Comments on: SorryWatch Reads: Only in Tokyo https://sorrywatch.com/only-in-tokyo/ Analyzing apologies in the news, media, history and literature. We condemn the bad and exalt the good. Fri, 07 Aug 2020 16:17:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jonelle Patrick https://sorrywatch.com/only-in-tokyo/#comment-6103 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:50:17 +0000 https://sorrywatch.com/?p=1167#comment-6103 Ahaha, I hadn’t realized how many apologies are in Fallen Angel, because apologies are such a way of life here in Tokyo! And because of your excellent grasp of the fine points of usage, I promote you right past the lower levels of Japanese politeness directly to Commuter Train Riding Level. This is no joke, because most mornings I’ve already apologized multiple times before I even get off the train, and as you can imagine, in only a few words, a wealth of meaning must be conveyed.

“I’m so sorry I must crush you and your pointy-cornered briefcase with my unnecessarily large foreigner body (yes, that tender bit right there is my kidney but it’s OK I have another one) instead of waiting for the next train.”

“I apologize for the guy between us who ate kim chee for breakfast IT’S NOT ME I SWEAR ITS NOT ME EVEN THOUGH I’M THE ONLY FOREIGNER IN THIS CAR.”

And so on. If you pass this test with flying colors, perhaps we can explore the wiggly netherworld of The Honorific Form Of Grammar together. There’s even a TV program called “Max Keigo” (http://bit.ly/10fculU) devoted to pitting more-honorific-than-thou contestants against each other as they attempt to make (yes, you guessed it) a tricky apology!

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