The Emperor's birthday!

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 9:34 -0700

Today, December 23, is the 70th birthday of Emperor Akihito. He has been the emperor for 15 years.

Otanjoobi omedeto!

Qion · Post by **Qion** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 11:23 -0700

takematsu · Post by **takematsu** » Wed Dec 24, 2003 6:15 -0700

万才天皇

Banzai Tennou!

Qion · Post by **Qion** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 12:16 -0700

Didn't understand a hell out of that...
What did you just wish to the Emperor? (If I may as, of course)

ziritrion · Post by **ziritrion** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 12:42 -0700

Lemme try! Lemme try!

Ok, here we go...

万 - man or ban -> ten thousand
才 - sai or zai -> years old

万才 -> Banzai -> "long life", more or less. It's a kind of cheering. I think that the samurai used to scream "banzai" when entering in a battle as a way to cheer their comrades.

天 -> ten -> heaven
皇 -> oo -> king or emperor

天皇 -> Tennou -> Heavenly ruler, I guess. Anyway, that's how you call the Emperor in Japan. I think that nowadays he's just called oo-sama (emperor).

Banzai Tennou -> Long life to the Emperor. Is that right? Like an old Spanish saying says: "knowing something is not important, the important thing is to know the phone number of the guy who knows what you're looking for". In this case, the phone numbre becomes the website

.

Qion · Post by **Qion** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 12:53 -0700

Hehe, thanks man.

ziritrion · Post by **ziritrion** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 16:09 -0700

No problem

Szyszka · Post by **Szyszka** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 1:45 -0700

Funny thing - I wrote "happy Emperor's birthsday" e-mail to my friend in Japan and she was surprised, that we in Europe care about it. Because for her and for her friends that's not a very special day, but it is for her grandparents...
Sure, Japan has changed.

takematsu · Post by **takematsu** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 7:42 -0700

"knowing something is not important, the important thing is to know the phone number of the guy who knows what you're looking for". In this case, the phone numbre becomes the website .

I like this one. I was quoting a somewhat longer Happy Emperor sentiment, but whoever transliterated it did a poor job, which only two coherent words. 'Tennou' was apparently included in the shouting at the royal balcony this year, so it's still got some currency.