is the sudden inability to communicate with the world around you.

不安の引き金となったりする事に，

It's probably no surprise then that over the years one of the most popular questions

まわりと突然コミュニケーションが取れなくなることがあります．

I've got is how difficult is it to travel Japan without Japanese?

数年来，私に対する質問で，

Now in the run-up to the 2020 Olympics many businesses across Japan

日本語抜きで日本を旅するのは難しいか，

are Investing all their pocket money in preparing for foreign tourists.

という質問が特に多い事には驚かないでしょう．

But there's no doubt the language barrier exists here in a homogeneous culture

2020東京オリンピックに向け，多くの日本の会社が，

where English speakers can seem few and far between.

あらゆる”お小遣い”を外国人観光客への準備のため

In this video, we'll discuss the most common problems that will pop up along the way,

投資しています．

from public transport and dining out

それでも，ことばの壁が存在することは確かです．

to some useful communication strategies that will help you break down the language barrier with the locals.

同質的な文化で，英語話者もとても珍しいのですから．

But I'll start with two pieces of reassuring news though:

この動画では，特によく出てくる問題について，

The first is that I put a survey out on Twitter

公共交通機関や外食，

asking people if they found Japan difficult to travel without Japanese.

現地の人たちとの言葉の壁を低くするためのコミュニケーションのヒントを，

There were 3600 responses with two thirds saying they didn't find it difficult.

ご紹介します．

Now that's great; then again Twitter questionnaires should always be taken with a pinch of salt,

まず2つ，安心材料からご紹介しましょう．

Especially as I put out a follow-up survey,

1つ目，私はツイッターでアンケートを取りました．

asking people if they'd rather be a bagel or an Alaskan salmon.

みなさんが，日本語抜きで日本を旅行するのを難しいと思うか，

Within 47 minutes 739 people responded with 45 percent respondents

3600人からの回答のうち，3分の2が難しいとは思わないと回答．

choosing to be a delicious inanimate object over a living creature rich in Omega-3.

これは凄いことですが，一方で，

And that should have been a clear open-and-shut case - obviously the answer was salmon.

ツイッターのアンケートには常に疑ってかかるべきです．

The second piece of reassuring news is that I've known numerous expats living and working in Japan

まさにこの後，追加アンケートで

over the years across various sectors who have lived comfortably in Japan without knowing

ベーグルかアラスカサーモンのどちらになりたいか訊いたところ

any Japanese whatsoever and whilst it's not obviously ideal, it is completely doable.

47分以内に739人が回答し，45%が

I mean when I came here without knowing much of the language,

オメガ3が豊富なお魚より，おいしいけど無生物の物体を選んだんです．

I was often a little bit anxious in various situations

これ，本当は絶対すぐに解決できる問題で，

that the the locals might get angry at me when they found out that I lived here

答えはサーモンに決まってる．

without knowing any of the language really.

二つ目の安心材料は，日本で暮らし，何年もエキスパートとして

After all, I'd had travel experiences in some countries in the past

いろんな部門で不自由なく働いている人たちが，僕の知人にたくさんいること．

where the locals had lost their temper or snapped at me

全く日本語を知らずにね．確かに褒められた話じゃないけど，全然可能なんです．

for my inability to communicate in their language.

例えば，僕がほとんど喋れないままここに来た時も

Obviously, I'm not gonna name any names.

いろんな場面で結構不安はありました．

-hilarious fake cough- France.

地元の人たちは，僕がここに住んでいるのに

But not once in my time here has anybody got angry at me or lost their cool for my inability to communicate.

全然ことばを知らないから，怒るかもな，って．

On the contrary, Japanese people are very understanding and fully aware that

というのも，それまでいくつかの国を旅行して，

Japanese is almost exclusively spoken within Japan,

そこの人たちがイライラしたり，僕を責めたりしたこともありました．

and it is quite difficult, and it takes a lot time to learn.

僕がその国の言葉でコミュニケーションを取れないせいでね．

Thus if you do make an effort and show you know some Japanese,

もちろんそんな国の名前は言いませんよ

you'll instantly win favour with the locals because you'll be in the minority

（わざと咳こんで）・・・フランス．

of foreign travellers who can speak and use a little bit of Japanese.

でも，ここにいる間は一度も，僕が喋れない事に対して

Better still though English is almost everywhere these days,

怒ったり，苛立ったりした人はいないです．

from restaurant menus and road signs to trendy t-shirts.

対照的に，日本の人はよくわかっていますからね，

Mind you, the English might not always be native speaker level of English, but it gets the job done.

日本語は，ほぼ日本だけでしか話されていないし，

Take this notebook that I bought the other day for example.

かなり難しくて，身につけるのに時間がかかることを．

It's covered in trendy, cool English expressions on the front here, like:

だから，頑張って少し日本語がわかるように見られれば，

"relax time", and "keep calm", and "pleasing smell".

すぐにみんなから好感を持たれるでしょう．

And yet the thing that gives it away that might not have been proof read or written by a native speaker

［まさにこんな感じに］

is the big word at the top where it just says:

外国人旅行者で少しでも日本語が喋れる，

Dribble.

稀な人になれるのですから．

"Dribble" - it's not typically the sort of thing you'd find on a notebook back home.

さらに良い事に，

I don't know why they thought that would enhance the sales of the... of the notebook,

最近はどこに行っても英語があります．

but nonetheless, it's English, just... just not as we... not as we know it.

お店のメニューから道路標識，さらにはトレンディーなシャツまで

So having just landed in Japan, typically at Haneda Airport or Narita or Kansai International,

但し，英語はネイティヴレベルではないかも．

You'll find getting out of the airport and into the city a fairly easy, seamless process.

でも，分からないことはほぼ無いです．

Everything is wonderfully signposted.

試しにこの僕が買ったノートを見てみましょう．

But soon after arriving at the city problems might arise at one of the smaller stations

表紙にトレンディーでカッコいい英語の表現がありますね，例えば：

when you look up at the map to find it is exclusively written in kanji characters.

「休憩の時間」，「落ち着け」，「良い匂い」

Now perhaps you'd think "No problem, I'll just use the ticket machine

一方，チェックを受けたり，ネイティヴが書いたりしたとは思えないのが，

and hit the English button and type in the name of the station.

大きく一番上にある単語で，これは：

Haha, I'm so brilliant."

「よだれ（DRIBBLE)」

But wait!

「よだれ」．これは，私の実家のそばで見つかるような普通のシロモノではないですね．

Because, you're not.

なんでこれがノートの売り上げを促進するかはわかりません．

For local trains and the underground, rather than typing in the name of the station,

でも，とはいえ，これは英語です，ただ我々が知っているようなのと違うだけ・・・．

you need to know the ticket price of the place you're going.

［外出］

And to find out the cost of that ticket you need the map that you can't read.

日本に着いて間も無く，羽田であれ成田であれ関空であれ，

Obviously you can get around this easily by asking a member of staff;

空港を出て街に入るのはかなり楽でスムーズにいくと思います．

as long as you mutter the name of the station or the general direction of where you want to go - no problem.

全て見事に表示されていますから．

But my favourite option is just to get a Suika card or a passport card,

でも，街についてすぐ，

which you top-up with a few thousand yen.

小さめの駅だと問題が生じる場合があります．

I can't tell you the cost of going anywhere

上にある地図はもっぱら漢字だけで書かれています．

in Japan or Tokyo just because - I use this.

ここで，「大丈夫，券売機を使うだけだし．

So rather than knowing the cost of your ticket price,

英語のボタンを押して，駅名を打ち込めばいいや．

just keep this filled up with a few thousand yen every day, and you're all good.

あはは，おれ天才．」

Same goes for the JR Rail Pass. That's half the benefit of getting the JR Rail Pass:

って，ちょっと待って．

You don't need to worry about using ticket machines all the time.

そうじゃないから．

And you can get this for 500 yen at pretty much any ticket machine across Japan.

一般の電車と地下鉄は，駅名を打ち込むのではなく，

I think for another few hundred yen you get your name written on it as well.

行き先までの運賃を知らなければいけません．

I haven't done that.

そして切符の値段を知るのには，

Because I'm... I'm cheap.

例の読めない地図が必要なんです．

I would strongly urge first time travellers coming to Japan to get a SIM card or a portable Wi-Fi

もちろん，駅員に訊けばどうにかなります．

so you have the internet with you, mainly just so you can use Google Maps.

駅名を発音するか，

It is the main way that I and most foreign travellers get around Japan.

行きたいところを大雑把にでも言えれば，大丈夫．

All the train times and all the bus times are input into it seamlessly.

でも僕が良いと思う方法は，

Honestly without Google Maps I don't think I'd even be here now.

スイカか，パスポートカードを手に入れること．

I'd probably be lost in a forest somewhere scrounging for...

数千円チャージできます．

Berries.

日本や東京にいて，どこまでいくらかかる，

Ber- yeah.

なんて私は言えません．

As somebody who travels around Japan quite a lot I found that this isn't an issue at all.

それはただ，私がこれを使っているから．

I think you'll have no problems with accommodation whether you're using

だから，切符の値段を知るより，

hotels, Airbnb or even staying at traditional, Japanese Inn.

毎日このカードに数千円いれておけば，

That's a lie there might be one one issue.

問題ありません．

If you're lucky enough to have a public bath or a hot springs built into your accommodation,

JRレールパスも同じことです．

you'll find that they're segregated by male and female,

JRパスを使うメリットの半分はそれです．

and sometimes they're poorly labelled as to which one is which.

毎回券売機を使うことを心配しなくてよくなります．

This could end in spectacular disaster and lots of awkward conversations with hotel staff.

これは500円で，日本全国ほぼすべての券売機から入手できます．

So what I would encourage you to do, just because not only do public baths use it,

あと数百円でここに名前を入れることもできると思います．

but also toilets across Japan. They sometimes only have kanji characters in male and female,

私はやってませんが．

especially at smaller bars and restaurants.

なぜなら私は・・・ケチなので．

So I would actually encourage you to learn those two characters:

初めて日本を訪れる人には，SIMカードか，ポータブルWi-Fiを手に入れるのを強く勧めます．

'Male' and 'Female'.

インターネット，とりわけグーグルマップを使うためです．

They're probably the only two characters you'll ever need to know.

これは，私にとっても多くの外国人旅行者にとっても，出歩く時の基本です．

Better still you can impress all your friends and family at your next birthday party

全ての電車とバスの時間がもれなく入っています．

when you whip out a pen and Pretend to know how to write lots of Japanese,

正直グーグルマップがなかったら，今ここに私はいないでしょう．

giving the momentary illusion that you are a genius with extensive cultural knowledge.

きっとどこかの森で，おねだりしてるでしょうね・・・

I mean, for that reason alone definitely... It's definitely worth it.

果実を．

As somebody who eats out... Well, more than they probably should,

うん，多分．

I tend to find in the bigger restaurants this isn't an issue - you will find English menus,

［宿泊］

or even then just menus with pictures on that you can point at.

日本を相当旅して回っていますが，

Typically the smaller the bar or restaurant and the further out into the countryside it is,

これについては，問題が見当たりません．

the less likely you will find English.

おそらく，ホテルであれ，Airbnbであれ，

And in the terrifying event there's neither English nor photos you can desperately point at,

さらには伝統的な日本の旅館に泊まるとしても

you are gonna have to wing it.

何も困りません，

Now, I did make a video a few months ago talking about nightlife etiquette and dining out etiquette.

と言うのはウソで，一つ，問題があるかも．

However, the most important phrase and thing in that video is the phrase:

もし幸運にも公衆浴場や温泉が

"Osusume wa?"

宿泊施設についていたら

"Osusume wa?" means "What do you recommend?"

男女で分かれているはずですが，

If you point at the menu and say "Ososume wa?"

時々どっちがどっちか分からないように表示されていたりします．

typically the staff will probably laugh in surprise, chuckle in surprise first.

その結果大変なことになって，

That is the only Japanese phrase that you know.

ホテルの従業員と面倒なやりとりをする羽目になるかも．

And then they will try and do their best to explain what it is before you enthusiastically order it.

ですから是非ね・・・単に公衆浴場で使われているだけじゃなくて

Unless of course you are vegetarian and the speciality is pork.

日本全国のトイレでも使われているし，そこに男，女を表す漢字しかないこともあるので，

In which case you can just point it yourself and say:

特に小さなバーやレストランではそうですから，

"Vegetarian". Because fortunately the word for vegetarian in Japanese is:

ですから是非，2つの漢字を覚えてみてください．

'Bejitarian'. It's kind of like the same.

「男」と「女」

And that's another really useful point for dining out in Japan -

おそらくこの2文字だけが，

many foods the words themselves are 'Gairaigo' or foreign borrowed words.

知っておく必要がある漢字です．

Take for example beef, chicken and pork.

さらに良い事に，次の誕生日会で，

For beef you can say "Bi-fu".

友達や家族を感心させられます．

For pork you can say "Po-ku".

さっとペンで書けば，

For chicken you can say "Chikin".

たくさんの日本語の文字の書き方を知ってる

And for horse you can say

フリができます．

"BASASHI".

外国文化にも造詣が深い天才だという錯覚を

All right, there's a handful of exceptions but you get the general idea.

抱かせるのです．

Take fruit for example:

それだけの理由でも，

Orange is "Orenji".

本当に，本当に覚える価値ありですね．

Banana is "Banana".

外食&日常会話

Apple is a "Appuru".

私はよく外食に行くんですが，まあ，

And cherry is

必要以上に多いんだけど

"SAKURANBO".

大抵，大きなレストランでは，問題ありません，

Again some - some exceptions.

英語のメニューがあるので．

The only other two words you really need to know are:

それか写真付きで，指をさせるので．

Beer, which is "Bi-ru" and

大体，バーやレストランが小さくなるほど，また，田舎の方に行くほど

Whiskey which is "Uiski".

英語は見なくなります．

And there you have it

そして英語も，必死の指差しができる写真もない，

So don't be afraid to use 'gairaigo' - don't be afraid to try and say the word.

最悪の場合は，

I'm not necessarily saying try and pronounce those words in their 'gairaigo' Japanese form,

ブッツケ本番になります．

I'm saying try and just say the word in English

それで，夜の歓楽でのマナーと，

and hopefully the staff will catch it and understand what you're saying.

外食時のマナーについて話をした動画を，

You'll find in the absence of English conversational practice at school,

数ヶ月前に作りました．

most Japanese people do tend to lack confidence in speaking and listening to English.

それで，その動画で一番重要なフレーズが

To talk a bit more about this along with the essential four Japanese phrases you need to know before you come to Japan,

「おすすめは？」

I'll now hand you over to a real-life Japanese man who stole a British accent.

「おすすめは？」とは，（英語で）「何がおすすめですか？」と言う意味です．

Even though we learn English [for] six years from junior high school to high school,

メニューを指差して，「おすすめは？」と訊けば，

somehow or we can't speak or listen.

店員さんは普通，驚いてクスリと笑ったりします．

So what you have to do when you come to Japan is:

日本語のフレーズをそれしか知らないからね．

Don't make sentences long.

店員さんはそれが何かを全力で説明してくれますから，

For instance, some people like me when you ask if the food is good or bad, you can say "Is it good?"

皆さんも熱狂的に注文できます．

But when you say "Is it good?", it sounds like one word for Japanese people.

もちろんベジタリアンとか，

So you could just take one word, one most important word - in this case which is 'good'.

豚肉以外食べられないなら話は別ですが．

So say "good" or "bad" - just take one word and they'll understand you.

その場合は，自分を指差して，

Instead of saying "Where is the toilet?", you can say: "Toilet? Where?"

「ベジタリアン」と言ってください．

"Can you speak English?"

なぜなら，ラッキーなことに，（英語で）ベジタリアンを表す日本語が

Just say: "English? OK?"

「ベジタリアン」で，同じようなものですから．

And if you make it like really simple, they'll - they'll get you.

そして，これも本当に，外食の際に便利な事で，

So there are only four phrases that you have to know when you come to Japan and that will get you by.

多くの料理が，「外来語」，

First one is "Konnichiwa", and that's like "Hello" - as everyone knows.

つまり外国語からの借用語なのです．

The second one is "I'm sorry" or "Excuse me" - That is "Sumimasen".

例えば，ビーフ，チキン，ポークを見てみると，

And then thirdly is "Thank you", which is "Arigatou".

beefなら「ビーフ」と言えばいいし，

Not like "Arigato" - "Arigatou". (That's very difficult to write in captions >.

porkなら「ポーク」と言えるし，

It's said flat, with a facial expression of 'thank you', of course.

chickenなら「チキン」と言える．

Lastly what you have to know is, when you don't understand or when you don't know things you can say:

そして，馬の肉なら・・・，

"Wakarimasen", and that means "I don't know" or "I don't understand"

「馬刺し」．

So these are four phrases - useful phrases that you might want to use when you come to Japan.

そう，少し例外はあるけど，大体は見当がつきますね．

So some useful communication strategies from Ryotaro there.

フルーツを見てみよう：

One thing I'd like to add is that whilst Japanese people tend to be pretty shy and pretty reserved,

Orangeは，「オレンジ」．

They're also extremely helpful and selfless in the event you need some help or assistance.

Bananaは ，「バナナ」．

Never be afraid to ask somebody on the street or at a convenience store for help if you need it.

Appleは，「アップル」

In the past, I've had shop staff stop working, stop what they're doing,

そして，cherryは，

and draw me an elaborate map of where I need to go.

「さくらんぼ」．

And don't be surprised if some shop staff even stop working altogether and like, escort you down the street.

こちらも，少し，例外あり．

It's happened to me numerous times over the years. When it happens you feel incredibly guilty,

ほかに知っとかなきゃいけないのは二つの単語だけ：

but yeah, don't be surprised when it does - people here are surprisingly selfless,

beerが「ビール」で，

and that's one of the best things about Japan.

whiskeyは「ウイスキー」．

Just make sure you carry a bit of paper, so somebody can draw you an elaborate map.

これだけ．

I guess that's as good a reason as any to get - to get a Dribble notebook.

だから恐れず外来語を使って欲しい．

Yeah... Dribble.

恐れずに単語を言ってみましょう．

I've noticed There's a dribble coffee maker there, look at that.

僕はこう言う単語を日本語っぽく発音するように，

What's all that about? Are they making coffee? From dribble?

と言ってるんじゃなくて

What would that taste like? I don't - I don't even want to know.

その言葉を英語で言ってみよう，ということです．

Be careful what notepads you buy in Japan. I mean this cost 100 yen,

うまくいけば，店員が皆さんの言うことを

and look at all the time I've wasted trying to make sense of the strange, wacky English on the front.

受け取って，理解してくれるはずです

All this dribble business has led me down a spiralling dark hole into nothingness.