And another interesting expression you might see is "shiin," which means it's dead quiet.

Yes, it's used for scenarios where
it's completely still or silent.

I've always found that fascinating, that there is literally a sound effect to convey the idea of silence.

I mean, as far as I know in English there is no word that does the same thing.

In Japanese we use onomatopoeia
in everyday conversation.

So keep your ears open!

OK, Tokunaga-sensee, "arigatoo gozaimashita."

"Arigatoo gozaimashita."

Inside Japan.

When people think of otaku culture in Tokyo, they often think of Akihabara.

But the newly opened Anime Tokyo Station is located in Ikebukuro, which is another vibrant pop culture hub.

Yes, some time ago an American friend of mine actually took me to Ikebukuro.

She's very knowledgeable about entire area.

And so she took me to anime and manga shops.

And introduced me to the self-published and fan-made manga, which was a real surprise for me.

Wow, really!

OK, so how did Ikebukuro become a center of anime? Let's take a closer look.

Ikebukuro Station is one of Tokyo's largest transport hubs.

Just 5 minutes by foot from the East Exit, you'll find one of the world's largest anime stores.

"Watashi no 'oshi' wa, kochira no kyarakutaa desu."
(This character is my fave.)

Since the early 2000s, more and more anime and manga specialty stores have been opening in this neighborhood.

What stands out about this area is that it caters to a largely female demographic.

A member of our team paid a visit to this concept cafe, which offers a unique experience.

"Okaerinasaimase, ojoosama."
(Welcome home, my lady.)

The staff welcome customers as if they've returned to their own mansion for a cup of tea.

"Ookomari no koto ga gozaimashitara,
(If you require anything,

kochira no beru o narashite watashitachi o oyobi kudasai."
please ring this bell to summon us.)

The attentive service has won the hearts of it's mostly female clientele.

It feels like I've become
the main character of an anime.

- So... my friend actually once took me to a butler cafe.
- Oh really?

- Yeah, it was pretty wild, but I think it's worth trying once.
- OK.

Now, Toshima Ward, where Ikebukuro is located, has another spot that attracts many manga and anime fans.

The place is associated with these classic series made by legendary artists.

This is Tokiwaso, the apartment building that was once home to Tezuka Osamu

and other budding "manga-ka" or manga artists who pioneered the form.

The original building was torn down due to its age.

But in 2020, it was reborn as a museum dedicated to "manga-bunka" or manga culture

thanks to the joint efforts of residents and the local government.

In order to give visitors a glimpse into how the artists created "sakuhin" - their works -

some of the original living quarters have been reproduced on the second floor.

Toshima Ward boasts a cultural heritage
of manga and anime.

We aim to showcase that to both
domestic and international audiences.

And we intend to make our town
a welcoming place for overseas visitors.

That's wonderful. So Toshima Ward is collaborating with the private sector and the community

to create a new hub for manga and anime lovers.

Yes. I can't wait to see how the area evolves in the years ahead.

OK, and that's all for today.

- We'll see you next time.
- See you soon.