I found interesting YouTube Video!
It was interesting as I could look at Japanglish objectively.

Yes, I think I can say my English is also Japanglish.
Especially, for McDonald’s, I always forget how to pronounce it in English so I say “Makudonarudo” like Obasan in this video.
That is called “Katakana Eigo” (Katakana English).

I want to know how people in overseas think when Japanese people speak Japanglish.

Is it hard to listen to or funny?

Either way, I thought this Tokyo Bon 2020 is interesting.
Mixing traditional dance, music, school girls is also interesting and makes the song unique.

This Tokyo Bon 2020 is collaboration work of Hip Hop Artist Namewee and Cool Japan TV.

Producer and Casts

Cool Japan TV

Cool Japan TV is a web media which introduces charms of Japan to overseas.
It is located in Shibuya in Tokyo.

They have some influencers in Asia including Namewee and Meu Ninomiya in this video.
They focus on introducing experience in Japan for visitors.

Namewee

Namewee is a Malaysian Chinese Hip Hop Artist.
He was born in Malaysia and now 34 years old.
He wrote and composed this song.

As long as I checked, he has many supporters but has also many haters as well.
Looks like the songs he made in the past includes contents that satire or banter some Asian countries such as Thai land, China, Korea, Japan.

Actually I can not say anything as I have not listened to them.
But I imagine that songs which got criticism might be like this “Tokyo 2020” (although I’m not sure).
For this song, I think most Japanese think this is interesting like I feel but there might also be a few people who feel uncomfortable.

For this Tokyo 2020, he says this is the challenging work expressing differences of cultures in the countries, the attractiveness and greatness of unique cultures each country has with love, respect and humor.

Now he is active as an actor and a film director as well.

Meu Ninomiya

School girl who guides Namewee in the video is Miu Ninomiya.
She was born in Japan but graduated Japanese school in Vienna and now 25 years old.
So she can speak German, too.

She got rookie award for actress in 2017.

I did not know her, rather I thought she was a girl in other Asian country first.
I think she is still not very famous in Japan.
But as she got Rookie award for actress last year 2017 and came to appear on some movies, she might become popular from now on.

She also plays a role of ambassador in Cool Japan TV now.

YouTubers

Looks like other YouTubers in Asian countries also cooperated with.
They are Ryu WanSian and Yuma Oe of Ryuuu TV from Taiwan, Joyce Chu from Malaysia, TsaiTi Mao of MaoMao TV from Taiwan, Shen Lim of ShenLim TV from Malaysia, Mira Yim of Mira’s Garden from Hong Kong, Yuko Hayama from Japan, etc.

Obasan

Obasan is a middle aged lady.
I think Obasan is one of the key characters in this music video.
But I’m sorry I could not find any information about her.

She expressed Japanglish very well and I also nodded yes this is Kanakana English.
Some obasan speaks a lot like her although I like this kind of Obasan.

Choreography by Ukon Takafuji

Ukon Takafuji is a creative Japanese dancing master.
He was in charge of Choreography.

He is the second-generation of Takafuji Ryu (Style).
Takafuji Ryu has a history of 80 years.
They have performed at stage, shrine to welfare facilities.

Ukon Takafuji also performs in overseas such as US, China, Taiwan, Hawaii, Philippines, Bali, etc.
He now also holds Katana exercise, which is a fitness program.

I’ve never heard of fitness program using Japanese sword Katana.
Of course, I think it is not real one as it is too dangerous if so.
Katana exercise, that’s an interesting idea!

He says he expressed beauty of sun, moon, blue sky, starry night, world, Japanese tradition in this dance.
He himself appears in a Kabuki costume around the last scene in the center of Sumo ring.

Music

In the video, Namewee plays music instrument.
That is Shamisen.
It is a Japanese traditional music instrument which is made of just three strings.

You can listen to the unique dry sound this Shamisen makes in the video.

I could also enjoy Okinawa music which adds unique taste.

Bon Dance

What you can see in this video is Bon Dance (Bon Odori in Japanese).
That is traditional dance in Japan.

I remember the days I joined local summer festival in my hometown when I was a little kid.
People in Kimono were dancing this Bon Dance to the traditional festival music.
There was even a class to learn Bon Dance at elementary school and I also danced with other children in the schoolyard.

This Bon dance was something originally for comforting the spirits of ancestors.
But it also had a meaning of wish for a good harvest.

I feel like the chances to see this Bon Dance has been decreasing compare to the days when I was a child.
But you can still see this Bon Dance if you go to local festivals in summer or sometimes even in Tokyo.

I also wrote the details of Bon Dance here if you are interested in.
“What is Obon? History and Wish contained in Bon Odori”

Summary

I wondered why he chose “Bakayarou” at the last scene.
Bakayarou means “You bastard” in Japanese.
It is just a word and had not been trend word or Word of the Year.

The word does not contain humorous or funny angle behind it.
So I think most Japanese also feel why he did not choose a word which has more wit and sense of humor.

Bakayarou is trend in overseas?

Idea itself was great so I felt “Mottainai” (Almost) only at the last scene.
The work also might have needed help of Japanese comedian.

Anyway, I agree, if you visit Japan, Japanglish is a kind of must language.
We say “Chokoreito” for chocolate, “Koora” for Koke, “Poteto” for potato.

No confidence to understand?

Well, practice by listening to Tokyo Bon 2020.
Please note that the song might also be addictive, haha.

PS. I also found dancing centered ver. here.

https://youtu.be/pZxL9Q4KiS0>Tokyo Bon 2020 Full Dance Version

Author : Hiroshi