“Lost in Translation” directed by Sophia Coppola got Academy Award in Best Screenplay. Many western audience enjoyed this movie with its subtle storyline with the two main characters with funny comedy element. However, in Japan, although it gained lots of media attention due to “Tokyo background” and “Academy” award, the movie itself was not so popular. Mostly, Japanese questioned “why is it funny? I don’t understand why it got Academy Award.” Why is the different critique happening? Core is the cultural difference and its comprehension. Why don’t we look at several scene in the movie and let’s talk about why it is funny for American and why it is NOT funny for Japanese.
Scene #1 : Bill Murray was surprised by his clients’ and hotel employee’s greeting : Politeness/Hierarchical vs. Friendly/Equal
When jet-lagged Bill Murray just arrived in Park Hyatt hotel in Shinjuku, his only wish is to get into his room and take a rest. But, his clients(there are 4 people waiting for him at the night) suddenly came to him and introduce themselves. Each of them present their business card with two hands while bowing to Bill. Bill is surprised and don’t know what to do. This is funny situation from American audience since handshake and verbal/friendly introduction each other is common culture. However, this is NOT funny since Japanese believe that this behavior is VERY important. WHY? They are expressing their respect to the important actor by bowing and giving the name card in a certain way. In Japan, when business people meet for the first time, the scene is very commonly observed. In fact, when sharing the business card each other, there is surprising rule. If you think you are lower ranked, you need to position the height of business card lower than the other. This symbolizes who is higher/lower, and that is the sign of respect. So, watch-out!!
This respectful and hierarchical behavior and culture is also seen in the way how hotelier try to serve Bill. They jump into Bill in trying to help carrying luggage and bow him constantly. By the way, there is no tipping culture in Japan, so the action done by employees are sincerely trying to serve as part of hotel service. In US, it is too much. Hotelier is trying to be personally and friendly. It tries to make guess to feel like home. That’s the way how guest are treated comfortably. In Japan, guest is treated like a king. Real king. It is culturally ingrained and trained because that is right thing. Once you know it, that is not fun. Once you are accustomed, it is really good to be served in Japan.
Scene #2 : Elevator. Packed and no one talks. : Be conscious and don’t bother OTHERS
It is really true. In US, even when you see strangers, you tend to say something to make people connected. “Hello”, “How are you?” “Good weather!!” etc. No talk makes people very uncomfortable and not friendly. In Japan, it is opposite. When you enter into the elevator, you slightly bow(not everyone), but you never talk to the stranger. When it is packed, you don’t talk even with your friend. Why? It is small place and your talk will bother others. “Don’t bother others” is very important virtue as well in Japan. That’s why Bill feels uncomfortable, and other Japanese feel comfortable even in a packed elevator when there is no talk. From my experience, this happens in every place not only in elevator. Jammed train and bus is another good place. You will be surprised how quite it is. But imagine how terrible it will be if it is “Packed” AND “Noisy”.
Scene #3 : “Rip” vs. “Lip” : No ‘r’ sound in Japanese
“Lip it”, “Lip it”, Bill says “What lip?” “Lip my stocking!!”, You mean “Rip your stocking?” “No, I don’t want”. Need to be careful. In Japanese, the “r” sound doesn’t exist and it often create different meaning like that. Japanese has the most challenging situation to learn English compared to any other country people.
First of all, total different grammar. The wording order is different. For example, in English, we say “I go to school.” Verb first, and it is very clear in terms of the key action and key point at upfront. However, in Japanese, “I to school go” is the order of wording. Conclusion comes last. You need to be patient to understand the real intent/conclusion what you want to hear until the end of sentence. You rarely see that Japanese interfere other person’s conversation until it finishes while you often see in English speaking environment. Aside from culture, language structure is definitely one of the reason. Secondly, pronunciation. Japanese lacks many sound like ‘r’, ‘th’. In addition, all of syllabous finishes with vowel. Non finishes with consonant except for ‘n’, ‘ng’ sound. Therefore, when English word is pronounced, it sounds very strange. For example, McDonald is pronounced as “Ma Ku Do Na Lu Do”. This may have implication for brand naming. Nike is exactly pronounced as Nike, but McDonald is quite different.
Based on my living experience both in Japan and in US helped me to enjoy this movie a lot since I know both culture. Good for comedy, but this difference should be well understood when expanding business to Japan.
Check out "Lost in Translation" homepage if you want to find out the interview of Sophia Coppola.
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