美樹さん こんいちわ,

Why don’t we get the English translation anymore? I am afraid the standard is far too high for me although I can manage a few phrases now and again. However the topics of your blogs are so interesting as a window on Japanese culture and as such I would so much appreciate a translation.
よろしくおねがいします！

Miki!

Finally a interesting topic! The other ones were boring but here are my reply for your previous audio blogs:
Shopping Online/TV: I shop online only not on TV because the items offer are ugly.

Mosquitos: We are in the same situation because mosquitos love blood type O so that’s why your friends don’t get byte because they are blood A, B or AB.

Mixed Bath: I do the same except going in the morning, I prefer more people but it’s ok! now your learning the B-way keep it up my friend!

Fairy toothtale: I didn’t do that all my teeth were throw to the trash except for one that I eat accidently and I they have to take me to the hospital so they could remove it from my stomach.

Uniforms: ohh my god! Yes I remember when I wore uniform in Mexico, I feel so ashame! I was from the generation that the skirts were up the knees.
The color It similar to Japanese uniforms, you can identify their grade by looking at the color.
We wear uniforms in elementary and junior school only! High School and College we wear normal clothes just like USA except that in the USA they don’t wear uniforms, you wear normal clothes since Kindergarden.

Otaku: I’m a Anime/Manga, Video Game, PC Otaku!
I don’t do cosplay because I don’t like it but I do enjoy seeing it and feel proud for the other people that do cosplay thing.
I also collect cards, play poker and do RPG games. S_R_C

gillian-san…

have you been using rikaichan?? This really helps and there is a video lesson about it , it’s “news #45″. This can be specially useful for Miki’s blog.

At least, that’s the way I can understand most things here.

Hope it helps!

I decided to have a go at translating Miki’s entry, but it’s a little bit beyond me. You’ll have to content yourself with just the intro:

へいお客さん、どちらまで？
Hey sir, where to?

Japanesepod101.com まで。
To japanesepod101.com

はい、分かりました～っ。料金五万一千になりますけど。。。
Right, got it. That’ll be 51000.

高!
Expensive!

正解でしょう？

その質問は答えやすいと思います。美樹先生のブログを読む人は日本に興味がある。私は日本オタクで、誇りです！

しっていましたか：’otaku’と言う言葉は、日本語から英語に来た外来語です。日本の漫画とアニメに興味がある人はたまに英語でotakuと言われています。でも日本に対してじゃない話題に興味がある人は英語でotakuといわない。

普通の英語ができる方はotakuと言う言葉が分からないのに、日本語ができなくても漫画とアニメに興味がある人はほとんどの人が知っています。

Most people wouldn’t know the word ‘otaku’ but even those people who didn’t understand Japanese but were interested in manga and anime would know the word ‘otaku’.

animeとmangaは英語で普通のアニメーションと漫画と言う意味じゃなくて、日本製なアニメと漫画だけです。
‘Anime’ and ‘manga’ don’t mean just any kind of アニメ and 漫画, but specifically mean Japanese made animation and comic books.

Did that last sentence make any sense in English?

＞maxiwawaさん
日本語上手ですね！！
your translation is correct!

最後の文の「日本製なアニメと漫画だけです。」は、「日本のアニメと漫画だけです。」のほうが良いですよ
about the last sentence of 「日本製なアニメと漫画だけです。」,
「日本のアニメと漫画だけです。」is more natural.

これからも日本語の勉強をがんばってください！

は～い先生！

私はオタクっぽいというか・・
ま、日本語の勉強に没頭してるから、オタクかもしれないかも知れないなｗ

それで、ネットでよく見るのは「オタク」を「ヲタク」と書く人は多いのようだ。

なんでだろう・・
理由があったら分かる人に教えてもらいたいな。

Jpodのユーザーの中でメイド喫茶に行ったことのある人はあるんだろうか。

Let me try a translation, as true to the original as I can be so sorry if my English is a little weird - I think its better than trying to do a culture/grammar switch in there as well! I haven’t sat the JLPT yet though so I’m sorry if I make a mistake!

——————–
Everyone, Hi! Its Miki here!

Everyone, do you know about Akihabara? Akiabara is Japans number one place for electronics shops and its commonly said to be the holy grail for Otaku.

By “Otaku” I mean people who know about one particular thing very well or people that immerse themselves in something. This is used both for both good and a bad meanings.

In Akihabara there are a lot of Anime Otaku. In “Denkigai” (electric town), you can see lots of people dressed up as Anime characters.

At the terminal in front of Akihabra station, I’ve seen ridiculously (loudly) dressed girls singing into a microphone. In many cases, surrounding this are nothing but Otaku guys… And everyone dances together to the music. Their dance isn’t very complicated but everyone’s enthusiastic and in time with each other.

In Akihabara, there are lots of maid tea houses. Maid tea house staff are all dressed up (cosplay) and all cusotmers are their husbands. When entering a shop, instead of “Welcome customer”, they say “Welcome home husband!” (in very honorific language). Like regular tea houses, you can drink and eat but the menu at maid tea hoses is a little expensive I think.

This is part of Akihabara’s Otaku culture. At other places I don’t know of, I think there are more amazing people.
Otaka means someone who knows a lot about something or someone who immerses themselves in a topic.

Do you (everyone) have something you know a lot about? Something you immerse yourself in?
Please teach me about your own Otaku’s.

Well, See you next week!

like Sindy said, as always, the translation for miki’s blog can be found in the Learning Center!

http://www.japanesepod101.com/learningcenter/lessons/audio_blog_48/transcript

Aaron-san!

It’s ok, don’t worry. Your translation was great WOW!

Markystar-san!

Thank you my friend has always too!

Lastly:

マスター 美樹さん

RE:そこではメイドがご飯を食べさせてくれるそうです・・・
私も今度、行ってみたいと思っています

特に、私はあなたのために紅茶を入れることができます。*on my knees, kissing your feet*

「あなたの願望は私のための命令です！」
I do anything for you my friend!! S_R_C

I am an otaku, and Miki that was an excellent description there. I am one of those loser otaku fanboys that would dance alongside the girls. When I go to Japan in a few years time, Akihabara will be my first stop. Again great blog, Miki-san. Seeya Next week!