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True words aren't eloquent;
eloquent words aren't true.
Wise men don't need to prove their point;
men who need to prove their point aren't wise.

The Master has no possessions.
The more he does for others,
the happier he is.
The more he gives to others,
the wealthier he is.

The Tao nourishes by not forcing.
By not dominating, the Master leads.

http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/taote-v3.html#81

This lesson provides you with some basic phrases and references that you might like to use if  you  are  interested.

Directions for the Japanese Phrases 

It is NOT an expectation for you to memorize these phrases...they are here as a point of reference and interest. However it is good to be familiar with some of them. If you use them in conversation, please also add the translation in your chat line. So for instance if you are meeting someone for the first time, you could type this in the chat line:

Hajimemashite.. how do you do?

Of course, the words and phrases in this lesson do not represent a complete list. Sharing with sister geisha is considered good etiquette, so if you come across useful words or phrases that are not on the list, please consider sharing them with others. And if you think something else should be added to this lesson, please let Okaasan know.

A wonderful website for learning simple Japanese phrases is hyperlinked below. It also has lessons in reading, writing and sound files to learn pronunciation:

http://www.learn-japanese.info/

The following is a must-have reference site for all things geisha. This link goes to the glossary pages:

http://www.immortalgeisha.com/glossary.php

Other sites you may want to look at include:

 http://www.amazon.com/quot-Books-Resources-Learning-Japanese/lm/RYJGJ545AQDP0

 http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/japanese-language

 http://www.trussel.com/jap/jbooks01.htm

Here are some basic Japanese pronunciation of vowels

A is pronounced as in Ba (bah) 

I is pronounced as in Bi (bee)    

O is pronounced as in Bo (boh)

U is pronounced as in Bu (boo)   

If vowels are combined, each vowel is pronounced as the ei in geisha - it sounds more like the e in met

ai in maiko = ma - ee - ko

okiya is o - kee - ah

The vowel u at the end of words is usually silent or very softly spoken as in desu sounds like des or as in suki which tends to be pronounced like ski

Consonents

Some differences from English are:

g is always "hard" like the g in go

ch is always pronounced like the ch in chirp

fu sounds somewhat like "who" only short and cut - the lips are close together

r is more like an L in English but again is short and made by the tongue behind the top teeth - just flicking away there

tsu sound is another sound shaped by the tongue against the upper palate - it is as if you pronounce the t and s on top of each other with a very short u following close behind and almost barely perceptible. Listen to the sound files from the link above.

y is not like the vowel in English but always pronounced like the consonent y as in yo yo so Kyoto is pronounced Kyo - to, Tokyo is pronounced To - kyo

These and other pronunciation rules are found in the link above. I would encourage you to visit that site if you are interested in learning to speak and Japanese words.

Greetings are very important to learn. Greeting and parting phrases are called aisatsu. If someone does not make aisatsu, they may be seen as cold and dysfunctional. Even if you are only going to use English, making aisatsu is certainly an expectation of your training and behavior in the okiya.

Example conversation

1. Use in conversation the words for "good morning", "good evening", "thank you" and good night"

2.   Acquire an instrument and dance HUD of your choice - appropriate for Second Life Geisha. You may want to ask other geisha what they like to use. Okaasan has enjoyed hers for many years. 

3.    Research a topic related to Japanese or Geisha culture, write it on a note card and present it to the okiya by sending to Okaasan or oneesan first - they will post to the okiya group. But even better, present your topic during an ozashiki or tea house night. 

DO NOT GO ON TO NEXT LESSON UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED PERMISSION

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